diff --git a/apps/api/src/people/people-invite.service.spec.ts b/apps/api/src/people/people-invite.service.spec.ts
index 05e5cd77c..c35c4bf78 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/people/people-invite.service.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/people/people-invite.service.spec.ts
@@ -309,7 +309,11 @@ describe('PeopleInviteService', () => {
       });
 
       expect(results[0].success).toBe(true);
-      expect(results[0].emailSent).toBe(true);
+      // No portal invite was requested (sendPortalEmail omitted = false), so no
+      // email is sent and emailSent is not surfaced (the UI only warns on an
+      // actual send failure, never on an intentional skip).
+      expect(mockTriggerEmail).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(results[0].emailSent).toBeUndefined();
       expect(mockDb.member.create).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         expect.objectContaining({
           data: expect.objectContaining({
@@ -437,9 +441,13 @@ describe('PeopleInviteService', () => {
 
       const results = await service.inviteMembers({
         ...baseParams,
-        invites: [{ email: 'emp@example.com', roles: ['employee'] }],
+        invites: [
+          { email: 'emp@example.com', roles: ['employee'], sendPortalEmail: true },
+        ],
       });
 
+      // A portal email was requested but the send failed — the member is still
+      // added and emailSent: false signals the UI to offer a resend.
       expect(results[0].success).toBe(true);
       expect(results[0].emailSent).toBe(false);
     });
@@ -545,6 +553,46 @@ describe('PeopleInviteService', () => {
         expect(mockInviteEmail).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
       });
 
+      // Regression: unchecking "Send portal invite email" when adding an
+      // employee via "+ Add User" must add the member WITHOUT emailing them.
+      // Previously the else-branch still sent an InviteEmail with a portal link.
+      it('employee only with portal UNchecked: adds member silently, sends no email', async () => {
+        (mockDb.organization.findUnique as jest.Mock).mockResolvedValue({
+          name: 'Test Org',
+        });
+        (mockDb.user.findFirst as jest.Mock).mockResolvedValue(null);
+        (mockDb.user.create as jest.Mock).mockResolvedValue({
+          id: 'usr_emp',
+          email: 'emp@example.com',
+        });
+        (mockDb.member.findFirst as jest.Mock).mockResolvedValue(null);
+        (mockDb.member.create as jest.Mock).mockResolvedValue({ id: 'mem_emp' });
+        (
+          mockDb.employeeTrainingVideoCompletion.createMany as jest.Mock
+        ).mockResolvedValue({ count: 5 });
+
+        const results = await service.inviteMembers({
+          ...baseParams,
+          invites: [
+            {
+              email: 'emp@example.com',
+              roles: ['employee'],
+              sendPortalEmail: false,
+            },
+          ],
+        });
+
+        // Member is still created...
+        expect(results[0].success).toBe(true);
+        expect(mockDb.member.create).toHaveBeenCalled();
+        // ...but NO email of any kind goes out when the portal invite is off.
+        expect(mockTriggerEmail).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        expect(mockInvitePortalEmail).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        expect(mockInviteEmail).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        // And no false "could not be sent" warning leaks to the UI.
+        expect(results[0].emailSent).toBeUndefined();
+      });
+
       it('admin only (no portal): sends app email without portal link', async () => {
         setupNewUserInvite();
 
diff --git a/apps/api/src/people/people-invite.service.ts b/apps/api/src/people/people-invite.service.ts
index 094b91a1d..0ed1f2586 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/people/people-invite.service.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/people/people-invite.service.ts
@@ -106,7 +106,10 @@ export class PeopleInviteService {
           results.push({
             email: invite.email,
             success: true,
-            emailSent: result.emailSent,
+            // Only surface email status when we actually attempted to send, so
+            // the UI's "invite email could not be sent" warning never fires for
+            // an intentional skip (portal invite unchecked).
+            ...(shouldSendPortalEmail ? { emailSent: result.emailSent } : {}),
           });
         } else {
           await this.inviteWithCheck({
@@ -208,10 +211,12 @@ export class PeopleInviteService {
       await this.createTrainingVideoEntries(member.id, organizationId);
     }
 
-    // Send invite email (non-fatal)
-    let emailSent = true;
-    try {
-      if (sendPortalEmail) {
+    // Send the portal invite email only when requested (non-fatal). When the
+    // admin opts out ("Send portal invite email" unchecked) we add the member
+    // silently and send no email at all.
+    let emailSent = false;
+    if (sendPortalEmail) {
+      try {
         const inviteLink = this.buildPortalUrl(organizationId);
         await triggerEmail({
           to: email,
@@ -222,20 +227,14 @@ export class PeopleInviteService {
             email,
           }),
         });
-      } else {
-        const inviteLink = this.buildPortalUrl(organizationId);
-        await triggerEmail({
-          to: email,
-          subject: `You've been invited to join ${organization.name} on Comp AI`,
-          react: InviteEmail({ organizationName: organization.name, inviteLink }),
-        });
+        emailSent = true;
+      } catch (emailErr) {
+        emailSent = false;
+        this.logger.error(
+          `Portal invite email failed after member was added: ${email}`,
+          emailErr instanceof Error ? emailErr.message : 'Unknown error',
+        );
       }
-    } catch (emailErr) {
-      emailSent = false;
-      this.logger.error(
-        `Invite email failed after member was added: ${email}`,
-        emailErr instanceof Error ? emailErr.message : 'Unknown error',
-      );
     }
 
     return { emailSent };