diff --git a/src/bot.py b/src/bot.py
index bc8c29b..5738d98 100644
--- a/src/bot.py
+++ b/src/bot.py
@@ -232,9 +232,10 @@ async def remove_subscribed_message(self, msg: SubscribedMessage) -> None:
             return
         message = await msg_channel.fetch_message(msg.message_id)
 
-        chan_name = message.channel.name if hasattr(message.channel, 'name') else 'unknown channel'
-        print(f'Removing message in {chan_name} from {message.author.name}')
-        await message.delete()  # remove message from discord
+        if message:  # message may have already been deleted manually
+            chan_name = message.channel.name if hasattr(message.channel, 'name') else 'unknown channel'
+            print(f'Removing message in {chan_name} from {message.author.name}')
+            await message.delete()  # remove message from discord
 
         # remove message from subscription list and save to file
         self.subscribed_messages.remove(msg)