diff --git a/lib/FilesHooks.php b/lib/FilesHooks.php
index 2a58d70ad..7ce2405c6 100644
--- a/lib/FilesHooks.php
+++ b/lib/FilesHooks.php
@@ -1216,6 +1216,8 @@ protected function addNotificationsForUser($user, $subject, $subjectParams, $fil
 					'exception' => $e,
 				],
 			);
+			// Do not publish the incompletely built event
+			return;
 		}
 
 		// Add activity to stream