diff --git a/notifications_client.py b/notifications_client.py
index 7359764dc..a045ed1b1 100644
--- a/notifications_client.py
+++ b/notifications_client.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from announce import sendAnnounceViaServer
 from pgp import pgpDecrypt
 from pgp import hasLocalPGPkey
 from pgp import pgpEncryptToActor
+from pgp import isPGPEncrypted
 
 
 def _waitForKeypress(timeout: int, debug: bool) -> str:
@@ -518,16 +519,16 @@ def runNotificationsClient(baseDir: str, proxyType: str, httpPrefix: str,
                         else:
                             messageStr = speakerJson['say'] + '. ' + \
                                 speakerJson['imageDescription']
-                        if speakerJson.get('id'):
+                        encryptedMessage = False
+                        if speakerJson.get('id') and \
+                           isPGPEncrypted(messageStr):
+                            encryptedMessage = True
                             messageStr = pgpDecrypt(messageStr,
                                                     speakerJson['id'])
 
                         content = messageStr
                         if speakerJson.get('content'):
-                            if speakerJson.get('id'):
-                                content = pgpDecrypt(speakerJson['content'],
-                                                     speakerJson['id'])
-                            else:
+                            if not encryptedMessage:
                                 content = speakerJson['content']
 
                         # say the speaker's name
diff --git a/pgp.py b/pgp.py
index 1720f75bf..c5c65209d 100644
--- a/pgp.py
+++ b/pgp.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def getPGPpubKey(actorJson: {}) -> str:
             continue
         if propertyValue['type'] != 'PropertyValue':
             continue
-        if '--BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY' not in propertyValue['value']:
+        if not containsPGPPublicKey(propertyValue['value']):
             continue
         return propertyValue['value']
     return ''
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def setPGPpubKey(actorJson: {}, PGPpubKey: str) -> None:
     if not PGPpubKey:
         removeKey = True
     else:
-        if '--BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY' not in PGPpubKey:
+        if not containsPGPPublicKey(PGPpubKey):
             removeKey = True
         if '<' in PGPpubKey:
             removeKey = True
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ def _pgpEncrypt(content: str, recipientPubKey: str) -> str:
     if not encryptResult:
         return None
     encryptResult = encryptResult.decode('utf-8')
-    if '--BEGIN PGP MESSAGE--' not in encryptResult:
+    if not isPGPEncrypted(encryptResult):
         return None
     return encryptResult
 
@@ -343,9 +343,8 @@ def _getPGPPublicKeyFromActor(handle: str, actorJson=None) -> str:
             continue
         if not isinstance(tag['value'], str):
             continue
-        if '--BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK--' in tag['value']:
-            if '--END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK--' in tag['value']:
-                return tag['value']
+        if containsPGPPublicKey(tag['value']):
+            return tag['value']
     return None
 
 
@@ -370,17 +369,33 @@ def pgpEncryptToActor(content: str, toHandle: str) -> str:
     return _pgpEncrypt(content, recipientPubKey)
 
 
+def isPGPEncrypted(content: str) -> bool:
+    """Returns true if the given content is PGP encrypted
+    """
+    if '--BEGIN PGP MESSAGE--' in content:
+        if '--END PGP MESSAGE--' in content:
+            return True
+    return False
+
+
+def containsPGPPublicKey(content: str) -> bool:
+    """Returns true if the given content contains a PGP public key
+    """
+    if '--BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK--' in content:
+        if '--END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK--' in content:
+            return True
+    return False
+
+
 def pgpDecrypt(content: str, fromHandle: str) -> str:
     """ Encrypt using your default pgp key to the given recipient
     fromHandle can be a handle or actor url
     """
-    if '--BEGIN PGP MESSAGE--' not in content:
+    if not isPGPEncrypted(content):
         return content
 
     # if the public key is also included within the message then import it
-    startBlock = '--BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK--'
-    endBlock = '--END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK--'
-    if startBlock in content and endBlock in content:
+    if containsPGPPublicKey(content):
         pubKey = extractPGPPublicKey(content)
     else:
         pubKey = _getPGPPublicKeyFromActor(content, fromHandle)
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index a2adea0ea..00dc92605 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ from webapp_post import prepareHtmlPostNickname
 from webapp_utils import markdownToHtml
 from speaker import speakerReplaceLinks
 from pgp import extractPGPPublicKey
+from pgp import containsPGPPublicKey
 
 testServerAliceRunning = False
 testServerBobRunning = False
@@ -3439,6 +3440,8 @@ def testExtractPGPPublicKey():
         '=gv5G\n' + \
         '-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----'
     testStr = "Some introduction\n\n" + pubKey + "\n\nSome message."
+    assert containsPGPPublicKey(testStr)
+    assert not containsPGPPublicKey('String without a pgp key')
     result = extractPGPPublicKey(testStr)
     assert result
     assert result == pubKey