diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/add_mod.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/add_mod.rs
index e1b6864cd..135dae4df 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/add_mod.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/add_mod.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use crate::{
   },
   activity_queue::send_to_community_new,
   extensions::context::lemmy_context,
-  fetcher::{community::get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community, new_fetcher::dereference},
+  fetcher::new_fetcher::dereference,
   generate_moderators_url,
   ActorType,
 };
@@ -93,8 +93,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for AddMod {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    let community =
-      get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(&self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
+    let community = dereference::<Community>(&self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
     let new_mod = dereference::<Person>(&self.object, context, request_counter).await?;
 
     // If we had to refetch the community while parsing the activity, then the new mod has already
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/block_user.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/block_user.rs
index b84c1304b..f0e4681ab 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/block_user.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/block_user.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use crate::{
   },
   activity_queue::send_to_community_new,
   extensions::context::lemmy_context,
-  fetcher::{community::get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community, new_fetcher::dereference},
+  fetcher::new_fetcher::dereference,
   ActorType,
 };
 use activitystreams::{
@@ -102,8 +102,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for BlockUserFromCommunity {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    let community =
-      get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(&self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
+    let community = dereference::<Community>(&self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
     let blocked_user = dereference::<Person>(&self.object, context, request_counter).await?;
 
     let community_user_ban_form = CommunityPersonBanForm {
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/remove_mod.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/remove_mod.rs
index 916da64b5..6746a52d9 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/remove_mod.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/remove_mod.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use crate::{
   },
   activity_queue::send_to_community_new,
   extensions::context::lemmy_context,
-  fetcher::{community::get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community, new_fetcher::dereference},
+  fetcher::new_fetcher::dereference,
   generate_moderators_url,
   ActorType,
 };
@@ -108,8 +108,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for RemoveMod {
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
     if self.target.is_some() {
-      let community =
-        get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(&self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
+      let community = dereference::<Community>(&self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
       let remove_mod = dereference::<Person>(&self.object, context, request_counter).await?;
 
       let form = CommunityModeratorForm {
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/undo_block_user.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/undo_block_user.rs
index 764380d7b..2220a56f2 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/undo_block_user.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/undo_block_user.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use crate::{
   },
   activity_queue::send_to_community_new,
   extensions::context::lemmy_context,
-  fetcher::{community::get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community, new_fetcher::dereference},
+  fetcher::new_fetcher::dereference,
   ActorType,
 };
 use activitystreams::{
@@ -91,8 +91,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for UndoBlockUserFromCommunity {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    let community =
-      get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(&self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
+    let community = dereference::<Community>(&self.cc[0], context, request_counter).await?;
     let blocked_user = dereference::<Person>(&self.object.object, context, request_counter).await?;
 
     let community_user_ban_form = CommunityPersonBanForm {
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/following/accept.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/following/accept.rs
index ec05318f9..6c8412dcd 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/following/accept.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/following/accept.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use crate::{
   },
   activity_queue::send_activity_new,
   extensions::context::lemmy_context,
-  fetcher::{community::get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community, new_fetcher::dereference},
+  fetcher::new_fetcher::dereference,
   ActorType,
 };
 use activitystreams::{
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for AcceptFollowCommunity {
     context: &LemmyContext,
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-    let actor = get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(&self.actor, context, request_counter).await?;
+    let actor = dereference::<Community>(&self.actor, context, request_counter).await?;
     let to = dereference::<Person>(&self.to, context, request_counter).await?;
     // This will throw an error if no follow was requested
     blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/following/follow.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/following/follow.rs
index 7b2008089..17943a062 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/following/follow.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/following/follow.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use crate::{
   },
   activity_queue::send_activity_new,
   extensions::context::lemmy_context,
-  fetcher::{community::get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community, new_fetcher::dereference},
+  fetcher::new_fetcher::dereference,
   ActorType,
 };
 use activitystreams::{
@@ -98,8 +98,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for FollowCommunity {
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
     let actor = dereference::<Person>(&self.actor, context, request_counter).await?;
-    let community =
-      get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(&self.object, context, request_counter).await?;
+    let community = dereference::<Community>(&self.object, context, request_counter).await?;
     let community_follower_form = CommunityFollowerForm {
       community_id: community.id,
       person_id: actor.id,
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/following/undo.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/following/undo.rs
index 025bb5d5d..d09eae04a 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/following/undo.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/following/undo.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use crate::{
   },
   activity_queue::send_activity_new,
   extensions::context::lemmy_context,
-  fetcher::{community::get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community, new_fetcher::dereference},
+  fetcher::new_fetcher::dereference,
   ActorType,
 };
 use activitystreams::{
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for UndoFollowCommunity {
     request_counter: &mut i32,
   ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
     let actor = dereference::<Person>(&self.actor, context, request_counter).await?;
-    let community = get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(&self.to, context, request_counter).await?;
+    let community = dereference::<Community>(&self.to, context, request_counter).await?;
 
     let community_follower_form = CommunityFollowerForm {
       community_id: community.id,
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/mod.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/mod.rs
index 5c135ee54..52ae90ccb 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use crate::{
   check_community_or_site_ban,
   check_is_apub_id_valid,
-  fetcher::{community::get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community, new_fetcher::dereference},
+  fetcher::new_fetcher::dereference,
   generate_moderators_url,
 };
 use anyhow::anyhow;
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn extract_community(
   let mut cc_iter = cc.iter();
   loop {
     if let Some(cid) = cc_iter.next() {
-      if let Ok(c) = get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(cid, context, request_counter).await {
+      if let Ok(c) = dereference(cid, context, request_counter).await {
         break Ok(c);
       }
     } else {
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn verify_person_in_community(
   context: &LemmyContext,
   request_counter: &mut i32,
 ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-  let community = get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(community_id, context, request_counter).await?;
+  let community = dereference::<Community>(community_id, context, request_counter).await?;
   let person = dereference::<Person>(person_id, context, request_counter).await?;
   check_community_or_site_ban(&person, community.id, context.pool()).await
 }
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ async fn verify_community(
   context: &LemmyContext,
   request_counter: &mut i32,
 ) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
-  get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(community_id, context, request_counter).await?;
+  dereference::<Community>(community_id, context, request_counter).await?;
   Ok(())
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/community.rs b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/community.rs
index 161d741c0..949e457cd 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/community.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/community.rs
@@ -1,19 +1,13 @@
 use crate::{
   activities::community::announce::AnnounceActivity,
-  fetcher::{
-    fetch::fetch_remote_object,
-    is_deleted,
-    new_fetcher::dereference,
-    should_refetch_actor,
-  },
-  objects::{community::Group, FromApub},
+  fetcher::{fetch::fetch_remote_object, new_fetcher::dereference},
+  objects::community::Group,
 };
 use activitystreams::collection::{CollectionExt, OrderedCollection};
 use anyhow::Context;
-use diesel::result::Error::NotFound;
 use lemmy_api_common::blocking;
 use lemmy_apub_lib::ActivityHandler;
-use lemmy_db_queries::{source::community::Community_, ApubObject, Joinable};
+use lemmy_db_queries::Joinable;
 use lemmy_db_schema::source::{
   community::{Community, CommunityModerator, CommunityModeratorForm},
   person::Person,
@@ -21,75 +15,9 @@ use lemmy_db_schema::source::{
 use lemmy_db_views_actor::community_moderator_view::CommunityModeratorView;
 use lemmy_utils::{location_info, LemmyError};
 use lemmy_websocket::LemmyContext;
-use log::debug;
 use url::Url;
 
-/// Get a community from its apub ID.
-///
-/// If it exists locally and `!should_refetch_actor()`, it is returned directly from the database.
-/// Otherwise it is fetched from the remote instance, stored and returned.
-pub(crate) async fn get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(
-  apub_id: &Url,
-  context: &LemmyContext,
-  recursion_counter: &mut i32,
-) -> Result<Community, LemmyError> {
-  let apub_id_owned = apub_id.to_owned();
-  let community = blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
-    Community::read_from_apub_id(conn, &apub_id_owned.into())
-  })
-  .await?;
-
-  match community {
-    Ok(c) if !c.local && should_refetch_actor(c.last_refreshed_at) => {
-      debug!("Fetching and updating from remote community: {}", apub_id);
-      fetch_remote_community(apub_id, context, Some(c), recursion_counter).await
-    }
-    Ok(c) => Ok(c),
-    Err(NotFound {}) => {
-      debug!("Fetching and creating remote community: {}", apub_id);
-      fetch_remote_community(apub_id, context, None, recursion_counter).await
-    }
-    Err(e) => Err(e.into()),
-  }
-}
-
-/// Request a community by apub ID from a remote instance, including moderators. If `old_community`,
-/// is set, this is an update for a community which is already known locally. If not, we don't know
-/// the community yet and also pull the outbox, to get some initial posts.
-async fn fetch_remote_community(
-  apub_id: &Url,
-  context: &LemmyContext,
-  old_community: Option<Community>,
-  request_counter: &mut i32,
-) -> Result<Community, LemmyError> {
-  let group = fetch_remote_object::<Group>(context.client(), apub_id, request_counter).await;
-
-  if let Some(c) = old_community.to_owned() {
-    if is_deleted(&group) {
-      blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
-        Community::update_deleted(conn, c.id, true)
-      })
-      .await??;
-    } else if group.is_err() {
-      // If fetching failed, return the existing data.
-      return Ok(c);
-    }
-  }
-
-  let group = group?;
-  let community = Community::from_apub(&group, context, apub_id, request_counter).await?;
-
-  update_community_mods(&group, &community, context, request_counter).await?;
-
-  // only fetch outbox for new communities, otherwise this can create an infinite loop
-  if old_community.is_none() {
-    fetch_community_outbox(context, &group.outbox, request_counter).await?
-  }
-
-  Ok(community)
-}
-
-async fn update_community_mods(
+pub(crate) async fn update_community_mods(
   group: &Group,
   community: &Community,
   context: &LemmyContext,
@@ -139,7 +67,7 @@ async fn update_community_mods(
   Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn fetch_community_outbox(
+pub(crate) async fn fetch_community_outbox(
   context: &LemmyContext,
   outbox: &Url,
   recursion_counter: &mut i32,
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/mod.rs b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/mod.rs
index 1b2ec107c..e8b1caa11 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/mod.rs
@@ -5,16 +5,15 @@ pub mod post_or_comment;
 pub mod search;
 
 use crate::{
-  fetcher::{
-    community::get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community,
-    fetch::FetchError,
-    new_fetcher::dereference,
-  },
+  fetcher::{fetch::FetchError, new_fetcher::dereference},
   ActorType,
 };
 use chrono::NaiveDateTime;
 use http::StatusCode;
-use lemmy_db_schema::{naive_now, source::person::Person};
+use lemmy_db_schema::{
+  naive_now,
+  source::{community::Community, person::Person},
+};
 use lemmy_utils::LemmyError;
 use lemmy_websocket::LemmyContext;
 use serde::Deserialize;
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_or_fetch_and_upsert_actor(
   context: &LemmyContext,
   recursion_counter: &mut i32,
 ) -> Result<Box<dyn ActorType>, LemmyError> {
-  let community = get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(apub_id, context, recursion_counter).await;
+  let community = dereference::<Community>(apub_id, context, recursion_counter).await;
   let actor: Box<dyn ActorType> = match community {
     Ok(c) => Box::new(c),
     Err(_) => Box::new(dereference::<Person>(apub_id, context, recursion_counter).await?),
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/new_fetcher.rs b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/new_fetcher.rs
index c071a60cc..002a43009 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/new_fetcher.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/new_fetcher.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ where
   let db_object = dereference_locally::<Kind>(id.clone(), context.pool()).await?;
   // if its a local object, only fetch it from the database and not over http
   if id.domain() == Some(&Settings::get().get_hostname_without_port()?) {
-    dbg!("is local object", db_object.is_some());
     return match db_object {
       None => Err(NotFound {}.into()),
       Some(o) => Ok(o),
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/search.rs b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/search.rs
index ffab035d0..f0c86bb06 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/fetcher/search.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/fetcher/search.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,5 @@
 use crate::{
-  fetcher::{
-    community::get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community,
-    fetch::fetch_remote_object,
-    is_deleted,
-    new_fetcher::dereference,
-  },
+  fetcher::{fetch::fetch_remote_object, is_deleted, new_fetcher::dereference},
   find_object_by_id,
   objects::{comment::Note, community::Group, person::Person as ApubPerson, post::Page, FromApub},
   Object,
@@ -143,8 +138,7 @@ async fn build_response(
     }
     SearchAcceptedObjects::Group(g) => {
       let community_uri = g.id(&query_url)?;
-      let community =
-        get_or_fetch_and_upsert_community(community_uri, context, recursion_counter).await?;
+      let community = dereference::<Community>(community_uri, context, recursion_counter).await?;
       ROR {
         community: blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
           CommunityView::read(conn, community.id, None)
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs b/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs
index 5269d7663..fbd702073 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::{
   extensions::{context::lemmy_context, signatures::PublicKey},
-  fetcher::community::fetch_community_mods,
+  fetcher::community::{fetch_community_mods, fetch_community_outbox, update_community_mods},
   generate_moderators_url,
   objects::{create_tombstone, FromApub, ImageObject, Source, ToApub},
   ActorType,
@@ -179,6 +179,11 @@ impl FromApub for Community {
     let form = Group::from_apub_to_form(group, expected_domain).await?;
 
     let community = blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| Community::upsert(conn, &form)).await??;
+    update_community_mods(group, &community, context, request_counter).await?;
+
+    // TODO: doing this unconditionally might cause infinite loop for some reason
+    fetch_community_outbox(context, &group.outbox, request_counter).await?;
+
     Ok(community)
   }
 }