diff --git a/src/api/topics.js b/src/api/topics.js
index d44fffae04..e0f149e392 100644
--- a/src/api/topics.js
+++ b/src/api/topics.js
@@ -320,7 +320,16 @@ topicsAPI.move = async (caller, { tid, cid }) => {
 			socketHelpers.emitToUids('event:topic_moved', topicData, notifyUids);
 			if (!topicData.deleted) {
 				socketHelpers.sendNotificationToTopicOwner(tid, caller.uid, 'move', 'notifications:moved-your-topic');
-				activitypubApi.announce.note(caller, { tid });
+
+				// AP: Announce(Delete(Object))
+				if (cid === -1) {
+					await activitypubApi.announce.delete({ uid: caller.uid }, { tid });
+					// tbd: activitypubApi.undo.announce?
+				} else {
+					// tbd: some kind of plain object announce by the category...
+					activitypubApi.announce.note(caller, { tid }); // user announce, remove when discrete announces are a thing
+					// tbd: api.activitypub.announce.move
+				}
 			}
 
 			await events.log({
diff --git a/src/topics/tools.js b/src/topics/tools.js
index 65505bde67..294615b38a 100644
--- a/src/topics/tools.js
+++ b/src/topics/tools.js
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ const topics = require('.');
 const categories = require('../categories');
 const user = require('../user');
 const plugins = require('../plugins');
-const api = require('../api');
 const privileges = require('../privileges');
 const utils = require('../utils');
 
@@ -278,13 +277,6 @@ module.exports = function (Topics) {
 		const oldCid = topicData.cid;
 		await categories.moveRecentReplies(tid, oldCid, cid);
 
-		// AP: Announce(Delete(Object))
-		if (cid === -1) {
-			await api.activitypub.announce.delete({ uid: data.uid }, { tid });
-		} else {
-			// tbd: api.activitypub.announce.move
-		}
-
 		await Promise.all([
 			Topics.setTopicFields(tid, {
 				cid: cid,