diff --git a/src/notifications.js b/src/notifications.js
index ce0d0d86c..f583d8f32 100644
--- a/src/notifications.js
+++ b/src/notifications.js
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ exports = module.exports = {
 
 let assert = require('assert'),
     async = require('async'),
+    auditsource = require('./auditsource.js'),
     changelog = require('./changelog.js'),
     custom = require('./custom.js'),
     DatabaseError = require('./databaseerror.js'),
@@ -345,6 +346,9 @@ function onEvent(id, action, source, data, callback) {
     assert.strictEqual(typeof data, 'object');
     assert.strictEqual(typeof callback, 'function');
 
+    // external ldap syncer does not generate notifications - FIXME username might be an issue here
+    if (source.username === auditsource.EXTERNAL_LDAP_TASK.username) return callback();
+
     switch (action) {
     case eventlog.ACTION_USER_ADD:
         return userAdded(source.userId, id, data.user, callback);