diff --git a/include/class.ticket.php b/include/class.ticket.php
index f72b6338e7c1dcf3c5fd6ad691e4a17aee2b14e5..35b2526610d40aab28b5c20703b7b543ceef871e 100644
--- a/include/class.ticket.php
+++ b/include/class.ticket.php
@@ -2390,7 +2390,7 @@ class Ticket {
      *
      *  $autorespond and $alertstaff overrides config settings...
      */
-    static function create(&$vars, &$errors, $origin, $autorespond=true,
+    static function create($vars, &$errors, $origin, $autorespond=true,
             $alertstaff=true) {
         global $ost, $cfg, $thisclient, $_FILES;
 
@@ -2848,16 +2848,10 @@ class Ticket {
         }
 
         $ticket->reload();
-        $dept = $ticket->getDept();
-
-        // See if we need to skip auto-response.
-        $autorespond = isset($create_vars['autorespond'])
-            ? $create_vars['autorespond'] : true;
 
-        if (!$autorespond
+        if(!$cfg->notifyONNewStaffTicket()
                 || !isset($vars['alertuser'])
-                || !$dept->autoRespONNewTicket()
-                || !$cfg->notifyONNewStaffTicket())
+                || !($dept=$ticket->getDept()))
             return $ticket; //No alerts.
 
         //Send Notice to user --- if requested AND enabled!!