diff --git a/files/helpers/alerts.py b/files/helpers/alerts.py
index 10b50de58..8b55d1737 100644
--- a/files/helpers/alerts.py
+++ b/files/helpers/alerts.py
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ from .const import *
 
 def send_notification(vid, user, text, db=None):
 
+	# for when working outside request context
+	if isinstance(user, int):
+		uid = user
+	else:
+		uid = user.id
+
 	if not db:
 		db = g.db
 
@@ -34,7 +40,7 @@ def send_notification(vid, user, text, db=None):
 	db.add(new_aux)
 
 	notif = Notification(comment_id=new_comment.id,
-						 user_id=user.id)
+						 user_id=uid)
 	db.add(notif)
 
 
diff --git a/files/routes/posts.py b/files/routes/posts.py
index 4fea9fb89..92d3a94f8 100644
--- a/files/routes/posts.py
+++ b/files/routes/posts.py
@@ -887,7 +887,7 @@ def submit_post(v):
 					post_url = upload_video(file)
 					new_post.url = post_url
 					new_post.processing = True
-					gevent.spawn(check_processing_thread, v, new_post, post_url, g.db)
+					gevent.spawn(check_processing_thread, v.id, new_post, post_url, g.db)
 				except UploadException as e:
 					if request.headers.get("Authorization"):
 						return {
@@ -909,7 +909,7 @@ def submit_post(v):
 					post_url = upload_video(file)
 					new_post.url = post_url
 					new_post.processing = True
-					gevent.spawn(check_processing_thread, v, new_post, post_url, g.db)
+					gevent.spawn(check_processing_thread, v.id, new_post, post_url, g.db)
 				except UploadException as e:
 					if request.headers.get("Authorization"):
 						return {