diff --git a/app/Repositories/Journal/JournalRepository.php b/app/Repositories/Journal/JournalRepository.php
index 43bad26479..13f75a3860 100644
--- a/app/Repositories/Journal/JournalRepository.php
+++ b/app/Repositories/Journal/JournalRepository.php
@@ -236,7 +236,9 @@ class JournalRepository implements JournalRepositoryInterface
         }
 
         // update note:
-        $this->updateNote($journal, $data['notes']);
+        if (isset($data['notes'])) {
+            $this->updateNote($journal, $data['notes']);
+        }
 
         foreach ($data as $key => $value) {
             if (in_array($key, $this->validMetaFields)) {
@@ -291,7 +293,9 @@ class JournalRepository implements JournalRepositoryInterface
         }
 
         // update note:
-        $this->updateNote($journal, $data['notes']);
+        if (isset($data['notes'])) {
+            $this->updateNote($journal, $data['notes']);
+        }
 
         // update meta fields:
         $result = $journal->save();