diff --git a/api/api/v1/statuses/[id]/reactions/[name].test.ts b/api/api/v1/statuses/[id]/reactions/[name].test.ts
index 9773ac3d..ccf0546a 100644
--- a/api/api/v1/statuses/[id]/reactions/[name].test.ts
+++ b/api/api/v1/statuses/[id]/reactions/[name].test.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,37 @@
-import { afterAll, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { afterAll, beforeAll, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { randomUUIDv7 } from "bun";
+import { Emoji } from "~/classes/database/emoji";
+import { Media } from "~/classes/database/media";
 import { generateClient, getTestStatuses, getTestUsers } from "~/tests/utils";
 
 const { users, deleteUsers } = await getTestUsers(3);
 const timeline = (await getTestStatuses(2, users[0])).toReversed();
+let emojiMedia: Media;
+let customEmoji: Emoji;
+
+beforeAll(async () => {
+    emojiMedia = await Media.insert({
+        id: randomUUIDv7(),
+        content: {
+            "image/png": {
+                content: "https://example.com/image.png",
+                remote: true,
+            },
+        },
+    });
+
+    customEmoji = await Emoji.insert({
+        id: randomUUIDv7(),
+        shortcode: "test_emoji",
+        visibleInPicker: true,
+        mediaId: emojiMedia.id,
+    });
+});
 
 afterAll(async () => {
     await deleteUsers();
+    await customEmoji.delete();
+    await emojiMedia.delete();
 });
 
 describe("/api/v1/statuses/:id/reactions/:name", () => {
@@ -40,6 +66,29 @@ describe("/api/v1/statuses/:id/reactions/:name", () => {
             );
         });
 
+        test("should add custom emoji reaction", async () => {
+            await using client = await generateClient(users[1]);
+
+            const { data, ok } = await client.createEmojiReaction(
+                timeline[0].id,
+                `:${customEmoji.data.shortcode}:`,
+            );
+
+            expect(ok).toBe(true);
+            expect(data.reactions).toContainEqual(
+                expect.objectContaining({
+                    name: `:${customEmoji.data.shortcode}:`,
+                    count: 1,
+                    me: true,
+                }),
+            );
+            expect(data.emojis).toContainEqual(
+                expect.objectContaining({
+                    shortcode: customEmoji.data.shortcode,
+                }),
+            );
+        });
+
         test("should add multiple different reactions", async () => {
             await using client1 = await generateClient(users[1]);
             await using client2 = await generateClient(users[2]);
diff --git a/api/api/v1/statuses/[id]/reactions/[name].ts b/api/api/v1/statuses/[id]/reactions/[name].ts
index ddaf8e8d..4070637b 100644
--- a/api/api/v1/statuses/[id]/reactions/[name].ts
+++ b/api/api/v1/statuses/[id]/reactions/[name].ts
@@ -105,19 +105,12 @@ export default apiRoute((app) => {
                 emoji = unicodeEmoji;
             }
 
-            // Use the User react method
-            try {
-                await user.react(note, emoji);
+            await user.react(note, emoji);
 
-                // Reload note to get updated reactions
-                await note.reload(user.id);
+            // Reload note to get updated reactions
+            await note.reload(user.id);
 
-                return context.json(await note.toApi(user), 201);
-            } catch {
-                // If it's already reacted, just return the current status
-                await note.reload(user.id);
-                return context.json(await note.toApi(user), 201);
-            }
+            return context.json(await note.toApi(user), 201);
         },
     );
 
@@ -206,7 +199,6 @@ export default apiRoute((app) => {
                 emoji = unicodeEmoji;
             }
 
-            // Use the User unreact method
             await user.unreact(note, emoji);
 
             // Reload note to get updated reactions
diff --git a/classes/database/note.ts b/classes/database/note.ts
index 5b382879..2f2cba9f 100644
--- a/classes/database/note.ts
+++ b/classes/database/note.ts
@@ -641,6 +641,18 @@ export class Note extends BaseInterface<typeof Notes, NoteTypeWithRelations> {
             );
         }
 
+        const reactions = this.getReactions(userFetching ?? undefined).map(
+            // Remove account_ids
+            (r) => ({
+                ...r,
+                account_ids: undefined,
+            }),
+        );
+
+        const emojis = data.emojis.concat(
+            data.reactions.map((r) => r.emoji).filter((v) => v !== null),
+        );
+
         return {
             id: data.id,
             in_reply_to_id: data.replyId || null,
@@ -652,7 +664,7 @@ export class Note extends BaseInterface<typeof Notes, NoteTypeWithRelations> {
                 : undefined,
             card: null,
             content: replacedContent,
-            emojis: data.emojis.map((emoji) => new Emoji(emoji).toApi()),
+            emojis: emojis.map((emoji) => new Emoji(emoji).toApi()),
             favourited: data.liked,
             favourites_count: data.likeCount,
             media_attachments: (data.attachments ?? []).map((a) =>
@@ -699,13 +711,7 @@ export class Note extends BaseInterface<typeof Notes, NoteTypeWithRelations> {
             edited_at: data.updatedAt
                 ? new Date(data.updatedAt).toISOString()
                 : null,
-            reactions: this.getReactions(userFetching ?? undefined).map(
-                // Remove account_ids
-                (r) => ({
-                    ...r,
-                    account_ids: undefined,
-                }),
-            ),
+            reactions,
             text: data.contentSource,
         };
     }