diff --git a/app/routes/friends.py b/app/routes/friends.py
index c7fb33d..37a0d13 100644
--- a/app/routes/friends.py
+++ b/app/routes/friends.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ client = pymongo.MongoClient(config.MONGODB_URL, username=config.MONGODB_USERNAM
 db = client[config.MONGODB_DATABASE]
 
 friends_collection = db["friends"]
+users_collection = db["users"]
 
 friends_router = APIRouter(
     prefix="/friend",
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ async def add_friend(friend_to_add: FriendAddDTO, current_user: User = Depends(g
         )
     
     # Test if user exists
-    if db["users"].find_one({"_id": ObjectId(friend["friend_user_id"])}):
+    if not users_collection.find_one({"_id": ObjectId(friend["friend_user_id"])}):
         raise HTTPException(
             status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND,
             detail="User not found"