diff --git a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portets/user/message_conversations/client/ui/MessageItem.java b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portets/user/message_conversations/client/ui/MessageItem.java
index 7478eb0..1e65605 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portets/user/message_conversations/client/ui/MessageItem.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portets/user/message_conversations/client/ui/MessageItem.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import com.google.gwt.uibinder.client.UiBinder;
 import com.google.gwt.uibinder.client.UiField;
 import com.google.gwt.uibinder.client.UiHandler;
 import com.google.gwt.user.client.Random;
+import com.google.gwt.user.client.Window;
 import com.google.gwt.user.client.ui.Composite;
 import com.google.gwt.user.client.ui.Widget;
 
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ public class MessageItem extends Composite  {
 	@UiField MaterialDropDown dd;
 
 	MessagesResources images = GWT.create(MessagesResources.class);
-	
+
 
 	public MessageItem(final ConvMessage m, MaterialCollection parentCollection, ApplicationView ap, boolean sent) {
 		initWidget(uiBinder.createAndBindUi(this));
@@ -74,9 +75,10 @@ public class MessageItem extends Composite  {
 			attachmentsIcon.setVisibility(Visibility.VISIBLE);
 		if (!sent && !m.isRead())
 			item.addStyleName("unread-message");
-		if (sent)
+		if (sent || !myMessage.isRead()) {
 			dd.remove(0); //remove the option to set unread if the message is sent	
-			
+		}
+
 		if (m.getOwner().getAvatarURL() == null || m.getOwner().getAvatarURL().compareTo("")== 0) {			
 			if (sent) 
 				avatarImage.setResource(
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@ public class MessageItem extends Composite  {
 		timeLabel.setText(Utils.getFormatteDate(m.getDate()));
 		if (sent)
 			item.setBackgroundColor(Color.WHITE);
-		
+
 		//because on tablet and on mobile cause problems
 		if (!Utils.isMobile()) {
 			item.addMouseOverHandler(new MouseOverHandler() {
@@ -149,14 +151,18 @@ public class MessageItem extends Composite  {
 		dd.setActivator(activator);
 		messageActionIcon.setActivates(activator);
 	}
-	
+
 
 	@UiHandler("setUnreadButton")
 	void onSetUnread(ClickEvent e) {
 		e.stopPropagation();
-		ap.setMessageUnread(myMessage, this.sent);
-		myMessage.setRead(false);
-		item.addStyleName("unread-message");
+		if (myMessage.isRead()) {
+			ap.setMessageUnread(myMessage, this.sent);
+			myMessage.setRead(false);
+			item.addStyleName("unread-message");
+		} else {
+			Window.alert("Message is marked as unread already.");
+		}
 	}
 
 	private void doDelete(String subject) {
@@ -187,7 +193,7 @@ public class MessageItem extends Composite  {
 		if (Utils.isMobile())
 			ap.hideSidePanel();
 	}
-	
+
 	public void hideMessageMenu() {
 		messageActionIcon.setVisible(false);
 	}