diff --git a/app/models/article.rb b/app/models/article.rb
index 60e809dbf9b0..4b0c43b72798 100644
--- a/app/models/article.rb
+++ b/app/models/article.rb
@@ -209,16 +209,11 @@ def self.active_help
       .cached_tagged_with("help")
       .order(created_at: :desc)
       .where("published_at > ? AND comments_count < ? AND score > ?", 12.hours.ago, 6, -4)
-    if stories.size.positive?
-      published
-        .cached_tagged_with("help")
-        .order(created_at: :desc)
-        .where("published_at > ? AND comments_count < ? AND score > ?", 12.hours.ago, 6, -4)
-    else
-      published
-        .cached_tagged_with("help")
-        .order(created_at: :desc)
-    end
+    return stories if stories.size.positive?
+
+    published
+      .cached_tagged_with("help")
+      .order(created_at: :desc)
   end
 
   def self.active_threads(tags = ["discuss"], time_ago = nil, number = 10)
diff --git a/spec/models/article_spec.rb b/spec/models/article_spec.rb
index 0643dd996d42..555f6972a1f4 100644
--- a/spec/models/article_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/article_spec.rb
@@ -682,30 +682,18 @@ def build_and_validate_article(*args)
   end
 
   describe ".active_help" do
-    let!(:filtered_article) do
-      create(:article, user: user, cached_tag_list: "help", published_at: 12.hours.ago, comments_count: 6, score: -4)
-    end
-    let!(:unfiltered_article) do
-      create(:article, user: user, cached_tag_list: "help", published_at: 12.hours.ago, score: -10)
-    end
-
     it "returns properly filtered articles under the 'help' tag" do
-      # articles = described_class.active_help
-      # article = filtered_article.active_help
-      # binding.pry
-      # expect(article.size).to eq(1)
-      # expect(articles).not_to be_empty
-      # expect(article).to include(filtered_article)
-
-      filtered_article = create(:article, user: user, cached_tag_list: "help", published_at: 12.hours.ago, comments_count: 6, score: -4)
+      filtered_article = create(:article, user: user, tags: "help",
+                                          published_at: 13.hours.ago, comments_count: 5, score: -3)
       articles = described_class.active_help
-      expect(articles.first).to eq(filtered_article)
+      expect(articles).to include(filtered_article)
     end
 
     it "returns any published articles tagged with 'help' when there are no articles that fit the criteria" do
-      article = described_class.active_help
-      # article = unfiltered_article.active_help
-      expect(article).to include(unfiltered_article)
+      unfiltered_article = create(:article, user: user, tags: "help",
+                                            published_at: 10.hours.ago, comments_count: 8, score: -5)
+      articles = described_class.active_help
+      expect(articles).to include(unfiltered_article)
     end
   end