diff --git a/lib/messagelib.php b/lib/messagelib.php
index 38d371ac006..3ab00ead83b 100644
--- a/lib/messagelib.php
+++ b/lib/messagelib.php
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ function message_get_providers_for_user($userid) {
         $params['frontpagepathpattern'] = $frontpagecontext->path . '/';
 
         $sql .= "
-             UNION DISTINCT
+             UNION
 
             SELECT DISTINCT rc.capability, 1