diff --git a/app/Models/User.php b/app/Models/User.php
index c7d9eac..7dfc5b3 100644
--- a/app/Models/User.php
+++ b/app/Models/User.php
@@ -62,5 +62,11 @@ class User extends Authenticatable
         return $this->belongsToMany(User::class, "followers", "user_id", "follower_id");
     }
 
+    // check if a user already follows another user
+    public function following(User $user)
+    {
+        return $this->followers->contains($user->id);
+    }
+
     // store the following
 }
diff --git a/resources/views/dashboard.blade.php b/resources/views/dashboard.blade.php
index 93bb9b2..6b1adcc 100644
--- a/resources/views/dashboard.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/dashboard.blade.php
@@ -47,19 +47,22 @@
 
                 @auth
                     @if ($user->id !== auth()->user()->id)
-                        <form action="{{ route('users.follow', $user) }}" method="POST">
-                            @csrf
-                            <input type="submit"
-                                class="bg-blue-600 text-white uppercase rounded-lg px-3 py-1 text-xs font-bold cursor-pointer"
-                                value="follow">
-                        </form>
-                        <form action="{{ route('users.unfollow', $user) }}" method="POST">
-                            @csrf
-                            @method('DELETE')
-                            <input type="submit"
-                                class="bg-red-600 text-white uppercase rounded-lg px-3 py-1 text-xs font-bold cursor-pointer"
-                                value="unfollow">
-                        </form>
+                        @if (!$user->following(auth()->user()))
+                            <form action="{{ route('users.follow', $user) }}" method="POST">
+                                @csrf
+                                <input type="submit"
+                                    class="bg-blue-600 text-white uppercase rounded-lg px-3 py-1 text-xs font-bold cursor-pointer"
+                                    value="follow">
+                            </form>
+                        @else
+                            <form action="{{ route('users.unfollow', $user) }}" method="POST">
+                                @csrf
+                                @method('DELETE')
+                                <input type="submit"
+                                    class="bg-red-600 text-white uppercase rounded-lg px-3 py-1 text-xs font-bold cursor-pointer"
+                                    value="unfollow">
+                            </form>
+                        @endif
                     @endif
                 @endauth
             </div>