diff --git a/lib/jam_websockets/router.rb b/lib/jam_websockets/router.rb
index 86d31a958..f68d0094f 100644
--- a/lib/jam_websockets/router.rb
+++ b/lib/jam_websockets/router.rb
@@ -479,12 +479,14 @@ module JamWebsockets
 
     def handle_heartbeat(heartbeat, client)
       context = @clients[client]
-      @log.debug "updating timestamp for user #{context}"
       connection = Connection.find_by_user_id_and_client_id(context.user.id, context.client.client_id)
 
-      unless connection.nil?
+      if connection.nil?
+        @log.debug "unable to find connection due to heartbeat from client: #{context}"
+      else
+        @log.debug "updating connection freshness due to heartbeat from client: #{context}"
         connection.updated_at = DateTime.now
-        connection.save
+        connection.save(:validate => false)  # validates are unneeded, as we are just touching updated_at
       end
     end