diff --git a/src/activitypub/notes.js b/src/activitypub/notes.js
index 47688ea6eb..9ffb93e32e 100644
--- a/src/activitypub/notes.js
+++ b/src/activitypub/notes.js
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ Notes.getParentChain = async (uid, input) => {
 				}
 			} catch (e) {
 				winston.warn(`[activitypub/notes/getParentChain] Cannot retrieve ${id}, terminating here.`);
+				chain.delete(id);
 			}
 		}
 	};