diff --git a/app/community/routes.py b/app/community/routes.py
index 81b49bbf..7e992725 100644
--- a/app/community/routes.py
+++ b/app/community/routes.py
@@ -499,15 +499,16 @@ def join_then_add(actor):
             join_request = CommunityJoinRequest(user_id=current_user.id, community_id=community.id)
             db.session.add(join_request)
             db.session.commit()
-            follow = {
-                "actor": current_user.public_url(),
-                "to": [community.public_url()],
-                "object": community.public_url(),
-                "type": "Follow",
-                "id": f"https://{current_app.config['SERVER_NAME']}/activities/follow/{join_request.id}"
-            }
-            success = post_request(community.ap_inbox_url, follow, current_user.private_key,
-                                   current_user.public_url() + '#main-key')
+            if not community.instance.gone_forever:
+                follow = {
+                  "actor": current_user.public_url(),
+                  "to": [community.public_url()],
+                  "object": community.public_url(),
+                  "type": "Follow",
+                  "id": f"https://{current_app.config['SERVER_NAME']}/activities/follow/{join_request.id}"
+                }
+                post_request(community.ap_inbox_url, follow, current_user.private_key,
+                                            current_user.public_url() + '#main-key')
         member = CommunityMember(user_id=current_user.id, community_id=community.id)
         db.session.add(member)
         db.session.commit()
diff --git a/app/topic/routes.py b/app/topic/routes.py
index 17ec86fc..59dfeb11 100644
--- a/app/topic/routes.py
+++ b/app/topic/routes.py
@@ -305,12 +305,13 @@ def send_community_follow(community_id, join_request_id, user_id):
     with current_app.app_context():
         user = User.query.get(user_id)
         community = Community.query.get(community_id)
-        follow = {
-            "actor": user.public_url(),
-            "to": [community.public_url()],
-            "object": community.public_url(),
-            "type": "Follow",
-            "id": f"https://{current_app.config['SERVER_NAME']}/activities/follow/{join_request_id}"
-        }
-        success = post_request(community.ap_inbox_url, follow, user.private_key,
-                               user.public_url() + '#main-key')
+        if not community.instance.gone_forever:
+            follow = {
+              "actor": user.public_url(),
+              "to": [community.public_url()],
+              "object": community.public_url(),
+              "type": "Follow",
+              "id": f"https://{current_app.config['SERVER_NAME']}/activities/follow/{join_request_id}"
+            }
+            post_request(community.ap_inbox_url, follow, user.private_key,
+                                        user.public_url() + '#main-key')