diff --git a/app/broadcast_message/rest.py b/app/broadcast_message/rest.py
index 859f2636d..f909bc958 100644
--- a/app/broadcast_message/rest.py
+++ b/app/broadcast_message/rest.py
@@ -192,29 +192,29 @@ def _create_broadcast_event(broadcast_message):
     """
     Creates a broadcast event, stores it in the database, and triggers the task to send the CAP XML off
     """
-    msg_types = {
-        BroadcastStatusType.BROADCASTING: BroadcastEventMessageType.ALERT,
-        BroadcastStatusType.CANCELLED: BroadcastEventMessageType.CANCEL,
-    }
-
-    event = BroadcastEvent(
-        service=broadcast_message.service,
-        broadcast_message=broadcast_message,
-        message_type=msg_types[broadcast_message.status],
-        transmitted_content={"body": broadcast_message.content},
-        transmitted_areas=broadcast_message.areas,
-        # TODO: Probably move this somewhere more standalone too and imply that it shouldn't change. Should it include
-        # a service based identifier too? eg "flood-warnings@notifications.service.gov.uk" or similar
-        transmitted_sender='notifications.service.gov.uk',
-
-        # TODO: Should this be set to now? Or the original starts_at?
-        transmitted_starts_at=broadcast_message.starts_at,
-        transmitted_finishes_at=broadcast_message.finishes_at,
-    )
-
-    dao_save_object(event)
-
     if not broadcast_message.stubbed:
+        msg_types = {
+            BroadcastStatusType.BROADCASTING: BroadcastEventMessageType.ALERT,
+            BroadcastStatusType.CANCELLED: BroadcastEventMessageType.CANCEL,
+        }
+
+        event = BroadcastEvent(
+            service=broadcast_message.service,
+            broadcast_message=broadcast_message,
+            message_type=msg_types[broadcast_message.status],
+            transmitted_content={"body": broadcast_message.content},
+            transmitted_areas=broadcast_message.areas,
+            # TODO: Probably move this somewhere more standalone too and imply that it shouldn't change. Should it
+            # include a service based identifier too? eg "flood-warnings@notifications.service.gov.uk" or similar
+            transmitted_sender='notifications.service.gov.uk',
+
+            # TODO: Should this be set to now? Or the original starts_at?
+            transmitted_starts_at=broadcast_message.starts_at,
+            transmitted_finishes_at=broadcast_message.finishes_at,
+        )
+
+        dao_save_object(event)
+
         send_broadcast_event.apply_async(
             kwargs={'broadcast_event_id': str(event.id)},
             queue=QueueNames.BROADCASTS
diff --git a/tests/app/broadcast_message/test_rest.py b/tests/app/broadcast_message/test_rest.py
index b067b8bc4..440b4f81c 100644
--- a/tests/app/broadcast_message/test_rest.py
+++ b/tests/app/broadcast_message/test_rest.py
@@ -591,17 +591,10 @@ def test_update_broadcast_message_status_updates_details_but_does_not_queue_task
     assert response['approved_at'] is not None
     assert response['approved_by_id'] == str(approver.id)
 
-    assert len(bm.events) == 1
-    alert_event = bm.events[0]
-
+    # The broadcast can be approved, but does not create a broadcast_event in the database or put a task on the queue
+    assert len(bm.events) == 0
     assert len(mock_task.mock_calls) == 0
 
-    assert alert_event.service_id == sample_broadcast_service.id
-    assert alert_event.transmitted_areas == bm.areas
-    assert alert_event.message_type == BroadcastEventMessageType.ALERT
-    assert alert_event.transmitted_finishes_at == bm.finishes_at
-    assert alert_event.transmitted_content == {"body": "emergency broadcast"}
-
 
 def test_update_broadcast_message_status_creates_event_with_correct_content_if_broadcast_has_no_template(
     admin_request,