diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py b/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py
index 76852988..3e6ac0fb 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from django.db.models import Q
 from django.dispatch import receiver
 
 from bookwyrm import activitypub
-from .activitypub_mixin import ActivitypubMixin, ActivityMixin
+from .activitypub_mixin import ActivitypubMixin, ActivityMixin, generate_activity
 from .base_model import BookWyrmModel
 from . import fields
 
@@ -56,10 +56,20 @@ class UserRelationship(BookWyrmModel):
         return '%s#%s/%d' % (base_path, status, self.id)
 
 
-class UserFollows(ActivitypubMixin, UserRelationship):
+class UserFollows(ActivityMixin, UserRelationship):
     ''' Following a user '''
     status = 'follows'
 
+    def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        ''' never broadcast a creation (that's handled by "accept"), only a
+            deletion (an unfollow, as opposed to "reject" and undo pending) '''
+        super().save(*args, broadcast=False, **kwargs)
+
+    def to_activity(self):
+        ''' overrides default to manually set serializer '''
+        return activitypub.Follow(**generate_activity(self))
+
+
     @classmethod
     def from_request(cls, follow_request):
         ''' converts a follow request into a follow relationship '''
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_follow.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_follow.py
index b913c17d..5f61ab03 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_follow.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_follow.py
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ class BookViews(TestCase):
         request.user = self.local_user
         self.remote_user.followers.add(self.local_user)
         self.assertEqual(self.remote_user.followers.count(), 1)
-        # need to see if this ACTUALLY broadcasts
         with patch('bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.delay') \
                 as mock:
             views.unfollow(request)