diff --git a/app/controllers/requests_controller.rb b/app/controllers/requests_controller.rb
index 77f433121..c639de66c 100644
--- a/app/controllers/requests_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/requests_controller.rb
@@ -38,18 +38,23 @@ class RequestsController < ApplicationController
       redirect_to current_user.group_by_id(params[:request][:group_id])
       return
     end
+    
     Rails.logger.debug("Sending request: #{rel_hash}")
-    @request = current_user.send_request(rel_hash, params[:request][:group_id])
+    
+    begin
+      @request = current_user.send_request(rel_hash, params[:request][:group_id])
+    rescue Exception => e
+      raise e unless e.message.include? "already friends"
+      flash[:notice] = "You are already friends with #{params[:request][:destination_url]}!"
+      redirect_to current_user.group_by_id(params[:request][:group_id])
+      return
+    end
 
     if @request
       flash[:notice] = "a friend request was sent to #{@request.destination_url}"
-      redirect_to requests_url
+      redirect_to current_user.group_by_id(params[:request][:group_id])
     else
-      if url.include? '@'
-        flash[:error] = "no diaspora seed found with this email!"
-      else
-        flash[:error] = "you have already friended this person"
-      end
+      flash[:error] = "Something went horribly wrong..."
       redirect_to current_user.group_by_id(params[:request][:group_id])
     end
   end
diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 3ed7d5d67..6ecf2cf0c 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -124,22 +124,22 @@ class User
 
   ######### Friend Requesting ###########
   def send_friend_request_to(friend_url, group_id)
-    unless self.friends.detect{ |x| x.receive_url == friend_url}
-      request = Request.instantiate(:to => friend_url, :from => self.person, :into => group_id)
-      if request.save
-        self.pending_requests << request
-        self.save
+    raise "You are already friends with that person!" if self.friends.detect{ |x| x.receive_url == friend_url}
+    request = Request.instantiate(:to => friend_url, :from => self.person, :into => group_id)
+    if request.save
+      self.pending_requests << request
+      self.save
 
-        group = self.group_by_id(group_id)
+      group = self.group_by_id(group_id)
 
-        group.requests << request
-        group.save
-        
-        request.push_to_url friend_url
-      end
-      request
+      group.requests << request
+      group.save
+      
+      request.push_to_url friend_url
     end
-  end 
+    request
+  end
+   
 
   def accept_friend_request(friend_request_id, group_id)
     request = Request.find_by_id(friend_request_id)