diff --git a/src/stores/chat/__tests__/chat-unlock-flow.test.ts b/src/stores/chat/__tests__/chat-unlock-flow.test.ts
index ac92b2c9..a5280b3c 100644
--- a/src/stores/chat/__tests__/chat-unlock-flow.test.ts
+++ b/src/stores/chat/__tests__/chat-unlock-flow.test.ts
@@ -490,6 +490,68 @@ describe("chat unlock flow", () => {
     actor.stop();
   });
 
+  it("does not request payment when the unlock target is not found", async () => {
+    const actor = createActor(
+      createTestChatMachine({
+        historyMessages: [
+          {
+            id: "msg-missing",
+            content: "",
+            isFromAI: true,
+            date: "2026-06-29",
+            locked: true,
+            lockReason: "private_message",
+            privateMessageHint: "A private message is waiting.",
+          },
+        ],
+        unlockMessageOutput: {
+          messageId: "msg-missing",
+          response: makeUnlockPrivateResponse({
+            unlocked: false,
+            content: "",
+            reason: "not_found",
+            creditBalance: 3,
+            creditsCharged: 0,
+            requiredCredits: 0,
+            shortfallCredits: 0,
+          }),
+        },
+      }),
+    ).start();
+
+    actor.send({ type: "ChatUserLogin", token: "token" });
+    await waitFor(actor, (snapshot) =>
+      snapshot.matches({ userSession: "ready" }),
+    );
+
+    actor.send({
+      type: "ChatUnlockMessageRequested",
+      messageId: "msg-missing",
+      kind: "private",
+    });
+
+    await waitFor(
+      actor,
+      (snapshot) => snapshot.context.unlockMessageError === "not_found",
+    );
+
+    expect(actor.getSnapshot().context).toMatchObject({
+      isUnlockingMessage: false,
+      unlockingMessageId: null,
+      unlockMessageError: "not_found",
+      unlockPaywallRequest: null,
+    });
+    expect(actor.getSnapshot().context.messages).toMatchObject([
+      {
+        id: "msg-missing",
+        locked: true,
+        lockReason: "private_message",
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    actor.stop();
+  });
+
   it("clears the insufficient credits prompt after payment succeeds", async () => {
     const actor = createActor(createTestChatMachine()).start();
 
diff --git a/src/stores/chat/machine/unlock-flow.ts b/src/stores/chat/machine/unlock-flow.ts
index 1fdc6617..ffaed215 100644
--- a/src/stores/chat/machine/unlock-flow.ts
+++ b/src/stores/chat/machine/unlock-flow.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ const applyUnlockMessageSucceededAction = sendMachineSetup.assign(
 const requestUnlockPaymentFromOutputAction = sendMachineSetup.assign(
   ({ context, event }) => {
     const { output } = event as unknown as DoneActorEvent<UnlockMessageOutput>;
+    const shouldOpenPaywall = output.response.reason !== "not_found";
     return {
       promotion: applyPromotionUnlockOutput(context.promotion, output),
       isUnlockingMessage: false,
@@ -94,30 +95,32 @@ const requestUnlockPaymentFromOutputAction = sendMachineSetup.assign(
       unlockingLockType: null,
       unlockingClientLockId: null,
       unlockMessageError: output.response.reason,
-      unlockPaywallRequest: {
-        displayMessageId:
-          output.response.messageId || output.displayMessageId,
-        ...(output.response.messageId || output.request.messageId
-          ? {
-              messageId:
-                output.response.messageId || output.request.messageId,
-            }
-          : {}),
-        kind: context.unlockingMessageKind ?? "private",
-        ...(output.request.lockType
-          ? { lockType: output.request.lockType }
-          : {}),
-        ...(output.request.clientLockId
-          ? { clientLockId: output.request.clientLockId }
-          : {}),
-        ...(context.promotion?.message.id === output.displayMessageId
-          ? { promotion: context.promotion.session }
-          : {}),
-        reason: output.response.reason,
-        creditBalance: output.response.creditBalance,
-        requiredCredits: output.response.requiredCredits,
-        shortfallCredits: output.response.shortfallCredits,
-      },
+      unlockPaywallRequest: shouldOpenPaywall
+        ? {
+            displayMessageId:
+              output.response.messageId || output.displayMessageId,
+            ...(output.response.messageId || output.request.messageId
+              ? {
+                  messageId:
+                    output.response.messageId || output.request.messageId,
+                }
+              : {}),
+            kind: context.unlockingMessageKind ?? "private",
+            ...(output.request.lockType
+              ? { lockType: output.request.lockType }
+              : {}),
+            ...(output.request.clientLockId
+              ? { clientLockId: output.request.clientLockId }
+              : {}),
+            ...(context.promotion?.message.id === output.displayMessageId
+              ? { promotion: context.promotion.session }
+              : {}),
+            reason: output.response.reason,
+            creditBalance: output.response.creditBalance,
+            requiredCredits: output.response.requiredCredits,
+            shortfallCredits: output.response.shortfallCredits,
+          }
+        : null,
       creditBalance: output.response.creditBalance,
       requiredCredits: output.response.requiredCredits,
       shortfallCredits: output.response.shortfallCredits,