diff --git a/api/src/routes/roles.ts b/api/src/routes/roles.ts
index 8070314..d77093f 100644
--- a/api/src/routes/roles.ts
+++ b/api/src/routes/roles.ts
@@ -16,10 +16,16 @@ ur.post('/', [requireMemberState(MemberState.Member), requireRole("17th Administ
     try {
         const body = req.body;
 
-        assignUserGroup(body.member_id, body.role_id);
+        await assignUserGroup(body.member_id, body.role_id);
 
         res.sendStatus(201);
     } catch (err) {
+        if (err?.code === 'ER_DUP_ENTRY') {
+            return res.status(400).json({
+                error: 'Member already has this role',
+            });
+        }
+
         console.error('Insert failed:', err);
         res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to add to group' });
     }
diff --git a/api/src/services/rolesService.ts b/api/src/services/rolesService.ts
index 9e2275d..19eb228 100644
--- a/api/src/services/rolesService.ts
+++ b/api/src/services/rolesService.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import pool from '../db';
 import { Role, RoleSummary } from '@app/shared/types/roles'
 
 export async function assignUserGroup(userID: number, roleID: number) {
-
     const sql = `INSERT INTO members_roles (member_id, role_id) VALUES (?, ?);`;
     const params = [userID, roleID];