diff --git a/public/openapi/write.yaml b/public/openapi/write.yaml
index 79657b519e..286583352b 100644
--- a/public/openapi/write.yaml
+++ b/public/openapi/write.yaml
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ paths:
     $ref: 'write/categories/cid/privileges/privilege.yaml'
   /categories/{cid}/moderator/{uid}:
     $ref: 'write/categories/cid/moderator/uid.yaml'
+  /categories/{cid}/follow:
+    $ref: 'write/categories/cid/follow.yaml'
   /topics/:
     $ref: 'write/topics.yaml'
   /topics/{tid}:
diff --git a/public/openapi/write/categories/cid/follow.yaml b/public/openapi/write/categories/cid/follow.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cd8f8a0b96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public/openapi/write/categories/cid/follow.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+put:
+  tags:
+    - categories
+  summary: synchronize category
+  description: |
+    **This operation requires an enabled activitypub integration**
+
+    Establishes a "follow" relationship between another activitypub-enabled actor.
+    Until an "accept" response is received, the synchronization will stay in a pending state.
+    Upon acceptance, a one-way sync is achieved; the other actor will need to follow the same category in order to achieve full two-way synchronization.
+  parameters:
+    - in: path
+      name: cid
+      schema:
+        type: string
+      required: true
+      description: a valid category id
+      example: 1
+  requestBody:
+    required: true
+    content:
+      application/json:
+        schema:
+          type: object
+          properties:
+            actor:
+              type: string
+              description: A valid actor uri or webfinger handle
+              example: 'foobar@example.org'
+  responses:
+    '200':
+      description: successfully sent category synchronization request
+      content:
+        application/json:
+          schema:
+            type: object
+            properties:
+              status:
+                $ref: ../../../components/schemas/Status.yaml#/Status
+              response:
+                type: object
+                properties: {}
+delete:
+  tags:
+    - categories
+  summary: unsynchronize category
+  description: |
+    **This operation requires an enabled activitypub integration**
+
+    Removes a "follow" relationship between another activitypub-enabled actor.
+    Unlike the synchronization request, this does not require an acceptance from the remote end.
+
+    N.B. This method only severs the link for incoming content.
+  parameters:
+    - in: path
+      name: cid
+      schema:
+        type: string
+      required: true
+      description: a valid category id
+      example: 1
+  requestBody:
+    required: true
+    content:
+      application/json:
+        schema:
+          type: object
+          properties:
+            actor:
+              type: string
+              description: A valid actor uri or webfinger handle
+              example: 'foobar@example.org'
+  responses:
+    '200':
+      description: successfully unsynchronized category
+      content:
+        application/json:
+          schema:
+            type: object
+            properties:
+              status:
+                $ref: ../../../components/schemas/Status.yaml#/Status
+              response:
+                type: object
+                properties: {}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/controllers/write/categories.js b/src/controllers/write/categories.js
index 3a0b6ae0f7..8a2a002713 100644
--- a/src/controllers/write/categories.js
+++ b/src/controllers/write/categories.js
@@ -106,9 +106,13 @@ Categories.setModerator = async (req, res) => {
 	helpers.formatApiResponse(200, res, privilegeSet);
 };
 
-Categories.follow = async (req, res) => {
+Categories.follow = async (req, res, next) => {
 	const { actor } = req.body;
-	const id = req.params.cid;
+	const id = parseInt(req.params.cid, 10);
+
+	if (!id) { // disallow cid 0
+		return next();
+	}
 
 	await api.activitypub.follow(req, {
 		type: 'cid',
@@ -116,12 +120,16 @@ Categories.follow = async (req, res) => {
 		actor,
 	});
 
-	res.sendStatus(200);
+	helpers.formatApiResponse(200, res, {});
 };
 
-Categories.unfollow = async (req, res) => {
+Categories.unfollow = async (req, res, next) => {
 	const { actor } = req.body;
-	const id = req.params.cid;
+	const id = parseInt(req.params.cid, 10);
+
+	if (!id) { // disallow cid 0
+		return next();
+	}
 
 	await api.activitypub.unfollow(req, {
 		type: 'cid',
@@ -129,5 +137,5 @@ Categories.unfollow = async (req, res) => {
 		actor,
 	});
 
-	res.sendStatus(200);
+	helpers.formatApiResponse(200, res, {});
 };
diff --git a/src/routes/write/categories.js b/src/routes/write/categories.js
index 0ce47a5073..066e75bb96 100644
--- a/src/routes/write/categories.js
+++ b/src/routes/write/categories.js
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ module.exports = function () {
 	setupApiRoute(router, 'put', '/:cid/moderator/:uid', [...middlewares, middleware.assert.category], controllers.write.categories.setModerator);
 	setupApiRoute(router, 'delete', '/:cid/moderator/:uid', [...middlewares, middleware.assert.category], controllers.write.categories.setModerator);
 
-	setupApiRoute(router, 'put', '/:cid/follow', [...middlewares, middleware.admin.checkPrivileges, middleware.assert.category], controllers.write.categories.follow);
-	setupApiRoute(router, 'delete', '/:cid/follow', [...middlewares, middleware.admin.checkPrivileges, middleware.assert.category], controllers.write.categories.unfollow);
+	setupApiRoute(router, 'put', '/:cid/follow', [...middlewares, middleware.activitypub.enabled, middleware.admin.checkPrivileges, middleware.assert.category], controllers.write.categories.follow);
+	setupApiRoute(router, 'delete', '/:cid/follow', [...middlewares, middleware.activitypub.enabled, middleware.admin.checkPrivileges, middleware.assert.category], controllers.write.categories.unfollow);
 
 	return router;
 };