diff --git a/packages/api/src/services/library_item.ts b/packages/api/src/services/library_item.ts
index 6e26a0966a..f4cc5457ba 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/services/library_item.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/services/library_item.ts
@@ -1039,8 +1039,9 @@ export const updateLibraryItemReadingProgress = async (
   }
 
   const updatedItem = result[0][0]
-  if (updatedItem.readingProgressBottomPercent === 100) {
-    // mark item as read
+  const readingProgress = updatedItem.readingProgressBottomPercent
+  if (readingProgress === 0 || readingProgress === 100) {
+    // only send PAGE_UPDATED event if users mark item as read or unread
     await pubsub.entityUpdated<ItemEvent>(EntityType.ITEM, updatedItem, userId)
   }