diff --git a/packages/component-manuscript-manager/src/routes/fragmentsRecommendations/notifications/notifications.js b/packages/component-manuscript-manager/src/routes/fragmentsRecommendations/notifications/notifications.js
index c930744e70e8db6829fb9423a52f78066b133b71..4b1119a2e6aeaa49b7aab7f2d02c89835edb0f1c 100644
--- a/packages/component-manuscript-manager/src/routes/fragmentsRecommendations/notifications/notifications.js
+++ b/packages/component-manuscript-manager/src/routes/fragmentsRecommendations/notifications/notifications.js
@@ -74,10 +74,12 @@ module.exports = {
 
     // send HE emails when a review is submitted
     // or when the EiC makes a recommendation after peer review
+
     if (
-      (isEditorInChief || recommendationType === 'review') &&
-      hasPeerReview &&
-      (recommendation !== 'publish' || hasEQA)
+      recommendationType === 'review' ||
+      (isEditorInChief &&
+        hasPeerReview &&
+        (recommendation !== 'publish' || hasEQA))
     ) {
       const handlingEditor = get(collection, 'handlingEditor', {})
       const heUser = await UserModel.find(handlingEditor.id)