diff --git a/manager/api/tests/test_jira.py b/manager/api/tests/test_jira.py
index fa0025a4..51d827d1 100644
--- a/manager/api/tests/test_jira.py
+++ b/manager/api/tests/test_jira.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import requests
+import rest_framework
 from django.test import TestCase, override_settings
 
 from manager.utils import (
@@ -345,6 +346,7 @@ def test_update_time_lost(self):
 
         jira_response = update_time_lost(12, 97.01)
         assert jira_response.status_code == 400
+        assert jira_response.data["ack"] == "Jira time_lost field could not be updated"
 
     def test_add_comment(self):
         """Test call to jira_comment function with all needed parameters"""
@@ -360,13 +362,20 @@ def test_add_comment(self):
 
         mock_time_lost_patcher = patch("manager.utils.update_time_lost")
         mock_time_lost_client = mock_time_lost_patcher.start()
-        mock_time_lost_client.return_value = response
+        time_lost_response = rest_framework.response.Response()
+        time_lost_response.status_code = 200
+        time_lost_response.data = {
+            "ack": "Jira time_lost field updated",
+        }
+        mock_time_lost_client.return_value = time_lost_response
 
         jira_response = jira_comment(self.jira_request_narrative_full_jira_comment.data)
         assert jira_response.status_code == 200
         assert jira_response.data["ack"] == "Jira comment created"
 
     def test_add_comment_fail(self):
+        """Test jira_comment() return value when update_time_lost()
+        fails during jira_comment()"""
         mock_jira_patcher = patch("requests.post")
         mock_jira_client = mock_jira_patcher.start()
         response = requests.Response()
@@ -375,12 +384,16 @@ def test_add_comment_fail(self):
 
         mock_time_lost_patcher = patch("manager.utils.update_time_lost")
         mock_time_lost_client = mock_time_lost_patcher.start()
-        time_response = requests.Response()
-        time_response.status_code = 400
-        mock_time_lost_client.return_value = time_response
+        time_lost_response = rest_framework.response.Response()
+        time_lost_response.status_code = 400
+        time_lost_response.data = {
+            "ack": "Jira time_lost field could not be updated",
+        }
+        mock_time_lost_client.return_value = time_lost_response
 
         resp = jira_comment(self.jira_request_narrative_full_jira_comment.data)
         assert resp.status_code == 400
+        assert resp.data["ack"] == "Jira time_lost field could not be updated"
 
     @patch.dict(os.environ, {"JIRA_API_HOSTNAME": "jira.lsstcorp.org"})
     def test_handle_narrative_jira_payload(self):
diff --git a/manager/manager/utils.py b/manager/manager/utils.py
index 2c883b76..3d0147c6 100644
--- a/manager/manager/utils.py
+++ b/manager/manager/utils.py
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ def jira_comment(request_data):
         timelost_response = update_time_lost(
             jira_id=jira_id, add_time_lost=request_data.get("time_lost", 0.0)
         )
-        if timelost_response.status_code == 400:
+        if timelost_response.status_code != 200:
             return timelost_response
 
     if response.status_code == 201: