diff --git a/handler/transactions.py b/handler/transactions.py
index 65973d4..1c5637b 100644
--- a/handler/transactions.py
+++ b/handler/transactions.py
@@ -186,10 +186,17 @@ class Transactions(util.Base):
         self.ux.notify.notify_complete_trade(amount, currency)
 
     def release_funds(self, trade_id, reference):
-        self.log.info(f"All checks passed, releasing funds for {trade_id} {reference}")
-        self.irc.sendmsg(f"All checks passed, releasing funds for {trade_id} / {reference}")
+        logmessage = f"All checks passed, releasing funds for {trade_id} {reference}"
+        self.log.info(logmessage)
+        self.irc.sendmsg(logmessage)
         rtrn = self.agora.release_funds(trade_id)
-        self.agora.agora.contact_message_post(trade_id, "Thanks! Releasing now :)")
+        if rtrn["message"] == "OK":
+            self.agora.agora.contact_message_post(trade_id, "Thanks! Releasing now :)")
+        else:
+            logmessage = f"Release funds unsuccessful: {rtrn['message']}"
+            self.log.error(logmessage)
+            self.irc.sendmsg(logmessage)
+            return
 
         # Parse the escrow release response
         message = rtrn["message"]