diff --git a/bookmarks.py b/bookmarks.py
index d6f9817c0..e4a43d70d 100644
--- a/bookmarks.py
+++ b/bookmarks.py
@@ -204,10 +204,11 @@ def updateBookmarksCollection(recentPostsCache: {},
                 try:
                     with open(bookmarksIndexFilename, 'r+') as bmIndexFile:
                         content = bmIndexFile.read()
-                        bmIndexFile.seek(0, 0)
-                        bmIndexFile.write(bookmarkIndex + '\n' + content)
-                        if debug:
-                            print('DEBUG: bookmark added to index')
+                        if bookmarkIndex + '\n' not in content:
+                            bmIndexFile.seek(0, 0)
+                            bmIndexFile.write(bookmarkIndex + '\n' + content)
+                            if debug:
+                                print('DEBUG: bookmark added to index')
                 except Exception as e:
                     print('WARN: Failed to write entry to bookmarks index ' +
                           bookmarksIndexFilename + ' ' + str(e))
diff --git a/follow.py b/follow.py
index 0c9e2598a..ca7fb1637 100644
--- a/follow.py
+++ b/follow.py
@@ -725,8 +725,10 @@ def receiveFollowRequest(session, baseDir: str, httpPrefix: str,
                     try:
                         with open(followersFilename, 'r+') as followersFile:
                             content = followersFile.read()
-                            followersFile.seek(0, 0)
-                            followersFile.write(approveHandle + '\n' + content)
+                            if approveHandle + '\n' not in content:
+                                followersFile.seek(0, 0)
+                                followersFile.write(approveHandle + '\n' +
+                                                    content)
                     except Exception as e:
                         print('WARN: ' +
                               'Failed to write entry to followers file ' +
diff --git a/happening.py b/happening.py
index 137adb138..69a878747 100644
--- a/happening.py
+++ b/happening.py
@@ -96,8 +96,9 @@ def saveEventPost(baseDir: str, handle: str, postId: str,
             try:
                 with open(tlEventsFilename, 'r+') as tlEventsFile:
                     content = tlEventsFile.read()
-                    tlEventsFile.seek(0, 0)
-                    tlEventsFile.write(eventId + '\n' + content)
+                    if eventId + '\n' not in content:
+                        tlEventsFile.seek(0, 0)
+                        tlEventsFile.write(eventId + '\n' + content)
             except Exception as e:
                 print('WARN: Failed to write entry to events file ' +
                       tlEventsFilename + ' ' + str(e))
diff --git a/inbox.py b/inbox.py
index dba441288..7f5a4aa3d 100644
--- a/inbox.py
+++ b/inbox.py
@@ -123,8 +123,9 @@ def storeHashTags(baseDir: str, nickname: str, postJsonObject: {}) -> None:
                 try:
                     with open(tagsFilename, 'r+') as tagsFile:
                         content = tagsFile.read()
-                        tagsFile.seek(0, 0)
-                        tagsFile.write(tagline + content)
+                        if tagline not in content:
+                            tagsFile.seek(0, 0)
+                            tagsFile.write(tagline + content)
                 except Exception as e:
                     print('WARN: Failed to write entry to tags file ' +
                           tagsFilename + ' ' + str(e))
diff --git a/manualapprove.py b/manualapprove.py
index 7c0eb9ce1..f442c8e5c 100644
--- a/manualapprove.py
+++ b/manualapprove.py
@@ -184,8 +184,10 @@ def manualApproveFollowRequest(session, baseDir: str,
                 try:
                     with open(followersFilename, 'r+') as followersFile:
                         content = followersFile.read()
-                        followersFile.seek(0, 0)
-                        followersFile.write(approveHandleFull + '\n' + content)
+                        if approveHandleFull + '\n' not in content:
+                            followersFile.seek(0, 0)
+                            followersFile.write(approveHandleFull + '\n' +
+                                                content)
                 except Exception as e:
                     print('WARN: Manual follow accept. ' +
                           'Failed to write entry to followers file ' + str(e))
diff --git a/newsdaemon.py b/newsdaemon.py
index ff3952926..737b4ac9c 100644
--- a/newsdaemon.py
+++ b/newsdaemon.py
@@ -46,9 +46,10 @@ def _updateFeedsOutboxIndex(baseDir: str, domain: str, postId: str) -> None:
             try:
                 with open(indexFilename, 'r+') as feedsFile:
                     content = feedsFile.read()
-                    feedsFile.seek(0, 0)
-                    feedsFile.write(postId + '\n' + content)
-                    print('DEBUG: feeds post added to index')
+                    if postId + '\n' not in content:
+                        feedsFile.seek(0, 0)
+                        feedsFile.write(postId + '\n' + content)
+                        print('DEBUG: feeds post added to index')
             except Exception as e:
                 print('WARN: Failed to write entry to feeds posts index ' +
                       indexFilename + ' ' + str(e))
diff --git a/posts.py b/posts.py
index c402e883c..cd205b49b 100644
--- a/posts.py
+++ b/posts.py
@@ -668,8 +668,9 @@ def _updateHashtagsIndex(baseDir: str, tag: {}, newPostId: str) -> None:
             try:
                 with open(tagsFilename, 'r+') as tagsFile:
                     content = tagsFile.read()
-                    tagsFile.seek(0, 0)
-                    tagsFile.write(tagline+content)
+                    if tagline not in content:
+                        tagsFile.seek(0, 0)
+                        tagsFile.write(tagline + content)
             except Exception as e:
                 print('WARN: Failed to write entry to tags file ' +
                       tagsFilename + ' ' + str(e))
@@ -688,9 +689,10 @@ def _addSchedulePost(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
             try:
                 with open(scheduleIndexFilename, 'r+') as scheduleFile:
                     content = scheduleFile.read()
-                    scheduleFile.seek(0, 0)
-                    scheduleFile.write(indexStr + '\n' + content)
-                    print('DEBUG: scheduled post added to index')
+                    if indexStr + '\n' not in content:
+                        scheduleFile.seek(0, 0)
+                        scheduleFile.write(indexStr + '\n' + content)
+                        print('DEBUG: scheduled post added to index')
             except Exception as e:
                 print('WARN: Failed to write entry to scheduled posts index ' +
                       scheduleIndexFilename + ' ' + str(e))
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 2bdcbff74..99d8a8637 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -708,9 +708,10 @@ def followPerson(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
         try:
             with open(filename, 'r+') as f:
                 content = f.read()
-                f.seek(0, 0)
-                f.write(handleToFollow + '\n' + content)
-                print('DEBUG: follow added')
+                if handleToFollow + '\n' not in content:
+                    f.seek(0, 0)
+                    f.write(handleToFollow + '\n' + content)
+                    print('DEBUG: follow added')
         except Exception as e:
             print('WARN: Failed to write entry to follow file ' +
                   filename + ' ' + str(e))