diff --git a/app/controllers/ajax/question_controller.rb b/app/controllers/ajax/question_controller.rb
index 66ed7d58..f91ca17a 100644
--- a/app/controllers/ajax/question_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/ajax/question_controller.rb
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ class Ajax::QuestionController < AjaxController
         return
       end
 
-      unless MuteRule.where(user: target_user).any? { |rule| rule.applies_to? question } ||
-          (author_is_anonymous && AnonymousBlock.where(identifier: AnonymousBlock.get_identifier(request.ip)).any?)
+      unless target_user.mute_rules.any? { |rule| rule.applies_to? question } ||
+          (author_is_anonymous && target_user.anonymous_blocks.where(identifier: AnonymousBlock.get_identifier(request.ip)).any?)
         Inbox.create!(user_id: target_user.id, question_id: question.id, new: true)
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/controllers/ajax/question_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/ajax/question_controller_spec.rb
index d4eb9f43..bf79958c 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/ajax/question_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/ajax/question_controller_spec.rb
@@ -274,6 +274,24 @@ describe Ajax::QuestionController, :ajax_controller, type: :controller do
           end
         end
 
+        context "when the sender is blocked by another user" do
+          let(:user_allows_anonymous_questions) { true }
+          let(:expected_question_user) { nil }
+          let(:expected_question_direct) { true }
+
+          before do
+            identifier = AnonymousBlock.get_identifier("0.0.0.0")
+            dummy_question = FactoryBot.create(:question, author_is_anonymous: true, author_identifier: identifier)
+            AnonymousBlock.create(
+              user:       FactoryBot.create(:user),
+              identifier: identifier,
+              question:   dummy_question
+            )
+          end
+
+          include_examples "creates the question"
+        end
+
         context "when user does not allow anonymous questions" do
           let(:user_allows_anonymous_questions) { false }
           let(:expected_response) do