diff --git a/plugins/spamassassin b/plugins/spamassassin
index d3b9710..23681b0 100644
--- a/plugins/spamassassin
+++ b/plugins/spamassassin
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ sub reject {
         }
     }
 
-    $self->adjust_karma( -1 );
+    $self->connection->notes('karma', ($self->connection->notes('karma') - 1));
 # default of media_unsupported is DENY, so just change the message
     $self->log(LOGINFO, "fail, $status, > $reject, $learn");
     return ($self->get_reject_type(), "spam score exceeded threshold");