diff --git a/frappe/email/inbox.py b/frappe/email/inbox.py
index 76396b9e1b..f709f3f8d2 100644
--- a/frappe/email/inbox.py
+++ b/frappe/email/inbox.py
@@ -55,8 +55,12 @@ def create_email_flag_queue(names, action):
 
 	for name in json.loads(names or []):
 		uid, seen_status, email_account = frappe.db.get_value(
-			"Communication", name, ["ifnull(uid, -1)", "ifnull(seen, 0)", "email_account"]
+			"Communication", name, ["uid", "seen", "email_account"]
 		)
+		if not uid:
+			uid = -1
+		if not seen_status:
+			seen_status = 0
 
 		# can not mark email SEEN or UNSEEN without uid
 		if not uid or uid == -1: