diff --git a/matrix_keycloak_bot.py b/matrix_keycloak_bot.py
index 6fa8558..4ed71d7 100644
--- a/matrix_keycloak_bot.py
+++ b/matrix_keycloak_bot.py
@@ -48,6 +48,29 @@ def get_keycloak_client() -> KeycloakAdmin:
     )
 
 
+def check_group_membership(username: str, group_name: str) -> tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Checks if a user is already a member of a specified Keycloak group."""
+    try:
+        kc = get_keycloak_client()
+        users = kc.get_users(query={"username": username, "exact": True})
+        if not users:
+            return False, f"⚠️ Keycloak user `{username}` not found."
+
+        user_id = users[0]["id"]
+        user_groups = kc.get_user_groups(user_id=user_id)
+        user_group_names = {g["name"].lower() for g in user_groups}
+
+        if group_name.lower() in user_group_names:
+            return True, f"ℹ️ You are already a member of the `{group_name}` group."
+
+        return False, ""
+
+    except KeycloakError as e:
+        return False, f"⚠️ Keycloak API error: {str(e)}"
+    except Exception as e:
+        return False, f"⚠️ Unexpected error: {str(e)}"
+
+
 def add_user_to_kc_group(username: str, group_name: str) -> tuple[bool, str]:
     """Adds a Keycloak user to a target group."""
     try:
@@ -100,7 +123,6 @@ def get_requestable_groups(username: str) -> tuple[bool, str]:
                 group_lines.append(f"* `{name}`")
 
         group_list = "\n".join(group_lines)
-        # Added extra \n before {group_list} to satisfy Markdown list block rules
         return True, f"**Available Groups:**\n\n{group_list}"
 
     except KeycloakError as e:
@@ -132,7 +154,6 @@ async def send_markdown_message(
     msgtype: str = "m.text",
     relates_to: dict = None,
 ):
-    # Added "nl2br" extension to preserve single line breaks in chat messages
     html_body = markdown.markdown(md_text, extensions=["extra", "sane_lists", "nl2br"])
 
     content = {
@@ -213,6 +234,17 @@ async def on_message(client: AsyncClient, room: MatrixRoom, event: RoomMessageTe
         )
         return
 
+    # Check if the user is already in the requested group before asking for approval
+    already_member, membership_msg = check_group_membership(kc_username, requested_group)
+    if already_member or membership_msg:
+        await send_markdown_message(
+            client,
+            room_id=room.room_id,
+            md_text=membership_msg,
+            msgtype="m.notice",
+        )
+        return
+
     admin_msg_body = (
         f"📋 **Access Request**\n\n"
         f"**User:** `{matrix_user}` (KC: `{kc_username}`)\n"