diff --git a/frappe/core/doctype/communication/communication.py b/frappe/core/doctype/communication/communication.py
index 2c5cf4889a..88d1e5c32f 100644
--- a/frappe/core/doctype/communication/communication.py
+++ b/frappe/core/doctype/communication/communication.py
@@ -416,6 +416,13 @@ class Communication(Document, CommunicationEmailMixin):
 
 	# Timeline Links
 	def set_timeline_links(self):
+		# Skip timeline links if a "Sent" communication already exists
+		# else will create duplicate timeline entries
+		if self.sent_or_received == "Received" and self.find_one_by_filters(
+			message_id=self.message_id, sent_or_received="Sent"
+		):
+			return
+
 		contacts = []
 		create_contact_enabled = self.email_account and frappe.db.get_value(
 			"Email Account", self.email_account, "create_contact"
diff --git a/frappe/email/doctype/email_account/test_email_account.py b/frappe/email/doctype/email_account/test_email_account.py
index af5749b309..96a02c86dd 100644
--- a/frappe/email/doctype/email_account/test_email_account.py
+++ b/frappe/email/doctype/email_account/test_email_account.py
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ class TestInboundMail(IntegrationTestCase):
 		mail_content = self.get_test_mail(fname="incoming-1.raw")
 		message_id = Email(mail_content).message_id
 		# Create new communication record in DB
-		communication = self.new_communication(message_id=message_id)
+		communication = self.new_communication(message_id=message_id, sent_or_received="Received")
 
 		email_account = frappe.get_doc("Email Account", "_Test Email Account 1")
 		inbound_mail = InboundMail(mail_content, email_account, 12345, 1)
diff --git a/frappe/email/receive.py b/frappe/email/receive.py
index 6733c2d246..aeca829199 100644
--- a/frappe/email/receive.py
+++ b/frappe/email/receive.py
@@ -720,7 +720,9 @@ class InboundMail(Email):
 		if not self.message_id:
 			return
 
-		return Communication.find_one_by_filters(message_id=self.message_id, order_by="creation DESC")
+		return Communication.find_one_by_filters(
+			message_id=self.message_id, sent_or_received="Received", order_by="creation DESC"
+		)
 
 	def is_sender_same_as_receiver(self):
 		return self.from_email == self.email_account.email_id
@@ -766,7 +768,9 @@ class InboundMail(Email):
 		if not self.is_reply():
 			return ""
 
-		communication = Communication.find_one_by_filters(message_id=self.in_reply_to)
+		communication = Communication.find_one_by_filters(
+			message_id=self.in_reply_to, order_by="creation DESC"
+		)
 		if not communication:
 			if self.parent_email_queue() and self.parent_email_queue().communication:
 				communication = Communication.find(self.parent_email_queue().communication, ignore_error=True)