diff --git a/src/backend/src/controllers/slack.controllers.ts b/src/backend/src/controllers/slack.controllers.ts
index def03d6870..d90c60ac35 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/controllers/slack.controllers.ts
+++ b/src/backend/src/controllers/slack.controllers.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ export default class SlackController {
     try {
       const organizations = await OrganizationsService.getAllOrganizations();
       const nerSlackWorkspaceId = await getWorkspaceId();
-      const orgId = organizations.find((org) => org.slackWorkspaceId === nerSlackWorkspaceId)?.organizationId;
-      if (orgId) {
-        slackServices.processMessageSent(event, orgId);
+      const relatedOrganization = organizations.find((org) => org.slackWorkspaceId === nerSlackWorkspaceId);
+      if (relatedOrganization) {
+        slackServices.processMessageSent(event, relatedOrganization.organizationId);
       }
     } catch (error: unknown) {}
   }
diff --git a/src/backend/src/services/slack.services.ts b/src/backend/src/services/slack.services.ts
index 90c50995a9..c94835d49d 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/services/slack.services.ts
+++ b/src/backend/src/services/slack.services.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import AnnouncementService from './announcement.service';
 import { Announcement } from 'shared';
 import prisma from '../prisma/prisma';
 import { blockToMentionedUsers, blockToString } from '../utils/slack.utils';
+import { NotFoundException } from '../utils/errors.utils';
 
 /**
  * Represents a slack event for a message in a channel.
@@ -159,7 +160,12 @@ export default class slackServices {
           slackChannelName,
           organizationId
         );
-      } catch (ignored) {}
+      } catch (error) {
+        //if couldn't find the announcement to edit, create a new one below
+        if (!(error instanceof NotFoundException)) {
+          throw error;
+        }
+      }
     }
     return await AnnouncementService.createAnnouncement(
       messageText,