diff --git a/api_tests/src/post.spec.ts b/api_tests/src/post.spec.ts
index a4a0928b3..3e834dbe4 100644
--- a/api_tests/src/post.spec.ts
+++ b/api_tests/src/post.spec.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ import {
   reportPost,
   listPostReports,
   randomString,
+  registerUser,
+  API,
+  getSite
 } from './shared';
 import { PostView, CommunityView } from 'lemmy-js-client';
 
@@ -297,43 +300,45 @@ test('A and G subscribe to B (center) A posts, it gets announced to G', async ()
 });
 
 test('Enforce site ban for federated user', async () => {
-  let alphaShortname = `@lemmy_alpha@lemmy-alpha:8541`;
-  let alphaPerson = (await resolvePerson(alpha, alphaShortname)).person;
+  // create a test user
+  let alphaUserJwt = await registerUser(alpha);
+  expect(alphaUserJwt).toBeDefined();
+  let alphaUser: API = {
+      client: alpha.client,
+      auth: alphaUserJwt.jwt,
+  };
+  let alphaUserActorId = (await getSite(alphaUser)).my_user.local_user_view.person.actor_id;
+  expect(alphaUserActorId).toBeDefined();
+  let alphaPerson = (await resolvePerson(alphaUser, alphaUserActorId)).person;
   expect(alphaPerson).toBeDefined();
 
-  let postRes1 = await createPost(alpha, betaCommunity.community.id);
+  // alpha makes post in beta community, it federates to beta instance
+  let postRes1 = await createPost(alphaUser, betaCommunity.community.id);
   let searchBeta1 = await searchPostLocal(beta, postRes1.post_view.post);
   expect(searchBeta1.posts[0]).toBeDefined();
 
-  // ban alpha from site
+  // ban alpha from its instance
   let banAlpha = await banPersonFromSite(alpha, alphaPerson.person.id, true, true);
   expect(banAlpha.banned).toBe(true);
 
   // alpha ban should be federated to beta
-  let alphaUserOnBeta1 = await resolvePerson(beta, alphaPerson.person.actor_id);
-  console.debug(alphaUserOnBeta1);
+  let alphaUserOnBeta1 = await resolvePerson(beta, alphaUserActorId);
   expect(alphaUserOnBeta1.person.person.banned).toBe(true);
 
-  // post should be removed
+  // existing alpha post should be removed on beta
   let searchBeta2 = await searchPostLocal(beta, postRes1.post_view.post);
   expect(searchBeta2.posts[0]).toBeUndefined();
 
-  // Alpha makes new post on beta
-  let postRes2 = await createPost(alpha, betaCommunity.community.id);
-  expect(postRes2.post_view.post).toBeDefined();
-  expect(postRes2.post_view.community.local).toBe(false);
-  expect(postRes2.post_view.creator.local).toBe(true);
-  expect(postRes2.post_view.counts.score).toBe(1);
-
-  // Make sure that post doesn't make it to beta
-  let searchBeta = await searchPostLocal(beta, postRes2.post_view.post);
-  expect(searchBeta.posts[0]).toBeUndefined();
-
   // Unban alpha
   let unBanAlpha = await banPersonFromSite(alpha, alphaPerson.person.id, false, false);
   expect(unBanAlpha.banned).toBe(false);
 
-  let alphaUserOnBeta2 = await resolvePerson(beta, alphaPerson.person.actor_id)
+  // alpha makes new post in beta community, it federates
+  let postRes2 = await createPost(alphaUser, betaCommunity.community.id);
+  let searchBeta3 = await searchPostLocal(beta, postRes2.post_view.post);
+  expect(searchBeta3.posts[0]).toBeDefined();
+
+  let alphaUserOnBeta2 = await resolvePerson(beta, alphaUserActorId)
   expect(alphaUserOnBeta2.person.person.banned).toBe(false);
 });