diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier.ex
index 4f663d01e..f733ae7e1 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier.ex
@@ -955,7 +955,8 @@ defp strip_internal_tags(%{"tag" => tags} = object) do
   defp strip_internal_tags(object), do: object
 
   defp user_upgrade_task(user) do
-    old_follower_address = User.ap_followers(user)
+    # we pass a fake user so that the followers collection is stripped away
+    old_follower_address = User.ap_followers(%User{nickname: user.nickname})
 
     q =
       from(