diff --git a/src/clj/auto_ap/graphql/transactions.clj b/src/clj/auto_ap/graphql/transactions.clj
index e8398c27..ff92785c 100644
--- a/src/clj/auto_ap/graphql/transactions.clj
+++ b/src/clj/auto_ap/graphql/transactions.clj
@@ -374,8 +374,12 @@
                                      set
                                      (conj "A")
                                      (conj "HQ"))))]
-     
-    (when-not (dollars= (Math/abs (:transaction/amount existing-transaction)) account-total) 
+    
+    (when (and (not (dollars= (Math/abs (:transaction/amount existing-transaction)) account-total))
+               (or
+                (and (= approval_status :unapproved)
+                     (> (count accounts) 0))
+                (not= approval_status :unapproved)))  
       (let [error (str "Expense account total (" account-total ") does not equal transaction total (" (Math/abs (:transaction/amount existing-transaction)) ")")]
           (throw (ex-info error {:validation-error error}))))
     (when missing-locations