diff --git a/src/activitypub/notes.js b/src/activitypub/notes.js
index f513043e7e..55bb4e906a 100644
--- a/src/activitypub/notes.js
+++ b/src/activitypub/notes.js
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Notes.assert = async (uid, input, options = {}) => {
 		const exists = await db.exists(key);
 		winston.verbose(`[activitypub/notes.assert] Asserting note id ${id}`);
 
-		if (!exists || options.update === true) {
+		if (id && (!exists || options.update === true)) {
 			let postData;
 			winston.verbose(`[activitypub/notes.assert] Not found, retrieving note for persistence...`);
 			if (activitypub.helpers.isUri(item)) {