diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/user.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/user.rb
index 1d0930881..cb6ff4b41 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/user.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/user.rb
@@ -1020,6 +1020,8 @@ module JamRuby
 
         user.save
 
+        user.errors.add("recaptcha", "verification failed") if recaptcha_failed
+
         if user.errors.any?
           raise ActiveRecord::Rollback
         else
@@ -1036,16 +1038,9 @@ module JamRuby
             UserMailer.confirm_email(user, signup_confirm_url.nil? ? nil : (signup_confirm_url + "/" + user.signup_token) ).deliver
           end
         end
-
-        if recaptcha_failed
-          user.errors.add "recaptcha", "verification failed"
-          raise ActiveRecord::Rollback
-        end
-
       end
-
-      return user
-    end
+      user
+    end # def signup
 
     # this is intended to be development-mode or test-mode only; VRFS-149
     # it creates or updates one user per developer, so that we aren't in the business
diff --git a/web/spec/managers/user_manager_spec.rb b/web/spec/managers/user_manager_spec.rb
index df30da27f..275d90b69 100644
--- a/web/spec/managers/user_manager_spec.rb
+++ b/web/spec/managers/user_manager_spec.rb
@@ -666,6 +666,7 @@ describe UserManager do
     before(:each) do
       @old_recaptcha=Rails.application.config.recaptcha_enable
       Rails.application.config.recaptcha_enable=true
+      UserMailer.deliveries.clear
     end
 
     after(:each) do
@@ -687,6 +688,7 @@ describe UserManager do
                                   signup_confirm_url: "http://localhost:3000/confirm")
 
       user.errors.any?.should be_true      
+      UserMailer.deliveries.should have(0).items
     end
 
     it "passes when facebook signup" do