diff --git a/app/delivery/send_to_providers.py b/app/delivery/send_to_providers.py
index 38c1e0015..4dd2892cb 100644
--- a/app/delivery/send_to_providers.py
+++ b/app/delivery/send_to_providers.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from app.models import (
     BRANDING_ORG_BANNER,
     BRANDING_GOVUK,
     EMAIL_TYPE,
+    NOTIFICATION_CREATED,
     NOTIFICATION_TECHNICAL_FAILURE,
     NOTIFICATION_SENT,
     NOTIFICATION_SENDING
@@ -54,8 +55,17 @@ def send_sms_to_provider(notification):
 
         if service.research_mode or notification.key_type == KEY_TYPE_TEST:
             notification.billable_units = 0
-            send_sms_response(provider.get_name(), str(notification.id), notification.to)
             update_notification(notification, provider)
+            try:
+                send_sms_response(provider.get_name(), str(notification.id), notification.to)
+            except:
+                # when we retry, we only do anything if the notification is in created - it's currently in sending,
+                # so set it back so that we actually attempt the callback again
+                notification.sent_at = None
+                notification.sent_by = None
+                notification.status = NOTIFICATION_CREATED
+                dao_update_notification(notification)
+                raise
         else:
             try:
                 provider.send_sms(
diff --git a/tests/app/delivery/test_send_to_providers.py b/tests/app/delivery/test_send_to_providers.py
index 99fffc002..00b75f873 100644
--- a/tests/app/delivery/test_send_to_providers.py
+++ b/tests/app/delivery/test_send_to_providers.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from unittest.mock import ANY, call
 import pytest
 from notifications_utils.recipients import validate_and_format_phone_number
 from flask import current_app
+from requests import HTTPError
 
 import app
 from app import mmg_client, firetext_client
@@ -235,6 +236,20 @@ def test_should_call_send_sms_response_task_if_research_mode(
     assert not persisted_notification.personalisation
 
 
+def test_should_leave_as_created_if_fake_callback_function_fails(sample_notification, mocker):
+    mocker.patch('app.delivery.send_to_providers.send_sms_response', side_effect=HTTPError)
+
+    sample_notification.key_type = KEY_TYPE_TEST
+
+    with pytest.raises(HTTPError):
+        send_to_providers.send_sms_to_provider(
+            sample_notification
+        )
+    assert sample_notification.status == 'created'
+    assert sample_notification.sent_at is None
+    assert sample_notification.sent_by is None
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('research_mode,key_type', [
     (True, KEY_TYPE_NORMAL),
     (False, KEY_TYPE_TEST)
diff --git a/tests/app/v2/notifications/test_post_notifications.py b/tests/app/v2/notifications/test_post_notifications.py
index 9e9847dc1..390ccac08 100644
--- a/tests/app/v2/notifications/test_post_notifications.py
+++ b/tests/app/v2/notifications/test_post_notifications.py
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ def test_post_email_notification_returns_201(client, sample_email_template_with_
     assert response.status_code == 201
     resp_json = json.loads(response.get_data(as_text=True))
     assert validate(resp_json, post_email_response) == resp_json
-    notification = Notification.query.first()
+    notification = Notification.query.one()
     assert resp_json['id'] == str(notification.id)
     assert resp_json['reference'] == reference
     assert notification.reference is None