diff --git a/app/dao/notifications_dao.py b/app/dao/notifications_dao.py
index aaab8f5e2..d6346750b 100644
--- a/app/dao/notifications_dao.py
+++ b/app/dao/notifications_dao.py
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def _update_notification_status(notification, status):
     status = _decide_permanent_temporary_failure(current_status=notification.status, status=status)
     notification.status = status
     dao_update_notification(notification)
-    return True
+    return notification
 
 
 @statsd(namespace="dao")
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ def update_notification_status_by_id(notification_id, status):
             Notification.status == 'pending')).first()
 
     if not notification:
-        return False
+        return None
 
     return _update_notification_status(
         notification=notification,
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ def update_notification_status_by_reference(reference, status):
             Notification.status == 'pending')).first()
 
     if not notification:
-        return False
+        return None
 
     return _update_notification_status(
         notification=notification,
diff --git a/tests/app/dao/test_notification_dao.py b/tests/app/dao/test_notification_dao.py
index 3ef686713..2a64e071a 100644
--- a/tests/app/dao/test_notification_dao.py
+++ b/tests/app/dao/test_notification_dao.py
@@ -236,7 +236,8 @@ def test_should_by_able_to_update_status_by_reference(sample_email_template, ses
     notification.reference = 'reference'
     dao_update_notification(notification)
 
-    update_notification_status_by_reference('reference', 'delivered')
+    updated = update_notification_status_by_reference('reference', 'delivered')
+    assert updated.status == 'delivered'
     assert Notification.query.get(notification.id).status == 'delivered'
 
 
@@ -249,8 +250,10 @@ def test_should_by_able_to_update_status_by_id(sample_template, sample_job, mmg_
     assert Notification.query.get(notification.id).status == 'sending'
 
     with freeze_time('2000-01-02 12:00:00'):
-        assert update_notification_status_by_id(notification.id, 'delivered')
+        updated = update_notification_status_by_id(notification.id, 'delivered')
 
+    assert updated.status == 'delivered'
+    assert updated.updated_at == datetime(2000, 1, 2, 12, 0, 0)
     assert Notification.query.get(notification.id).status == 'delivered'
     assert notification.updated_at == datetime(2000, 1, 2, 12, 0, 0)
 
@@ -264,10 +267,29 @@ def test_should_not_update_status_by_id_if_not_sending_and_does_not_update_job(n
     assert job == Job.query.get(notification.job_id)
 
 
-def test_should_update_status_if_created(notify_db, notify_db_session):
+def test_should_not_update_status_by_reference_if_not_sending_and_does_not_update_job(notify_db, notify_db_session):
+    notification = sample_notification(notify_db, notify_db_session, status='delivered', reference='reference')
+    job = Job.query.get(notification.job_id)
+    assert Notification.query.get(notification.id).status == 'delivered'
+    assert not update_notification_status_by_reference('reference', 'failed')
+    assert Notification.query.get(notification.id).status == 'delivered'
+    assert job == Job.query.get(notification.job_id)
+
+
+def test_should_update_status_by_id_if_created(notify_db, notify_db_session):
     notification = sample_notification(notify_db, notify_db_session, status='created')
     assert Notification.query.get(notification.id).status == 'created'
-    assert update_notification_status_by_id(notification.id, 'failed')
+    updated = update_notification_status_by_id(notification.id, 'failed')
+    assert Notification.query.get(notification.id).status == 'failed'
+    assert updated.status == 'failed'
+
+
+def test_should_not_update_status_by_reference_if_not_sending(notify_db, notify_db_session):
+    notification = sample_notification(notify_db, notify_db_session, status='created', reference='reference')
+    assert Notification.query.get(notification.id).status == 'created'
+    updated = update_notification_status_by_reference('reference', 'failed')
+    assert Notification.query.get(notification.id).status == 'created'
+    assert not updated
 
 
 def test_should_by_able_to_update_status_by_id_from_pending_to_delivered(sample_template, sample_job):