diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py b/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py
index 764cada6..14f702b4 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ from django.db.models import Q
 from django.dispatch import receiver
 
 from bookwyrm import activitypub
-from .activitypub_mixin import ActivitypubMixin, ActivityMixin, generate_activity
+from .activitypub_mixin import ActivitypubMixin, ActivityMixin
+from .activitypub_mixin import generate_activity
 from .base_model import BookWyrmModel
 from . import fields
 
@@ -143,14 +144,15 @@ class UserFollowRequest(ActivitypubMixin, UserRelationship):
 
     def reject(self):
         ''' generate a Reject for this follow request '''
-        user = self.user_object
-        activity = activitypub.Reject(
-            id=self.get_remote_id(status='rejects'),
-            actor=self.user_object.remote_id,
-            object=self.to_activity()
-        ).serialize()
+        if self.user_object.local:
+            activity = activitypub.Reject(
+                id=self.get_remote_id(status='rejects'),
+                actor=self.user_object.remote_id,
+                object=self.to_activity()
+            ).serialize()
+            self.broadcast(activity, self.user_object)
+
         self.delete()
-        self.broadcast(activity, user)
 
 
 class UserBlocks(ActivityMixin, UserRelationship):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_inbox.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_inbox.py
index 1e597cb1..c2658917 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_inbox.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_inbox.py
@@ -379,11 +379,8 @@ class Inbox(TestCase):
         views.inbox.activity_task(activity)
 
         # request should be deleted
-        self.assertEqual(models.UserFollowRequest.objects.count(), 0)
-
-        # relationship should be created
-        follows = self.remote_user.followers
-        self.assertEqual(follows.count(), 0)
+        self.assertFalse(models.UserFollowRequest.objects.exists())
+        self.assertFalse(self.remote_user.followers.exists())
 
 
     def test_handle_update_list(self):
@@ -580,7 +577,7 @@ class Inbox(TestCase):
             'object': {
                 'type': 'Announce',
                 'id': boost.remote_id,
-                'actor': self.local_user.remote_id,
+                'actor': self.remote_user.remote_id,
                 'object': self.status.remote_id,
             }
         }