diff --git a/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OItemSearch.scala b/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OItemSearch.scala
index 7ba0373e..3abc6771 100644
--- a/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OItemSearch.scala
+++ b/modules/backend/src/main/scala/docspell/backend/ops/OItemSearch.scala
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ trait OItemSearch[F[_]] {
 
   def findByFileCollective(checksum: String, collective: Ident): F[Vector[RItem]]
 
-  def findByFileSource(checksum: String, sourceId: Ident): F[Vector[RItem]]
+  def findByFileSource(checksum: String, sourceId: Ident): F[Option[Vector[RItem]]]
 
 }
 
@@ -280,11 +280,11 @@ object OItemSearch {
       def findByFileCollective(checksum: String, collective: Ident): F[Vector[RItem]] =
         store.transact(QItem.findByChecksum(checksum, collective, Set.empty))
 
-      def findByFileSource(checksum: String, sourceId: Ident): F[Vector[RItem]] =
+      def findByFileSource(checksum: String, sourceId: Ident): F[Option[Vector[RItem]]] =
         store.transact((for {
           coll  <- OptionT(RSource.findCollective(sourceId))
           items <- OptionT.liftF(QItem.findByChecksum(checksum, coll, Set.empty))
-        } yield items).getOrElse(Vector.empty))
+        } yield items).value)
 
     })
 }
diff --git a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/routes/CheckFileRoutes.scala b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/routes/CheckFileRoutes.scala
index a3f44c26..31bf195d 100644
--- a/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/routes/CheckFileRoutes.scala
+++ b/modules/restserver/src/main/scala/docspell/restserver/routes/CheckFileRoutes.scala
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ object CheckFileRoutes {
     HttpRoutes.of { case GET -> Root / Ident(id) / checksum =>
       for {
         items <- backend.itemSearch.findByFileSource(checksum, id)
-        resp  <- Ok(convert(items))
+        resp  <- items.map(convert).map(Ok(_)).getOrElse(NotFound())
       } yield resp
     }
   }