diff --git a/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs b/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs
index 93c2c83ae..e5745b812 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/objects/community.rs
@@ -178,10 +178,16 @@ impl Object for ApubCommunity {
       LanguageTag::to_language_id_multiple(group.language, &mut context.pool()).await?;
 
     let timestamp = group.updated.or(group.published).unwrap_or_else(naive_now);
-    let community = Community::insert_apub(&mut context.pool(), timestamp, &form).await?;
+    let community: ApubCommunity = Community::insert_apub(&mut context.pool(), timestamp, &form)
+      .await?
+      .into();
     CommunityLanguage::update(&mut context.pool(), languages, community.id).await?;
 
-    let community: ApubCommunity = community.into();
+    // Need to fetch mods synchronously, otherwise fetching a post in community with
+    // `posting_restricted_to_mods` can fail if mods havent been fetched yet.
+    if let Some(moderators) = group.attributed_to {
+      moderators.dereference(&community, context).await.ok();
+    }
 
     // These collections are not necessary for Lemmy to work, so ignore errors.
     let community_ = community.clone();
@@ -194,9 +200,6 @@ impl Object for ApubCommunity {
       if let Some(featured) = group.featured {
         featured.dereference(&community_, &context_).await.ok();
       }
-      if let Some(moderators) = group.attributed_to {
-        moderators.dereference(&community_, &context_).await.ok();
-      }
       Ok(())
     });