diff --git a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
index 70fad4937..6d57a1906 100644
--- a/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
+++ b/deltachat-ffi/src/lib.rs
@@ -1415,7 +1415,7 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn dc_set_chat_mute_duration(
     chat_id: u32,
     duration: i64,
 ) -> libc::c_int {
-    if context.is_null() || chat_id <= constants::DC_CHAT_ID_LAST_SPECIAL as u32 {
+    if context.is_null() {
         eprintln!("ignoring careless call to dc_set_chat_mute_duration()");
         return 0;
     }
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/chat.py b/python/src/deltachat/chat.py
index 30c8ff53a..4ad437bbf 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/chat.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/chat.py
@@ -101,13 +101,15 @@ class Chat(object):
         """ mutes the chat
 
         :param duration: Number of seconds to mute the chat for. None to mute until unmuted again.
-        :returns:
+        :returns: None
         """
         if duration is None:
             mute_duration = -1
         else:
             mute_duration = duration
-        return bool(lib.dc_set_chat_mute_duration(self._dc_context, self.id, mute_duration))
+        ret = lib.dc_set_chat_mute_duration(self._dc_context, self.id, mute_duration)
+        if not bool(ret):
+            raise ValueError("Call to dc_set_chat_mute_duration failed")
 
     def unmute(self):
         """ unmutes the chat
diff --git a/python/tests/test_account.py b/python/tests/test_account.py
index 0ae067675..4d99683ad 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_account.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_account.py
@@ -229,8 +229,8 @@ class TestOfflineChat:
         assert not chat.is_muted()
         assert chat.mute(50)
         assert chat.is_muted()
-        assert chat.mute(-51)
-        assert not chat.is_muted()
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            chat.mute(-51)
 
     def test_delete_and_send_fails(self, ac1, chat1):
         chat1.delete()