diff --git a/server/src/db.cpp b/server/src/db.cpp
index aa5fe94..161389f 100644
--- a/server/src/db.cpp
+++ b/server/src/db.cpp
@@ -200,8 +200,36 @@ void Database::addLike(uint64_t postId, uint64_t userId) {
     }
 
     if (sqlite3_step(stmt) != SQLITE_DONE) {
+        // the user has UNLIKED something??? impossible
         sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
-        throw std::runtime_error("you lowkey already liked the post");
+        // get rid of their like, how sad
+        sql.str("");
+        sql.clear();
+        sql << "UPDATE posts SET likes = COALESCE(likes, 1) - 1 WHERE id = " << postId << ";";
+        sqlstr = sql.str();
+
+        if (sqlite3_prepare_v2(db, sqlstr.c_str(), -1, &stmt, nullptr) != SQLITE_OK) {
+            throw std::runtime_error("sqlite3 error: " + std::string(sqlite3_errmsg(db)));
+        }
+        if (sqlite3_step(stmt) != SQLITE_DONE) {
+            throw std::runtime_error("sqlite3 error: " + std::string(sqlite3_errmsg(db)));
+        }
+        sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
+
+        // remove like from the likes table :(
+        sql.str("");
+        sql.clear();
+        sql << "DELETE FROM likes WHERE postid = " << postId << " AND userid = " << userId << ";";
+        sqlstr = sql.str();
+
+        if (sqlite3_prepare_v2(db, sqlstr.c_str(), -1, &stmt, nullptr) != SQLITE_OK) {
+            throw std::runtime_error("sqlite3 error: " + std::string(sqlite3_errmsg(db)));
+        }
+        if (sqlite3_step(stmt) != SQLITE_DONE) {
+            throw std::runtime_error("sqlite3 error: " + std::string(sqlite3_errmsg(db)));
+        }
+        sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
+        return;
     }
     sqlite3_finalize(stmt);