diff --git a/apps/frontend/src/utils/discourse.ts b/apps/frontend/src/utils/discourse.ts
index 52f0d959..cd5b54a1 100644
--- a/apps/frontend/src/utils/discourse.ts
+++ b/apps/frontend/src/utils/discourse.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ export const getDiscourseTopicUrl = (url: string): string => {
   return url.replace(discourseBaseUrl, "").replace(/^\//, "");
 };
 
-export const validateDiscourseTopicExists = async (topicName: string, delay: number = 500): Promise<boolean> => {
+export const validateDiscourseTopicExists = async (topic: string, delay: number = 500): Promise<boolean> => {
   return new Promise(resolve => {
     if (debounceTimer) {
       clearTimeout(debounceTimer);
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@ export const validateDiscourseTopicExists = async (topicName: string, delay: num
 
     debounceTimer = window.setTimeout(async () => {
       try {
-        if (!topicName.trim()) {
+        if (!topic.trim()) {
           resolve(false);
           return;
         }
 
-        const url = `${discourseBaseUrl}${encodeURIComponent(topicName)}`;
+        const url = getFullDiscourseUrl(topic);
 
         const response = await fetch(url, {
           method: "HEAD",