diff --git a/devplacepy/push.py b/devplacepy/push.py
index bd8b841..7cba340 100644
--- a/devplacepy/push.py
+++ b/devplacepy/push.py
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ async def notify_user(user_uid: str, payload: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
 
 async def register(
     user_uid: str, endpoint: str, key_auth: str, key_p256dh: str
-) -> dict[str, Any]:
+) -> tuple[dict[str, Any], bool]:
     table = get_table("push_registration")
     existing = table.find_one(
         user_uid=user_uid,
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ async def register(
     )
     if existing:
         logger.debug("Push subscription already registered for user %s", user_uid)
-        return existing
+        return existing, False
 
     record = {
         "uid": generate_uid(),
@@ -274,4 +274,4 @@ async def register(
     }
     table.insert(record)
     logger.info("Registered push subscription for user %s", user_uid)
-    return record
+    return record, True
diff --git a/devplacepy/routers/push.py b/devplacepy/routers/push.py
index ca646e0..84f2a0e 100644
--- a/devplacepy/routers/push.py
+++ b/devplacepy/routers/push.py
@@ -35,17 +35,18 @@ async def push_register(request: Request) -> JSONResponse:
     if not (isinstance(keys, dict) and body.get("endpoint") and keys.get("p256dh") and keys.get("auth")):
         return JSONResponse({"error": "Invalid request"}, status_code=400)
 
-    await push.register(
+    _, created = await push.register(
         user_uid=user["uid"],
         endpoint=body["endpoint"],
         key_auth=keys["auth"],
         key_p256dh=keys["p256dh"],
     )
 
-    try:
-        await push.notify_user(user["uid"], WELCOME_PAYLOAD)
-    except Exception as exc:
-        logger.warning("Welcome push failed for %s: %s", user["uid"], exc)
+    if created:
+        try:
+            await push.notify_user(user["uid"], WELCOME_PAYLOAD)
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logger.warning("Welcome push failed for %s: %s", user["uid"], exc)
 
     return JSONResponse({"registered": True})