diff --git a/app/models/post_alert_observer.rb b/app/models/post_alert_observer.rb
index 0b6b4beff86..3413c3ce735 100644
--- a/app/models/post_alert_observer.rb
+++ b/app/models/post_alert_observer.rb
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ class PostAlertObserver < ActiveRecord::Observer
 
     post = post_action.post
     return if post_action.user.blank?
-    return if post.topic.private_message?
 
     create_notification(post.user,
                         Notification.types[:liked],
diff --git a/spec/models/post_alert_observer_spec.rb b/spec/models/post_alert_observer_spec.rb
index bdb6fc3f5e0..93bddb0d719 100644
--- a/spec/models/post_alert_observer_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/post_alert_observer_spec.rb
@@ -96,7 +96,11 @@ describe PostAlertObserver do
   context 'private message' do
     let(:user) { Fabricate(:user) }
     let(:mention_post) { Fabricate(:post, user: user, raw: 'Hello @eviltrout')}
-    let(:topic) { mention_post.topic }
+    let(:topic) do
+      topic = mention_post.topic
+      topic.update_column :archetype, Archetype.private_message
+      topic
+    end
 
     it "won't notify someone who can't see the post" do
       lambda {
@@ -104,6 +108,14 @@ describe PostAlertObserver do
         mention_post
       }.should_not change(evil_trout.notifications, :count)
     end
+
+    it 'creates like notifications' do
+      other_user = Fabricate(:user)
+      topic.allowed_users << user << other_user
+      lambda {
+        PostAction.act(other_user, mention_post, PostActionType.types[:like])
+      }.should change(user.notifications, :count)
+    end
   end
 
   context 'moderator action post' do