diff --git a/src/ts_api.erl b/src/ts_api.erl
index b7cc81d..f54027b 100644
--- a/src/ts_api.erl
+++ b/src/ts_api.erl
@@ -487,6 +487,8 @@ delete_entry(YArg, Username, TimelineId, EntryId) ->
     % find the record to delete
     case ts_entry:lookup(Username, TimelineId, EntryId) of
 
+        no_record -> make_json_404(YArg);
+
         Record ->
             % try to delete
             case ts_entry:delete(Record) of
@@ -494,9 +496,7 @@ delete_entry(YArg, Username, TimelineId, EntryId) ->
                 Error ->
                     io:format("Error occurred deleting entry record: ~p", [Error]),
                     make_json_500(YArg)
-            end;
-
-        no_record -> make_json_404(YArg)
+            end
     end.
 
 % ============================== %