diff --git a/bot/util/contains.go b/bot/util/contains.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4645d563
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot/util/contains.go
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package util
+
+func Contains[T comparable](slice []T, given T) bool {
+	for _, current := range slice {
+		if current == given {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/bot/util/contains_test.go b/bot/util/contains_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ef37c0ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot/util/contains_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package util
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestContains(t *testing.T) {
+	list := []string{"foo", "bar", "baz"}
+	assert.False(t, Contains(list, ""))
+	assert.False(t, Contains(list, "XXX"))
+	assert.True(t, Contains(list, "foo"))
+
+	list2 := []int{1, 2, 3}
+	assert.False(t, Contains(list2, -1))
+	assert.False(t, Contains(list2, 0))
+	assert.True(t, Contains(list2, 2))
+}
diff --git a/command/pullrequest/pull_request.go b/command/pullrequest/pull_request.go
index bed2a58c..c71b8985 100644
--- a/command/pullrequest/pull_request.go
+++ b/command/pullrequest/pull_request.go
@@ -166,7 +166,9 @@ func (c command) setPRReactions(pr pullRequest, currentReactions reactionMap, me
 
 		hasApproval = true
 	} else {
-		c.removeReaction(currentReactions, c.cfg.Reactions.Approved, message)
+		for _, reaction := range c.getAllApprovedReactions() {
+			c.removeReaction(currentReactions, reaction, message)
+		}
 	}
 
 	c.processBuildStatus(pr, currentReactions, message)
@@ -262,6 +264,20 @@ func (c command) getApproveReactions(approvers []string) reactionMap {
 	return reactions
 }
 
+// we have to get rid of all possivle approve reactions in case someone revoked the approval
+func (c *command) getAllApprovedReactions() []util.Reaction {
+	reactions := make([]util.Reaction, 0)
+	reactions = append(reactions, c.cfg.Reactions.Approved)
+
+	for _, reaction := range c.cfg.CustomApproveReaction {
+		if !util.Contains(reactions, reaction) {
+			reactions = append(reactions, reaction)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return reactions
+}
+
 func getPRLinkMessage(prw *pullRequestWatch) string {
 	if len(prw.PullRequest.Link) > 0 {
 		return fmt.Sprintf("\nYou can check it here: %s", prw.PullRequest.Link)
diff --git a/command/pullrequest/pull_request_test.go b/command/pullrequest/pull_request_test.go
index 7689da62..6167d653 100644
--- a/command/pullrequest/pull_request_test.go
+++ b/command/pullrequest/pull_request_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/innogames/slack-bot/v2/bot/config"
 	"github.com/innogames/slack-bot/v2/bot/matcher"
 	"github.com/innogames/slack-bot/v2/bot/msg"
+	"github.com/innogames/slack-bot/v2/bot/util"
 	"github.com/innogames/slack-bot/v2/client"
 	"github.com/innogames/slack-bot/v2/mocks"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ func TestPullRequest(t *testing.T) {
 			On("GetReactions", msgRef, slack.NewGetReactionsParameters()).Return(nil, nil)
 
 		mocks.AssertRemoveReaction(slackClient, "eyes", message)
-		mocks.AssertReaction(slackClient, "white_check_mark", message)
+		mocks.AssertReaction(slackClient, "project_approve", message)
 		mocks.AssertReaction(slackClient, "twisted_rightwards_arrows", message)
 
 		actual := commands.Run(message)
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ func TestPullRequest(t *testing.T) {
 		message.Text = "vcd.example.com/projects/foo/repos/bar/pull-requests/1337"
 
 		mocks.AssertRemoveReaction(slackClient, "eyes", message)
-		mocks.AssertRemoveReaction(slackClient, "white_check_mark", message)
+		mocks.AssertRemoveReaction(slackClient, "project_approve", message)
 		mocks.AssertReaction(slackClient, "x", message)
 
 		actual := commands.Run(message)
@@ -117,13 +118,13 @@ func TestPullRequest(t *testing.T) {
 		fetcher.err = nil
 		fetcher.pr = pullRequest{
 			Status:    prStatusOpen,
-			Approvers: []string{"test"},
+			Approvers: []string{"user1"},
 		}
 		message.Text = "vcd.example.com/projects/foo/repos/bar/pull-requests/1337"
 
 		mocks.AssertRemoveReaction(slackClient, "eyed", message)
 		mocks.AssertRemoveReaction(slackClient, "x", message)
-		mocks.AssertReaction(slackClient, "white_check_mark", message)
+		mocks.AssertReaction(slackClient, "approve_backend", message)
 
 		actual := commands.Run(message)
 		assert.True(t, actual)
@@ -156,6 +157,12 @@ func initTest(slackClient client.SlackClient) (bot.Commands, *testFetcher) {
 	base := bot.BaseCommand{SlackClient: slackClient}
 
 	cfg := config.DefaultConfig
+	cfg.PullRequest.Reactions.Approved = "project_approve"
+	cfg.PullRequest.CustomApproveReaction = map[string]util.Reaction{
+		"user1": "approve_backend",
+		"user2": "approve_backend",
+		"user3": "approve_frontend",
+	}
 
 	cmd := &command{
 		base,