diff --git a/resources/js/components/transactions/edit-transaction-dialog.tsx b/resources/js/components/transactions/edit-transaction-dialog.tsx
index c1142408..95359f8b 100644
--- a/resources/js/components/transactions/edit-transaction-dialog.tsx
+++ b/resources/js/components/transactions/edit-transaction-dialog.tsx
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import { useEncryptionKey } from '@/contexts/encryption-key-context';
 import { decrypt, encrypt, importKey } from '@/lib/crypto';
 import { getStoredKey } from '@/lib/key-storage';
 import { evaluateRulesForNewTransaction } from '@/lib/rule-engine';
+import { appendNoteIfNotPresent } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { automationRuleSyncService } from '@/services/automation-rule-sync';
 import { transactionSyncService } from '@/services/transaction-sync';
 import {
@@ -198,11 +199,10 @@ export function EditTransactionDialog({
                     result.noteIv,
                 );
 
-                if (finalNotes) {
-                    finalNotes = `${finalNotes}\n${decryptedRuleNote}`;
-                } else {
-                    finalNotes = decryptedRuleNote;
-                }
+                finalNotes = appendNoteIfNotPresent(
+                    finalNotes || undefined,
+                    decryptedRuleNote,
+                );
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/resources/js/hooks/use-dashboard-data.ts b/resources/js/hooks/use-dashboard-data.ts
index 9a7bc8b1..935510fb 100644
--- a/resources/js/hooks/use-dashboard-data.ts
+++ b/resources/js/hooks/use-dashboard-data.ts
@@ -76,7 +76,12 @@ function formatMonth(yearMonth: string): string {
 
     const isCurrentYear = date.getFullYear() === new Date().getFullYear();
 
-    return date.toLocaleDateString('en-US', isCurrentYear ? { month: 'short' } : { year: '2-digit', month: 'short' });
+    return date.toLocaleDateString(
+        'en-US',
+        isCurrentYear
+            ? { month: 'short' }
+            : { year: '2-digit', month: 'short' },
+    );
 }
 
 export function useDashboardData(): DashboardData {
diff --git a/resources/js/hooks/use-re-evaluate-all-transactions.tsx b/resources/js/hooks/use-re-evaluate-all-transactions.tsx
index b63ed161..052b26c3 100644
--- a/resources/js/hooks/use-re-evaluate-all-transactions.tsx
+++ b/resources/js/hooks/use-re-evaluate-all-transactions.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { decrypt, encrypt, importKey } from '@/lib/crypto';
 import { getStoredKey } from '@/lib/key-storage';
 import { evaluateRules } from '@/lib/rule-engine';
+import { appendNoteIfNotPresent } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { automationRuleSyncService } from '@/services/automation-rule-sync';
 import { transactionSyncService } from '@/services/transaction-sync';
 import type { Account, Bank } from '@/types/account';
@@ -77,17 +78,23 @@ export function useReEvaluateAllTransactions() {
                         let finalNotesIv = transaction.notes_iv;
 
                         if (result.note && result.noteIv) {
-                            if (transaction.decryptedNotes) {
-                                const combinedNote = `${transaction.decryptedNotes}\n${await decrypt(result.note, key, result.noteIv)}`;
+                            const decryptedRuleNote = await decrypt(
+                                result.note,
+                                key,
+                                result.noteIv,
+                            );
+                            const combinedNote = appendNoteIfNotPresent(
+                                transaction.decryptedNotes,
+                                decryptedRuleNote,
+                            );
+
+                            if (combinedNote !== transaction.decryptedNotes) {
                                 const encrypted = await encrypt(
                                     combinedNote,
                                     key,
                                 );
                                 finalNotes = encrypted.encrypted;
                                 finalNotesIv = encrypted.iv;
-                            } else {
-                                finalNotes = result.note;
-                                finalNotesIv = result.noteIv;
                             }
                         }
 
diff --git a/resources/js/lib/utils.ts b/resources/js/lib/utils.ts
index 61fbf3a3..c8b9c57b 100644
--- a/resources/js/lib/utils.ts
+++ b/resources/js/lib/utils.ts
@@ -16,3 +16,18 @@ export function isSameUrl(
 export function resolveUrl(url: NonNullable<InertiaLinkProps['href']>): string {
     return typeof url === 'string' ? url : url.url;
 }
+
+export function appendNoteIfNotPresent(
+    existingNotes: string | undefined,
+    newNote: string,
+): string {
+    if (!existingNotes) {
+        return newNote;
+    }
+
+    if (existingNotes.includes(newNote)) {
+        return existingNotes;
+    }
+
+    return `${existingNotes}\n${newNote}`;
+}
diff --git a/resources/js/pages/transactions/index.tsx b/resources/js/pages/transactions/index.tsx
index d29ed7ac..f065e4da 100644
--- a/resources/js/pages/transactions/index.tsx
+++ b/resources/js/pages/transactions/index.tsx
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ import { consoleDebug } from '@/lib/debug';
 import { db } from '@/lib/dexie-db';
 import { getStoredKey } from '@/lib/key-storage';
 import { evaluateRules } from '@/lib/rule-engine';
+import { appendNoteIfNotPresent } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { automationRuleSyncService } from '@/services/automation-rule-sync';
 import { transactionSyncService } from '@/services/transaction-sync';
 import { type BreadcrumbItem } from '@/types';
@@ -600,18 +601,23 @@ export default function Transactions({ categories, accounts, banks }: Props) {
 
                     if (result.note && result.noteIv) {
                         consoleDebug('Adding note from rule');
-                        if (transaction.decryptedNotes) {
-                            const combinedNote = `${transaction.decryptedNotes}\n${await decrypt(result.note, key, result.noteIv)}`;
+                        const decryptedRuleNote = await decrypt(
+                            result.note,
+                            key,
+                            result.noteIv,
+                        );
+                        const combinedNote = appendNoteIfNotPresent(
+                            transaction.decryptedNotes,
+                            decryptedRuleNote,
+                        );
+
+                        if (combinedNote !== transaction.decryptedNotes) {
                             const encrypted = await encrypt(combinedNote, key);
                             finalNotes = encrypted.encrypted;
                             finalNotesIv = encrypted.iv;
-                            consoleDebug(
-                                'Combined existing notes with rule note',
-                            );
+                            consoleDebug('Combined notes with rule note');
                         } else {
-                            finalNotes = result.note;
-                            finalNotesIv = result.noteIv;
-                            consoleDebug('Set rule note as new note');
+                            consoleDebug('Rule note already present, skipping');
                         }
                     }
 
@@ -744,18 +750,23 @@ export default function Transactions({ categories, accounts, banks }: Props) {
 
                     if (result.note && result.noteIv) {
                         consoleDebug('Adding note from rule');
-                        if (transaction.decryptedNotes) {
-                            const combinedNote = `${transaction.decryptedNotes}\n${await decrypt(result.note, key, result.noteIv)}`;
+                        const decryptedRuleNote = await decrypt(
+                            result.note,
+                            key,
+                            result.noteIv,
+                        );
+                        const combinedNote = appendNoteIfNotPresent(
+                            transaction.decryptedNotes,
+                            decryptedRuleNote,
+                        );
+
+                        if (combinedNote !== transaction.decryptedNotes) {
                             const encrypted = await encrypt(combinedNote, key);
                             finalNotes = encrypted.encrypted;
                             finalNotesIv = encrypted.iv;
-                            consoleDebug(
-                                'Combined existing notes with rule note',
-                            );
+                            consoleDebug('Combined notes with rule note');
                         } else {
-                            finalNotes = result.note;
-                            finalNotesIv = result.noteIv;
-                            consoleDebug('Set rule note as new note');
+                            consoleDebug('Rule note already present, skipping');
                         }
                     }