diff --git a/src/Model/APContact.php b/src/Model/APContact.php
index eb34e502ec..64f45a8451 100644
--- a/src/Model/APContact.php
+++ b/src/Model/APContact.php
@@ -272,12 +272,12 @@ class APContact
 
 		if (!empty($apcontact['followers'])) {
 			$followers = ActivityPub::fetchContent($apcontact['followers']);
-			// Mastodon seriously allows for this condition? 
-			// Jul 14 2021 - See https://mastodon.online/@goes11 for a negative followers count
-			if ($followers['totalItems'] < 0) {
-				$followers['totalItems'] = 0;
-			}
 			if (!empty($followers['totalItems'])) {
+				// Mastodon seriously allows for this condition? 
+				// Jul 14 2021 - See https://mastodon.online/@goes11 for a negative followers count
+				if ($followers['totalItems'] < 0) {
+					$followers['totalItems'] = 0;
+				}
 				$apcontact['followers_count'] = $followers['totalItems'];
 			}
 		}