diff --git a/api_tests/prepare-drone-federation-test.sh b/api_tests/prepare-drone-federation-test.sh
index ba6dd324..4044ba0d 100755
--- a/api_tests/prepare-drone-federation-test.sh
+++ b/api_tests/prepare-drone-federation-test.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ set -e
 export RUST_BACKTRACE=1
 export RUST_LOG="warn,lemmy_server=debug,lemmy_federate=debug,lemmy_api=debug,lemmy_api_common=debug,lemmy_api_crud=debug,lemmy_apub=debug,lemmy_db_schema=debug,lemmy_db_views=debug,lemmy_db_views_actor=debug,lemmy_db_views_moderator=debug,lemmy_routes=debug,lemmy_utils=debug,lemmy_websocket=debug"
 
+export LEMMY_TEST_FAST_FEDERATION=1 # by default, the persistent federation queue has delays in the scale of 30s-5min
+
 for INSTANCE in lemmy_alpha lemmy_beta lemmy_gamma lemmy_delta lemmy_epsilon; do
   echo "DB URL: ${LEMMY_DATABASE_URL} INSTANCE: $INSTANCE"
   psql "${LEMMY_DATABASE_URL}/lemmy" -c "DROP DATABASE IF EXISTS $INSTANCE"
@@ -34,30 +36,30 @@ echo "$PWD"
 
 echo "start alpha"
 LEMMY_CONFIG_LOCATION=./docker/federation/lemmy_alpha.hjson \
-LEMMY_DATABASE_URL="${LEMMY_DATABASE_URL}/lemmy_alpha" \
-target/lemmy_server >/tmp/lemmy_alpha.out 2>&1 &
+  LEMMY_DATABASE_URL="${LEMMY_DATABASE_URL}/lemmy_alpha" \
+  target/lemmy_server >/tmp/lemmy_alpha.out 2>&1 &
 
 echo "start beta"
 LEMMY_CONFIG_LOCATION=./docker/federation/lemmy_beta.hjson \
-LEMMY_DATABASE_URL="${LEMMY_DATABASE_URL}/lemmy_beta" \
-target/lemmy_server >/tmp/lemmy_beta.out 2>&1 &
+  LEMMY_DATABASE_URL="${LEMMY_DATABASE_URL}/lemmy_beta" \
+  target/lemmy_server >/tmp/lemmy_beta.out 2>&1 &
 
 echo "start gamma"
 LEMMY_CONFIG_LOCATION=./docker/federation/lemmy_gamma.hjson \
-LEMMY_DATABASE_URL="${LEMMY_DATABASE_URL}/lemmy_gamma" \
-target/lemmy_server >/tmp/lemmy_gamma.out 2>&1 &
+  LEMMY_DATABASE_URL="${LEMMY_DATABASE_URL}/lemmy_gamma" \
+  target/lemmy_server >/tmp/lemmy_gamma.out 2>&1 &
 
 echo "start delta"
 # An instance with only an allowlist for beta
 LEMMY_CONFIG_LOCATION=./docker/federation/lemmy_delta.hjson \
-LEMMY_DATABASE_URL="${LEMMY_DATABASE_URL}/lemmy_delta" \
-target/lemmy_server >/tmp/lemmy_delta.out 2>&1 &
+  LEMMY_DATABASE_URL="${LEMMY_DATABASE_URL}/lemmy_delta" \
+  target/lemmy_server >/tmp/lemmy_delta.out 2>&1 &
 
 echo "start epsilon"
 # An instance who has a blocklist, with lemmy-alpha blocked
 LEMMY_CONFIG_LOCATION=./docker/federation/lemmy_epsilon.hjson \
-LEMMY_DATABASE_URL="${LEMMY_DATABASE_URL}/lemmy_epsilon" \
-target/lemmy_server >/tmp/lemmy_epsilon.out 2>&1 &
+  LEMMY_DATABASE_URL="${LEMMY_DATABASE_URL}/lemmy_epsilon" \
+  target/lemmy_server >/tmp/lemmy_epsilon.out 2>&1 &
 
 echo "wait for all instances to start"
 while [[ "$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' 'lemmy-alpha:8541/api/v3/site')" != "200" ]]; do sleep 1; done
diff --git a/api_tests/src/comment.spec.ts b/api_tests/src/comment.spec.ts
index 394f73dc..6ced2bf3 100644
--- a/api_tests/src/comment.spec.ts
+++ b/api_tests/src/comment.spec.ts
@@ -33,21 +33,21 @@ import {
   getUnreadCount,
   waitUntil,
   delay,
+  waitForPost,
   alphaUrl,
 } from "./shared";
 import { CommentView } from "lemmy-js-client/dist/types/CommentView";
+import { CommunityView } from "lemmy-js-client";
 import { LemmyHttp } from "lemmy-js-client";
 
+let betaCommunity: CommunityView | undefined;
 let postOnAlphaRes: PostResponse;
 
 beforeAll(async () => {
   await setupLogins();
   await unfollows();
-  await followBeta(alpha);
-  await followBeta(gamma);
-  // wait for FOLLOW_ADDITIONS_RECHECK_DELAY
-  await delay(2000);
-  let betaCommunity = (await resolveBetaCommunity(alpha)).community;
+  await Promise.all([followBeta(alpha), followBeta(gamma)]);
+  betaCommunity = (await resolveBetaCommunity(alpha)).community;
   if (betaCommunity) {
     postOnAlphaRes = await createPost(alpha, betaCommunity.community.id);
   }
@@ -343,6 +343,8 @@ test("Federated comment like", async () => {
 });
 
 test("Reply to a comment from another instance, get notification", async () => {
+  await alpha.markAllAsRead();
+
   let betaCommunity = (await resolveBetaCommunity(alpha)).community;
   if (!betaCommunity) {
     throw "Missing beta community";
@@ -375,16 +377,17 @@ test("Reply to a comment from another instance, get notification", async () => {
   expect(replyRes.comment_view.counts.score).toBe(1);
 
   // Make sure that reply comment is seen on alpha
-  // TODO not sure why, but a searchComment back to alpha, for the ap_id of betas
-  // comment, isn't working.
-  // let searchAlpha = await searchComment(alpha, replyRes.comment);
+  let commentSearch = await waitUntil(
+    () => resolveComment(alpha, replyRes.comment_view.comment),
+    c => c.comment?.counts.score === 1,
+  );
+  let alphaComment = commentSearch.comment!;
   let postComments = await waitUntil(
     () => getComments(alpha, postOnAlphaRes.post_view.post.id),
     pc => pc.comments.length >= 2,
   );
   // Note: this test fails when run twice and this count will differ
   expect(postComments.comments.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(2);
-  let alphaComment = postComments.comments[0];
   expect(alphaComment.comment.content).toBeDefined();
 
   expect(getCommentParentId(alphaComment.comment)).toBe(
@@ -400,23 +403,29 @@ test("Reply to a comment from another instance, get notification", async () => {
     () => getUnreadCount(alpha),
     e => e.replies >= 1,
   );
-  expect(alphaUnreadCountRes.replies).toBe(1);
+  expect(alphaUnreadCountRes.replies).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
 
   // check inbox of replies on alpha, fetching read/unread both
   let alphaRepliesRes = await getReplies(alpha);
-  expect(alphaRepliesRes.replies.length).toBe(1);
-  expect(alphaRepliesRes.replies[0].comment.content).toBeDefined();
-  expect(alphaRepliesRes.replies[0].community.local).toBe(false);
-  expect(alphaRepliesRes.replies[0].creator.local).toBe(false);
-  expect(alphaRepliesRes.replies[0].counts.score).toBe(1);
+  const alphaReply = alphaRepliesRes.replies.find(
+    r => r.comment.id === alphaComment.comment.id,
+  );
+  expect(alphaReply).toBeDefined();
+  if (!alphaReply) throw Error();
+  expect(alphaReply.comment.content).toBeDefined();
+  expect(alphaReply.community.local).toBe(false);
+  expect(alphaReply.creator.local).toBe(false);
+  expect(alphaReply.counts.score).toBe(1);
   // ToDo: interesting alphaRepliesRes.replies[0].comment_reply.id is 1, meaning? how did that come about?
-  expect(alphaRepliesRes.replies[0].comment.id).toBe(alphaComment.comment.id);
+  expect(alphaReply.comment.id).toBe(alphaComment.comment.id);
   // this is a new notification, getReplies fetch was for read/unread both, confirm it is unread.
-  expect(alphaRepliesRes.replies[0].comment_reply.read).toBe(false);
-  assertCommentFederation(alphaRepliesRes.replies[0], replyRes.comment_view);
+  expect(alphaReply.comment_reply.read).toBe(false);
+  assertCommentFederation(alphaReply, replyRes.comment_view);
 });
 
 test("Mention beta from alpha", async () => {
+  if (!betaCommunity) throw Error("no community");
+  const postOnAlphaRes = await createPost(alpha, betaCommunity.community.id);
   // Create a new branch, trunk-level comment branch, from alpha instance
   let commentRes = await createComment(alpha, postOnAlphaRes.post_view.post.id);
   // Create a reply comment to previous comment, this has a mention in body
@@ -433,7 +442,7 @@ test("Mention beta from alpha", async () => {
   expect(mentionRes.comment_view.counts.score).toBe(1);
 
   // get beta's localized copy of the alpha post
-  let betaPost = (await resolvePost(beta, postOnAlphaRes.post_view.post)).post;
+  let betaPost = await waitForPost(beta, postOnAlphaRes.post_view.post);
   if (!betaPost) {
     throw "unable to locate post on beta";
   }
@@ -443,9 +452,9 @@ test("Mention beta from alpha", async () => {
   // Make sure that both new comments are seen on beta and have parent/child relationship
   let betaPostComments = await waitUntil(
     () => getComments(beta, betaPost!.post.id),
-    c => c.comments[1].counts.score === 1,
+    c => c.comments[1]?.counts.score === 1,
   );
-  expect(betaPostComments.comments.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(2);
+  expect(betaPostComments.comments.length).toEqual(2);
   // the trunk-branch root comment will be older than the mention reply comment, so index 1
   let betaRootComment = betaPostComments.comments[1];
   // the trunk-branch root comment should not have a parent
@@ -460,7 +469,10 @@ test("Mention beta from alpha", async () => {
   expect(betaRootComment.counts.score).toBe(1);
   assertCommentFederation(betaRootComment, commentRes.comment_view);
 
-  let mentionsRes = await getMentions(beta);
+  let mentionsRes = await waitUntil(
+    () => getMentions(beta),
+    m => !!m.mentions[0],
+  );
   expect(mentionsRes.mentions[0].comment.content).toBeDefined();
   expect(mentionsRes.mentions[0].community.local).toBe(true);
   expect(mentionsRes.mentions[0].creator.local).toBe(false);
@@ -492,7 +504,7 @@ test("A and G subscribe to B (center) A posts, G mentions B, it gets announced t
   expect(alphaPost.post_view.community.local).toBe(true);
 
   // Make sure gamma sees it
-  let gammaPost = (await resolvePost(gamma, alphaPost.post_view.post)).post;
+  let gammaPost = (await resolvePost(gamma, alphaPost.post_view.post))!.post;
 
   if (!gammaPost) {
     throw "Missing gamma post";
@@ -514,7 +526,7 @@ test("A and G subscribe to B (center) A posts, G mentions B, it gets announced t
   // Make sure alpha sees it
   let alphaPostComments2 = await waitUntil(
     () => getComments(alpha, alphaPost.post_view.post.id),
-    e => !!e.comments[0],
+    e => e.comments[0]?.counts.score === 1,
   );
   expect(alphaPostComments2.comments[0].comment.content).toBe(commentContent);
   expect(alphaPostComments2.comments[0].community.local).toBe(true);
@@ -560,21 +572,19 @@ test("Check that activity from another instance is sent to third instance", asyn
     () => resolveBetaCommunity(gamma),
     c => c.community?.subscribed === "Subscribed",
   );
-  // FOLLOW_ADDITIONS_RECHECK_DELAY
-  await delay(2000);
 
   // Create a post on beta
   let betaPost = await createPost(beta, 2);
   expect(betaPost.post_view.community.local).toBe(true);
 
   // Make sure gamma and alpha see it
-  let gammaPost = (await resolvePost(gamma, betaPost.post_view.post)).post;
+  let gammaPost = await waitForPost(gamma, betaPost.post_view.post);
   if (!gammaPost) {
     throw "Missing gamma post";
   }
   expect(gammaPost.post).toBeDefined();
 
-  let alphaPost = (await resolvePost(alpha, betaPost.post_view.post)).post;
+  let alphaPost = await waitForPost(alpha, betaPost.post_view.post);
   if (!alphaPost) {
     throw "Missing alpha post";
   }
@@ -596,7 +606,7 @@ test("Check that activity from another instance is sent to third instance", asyn
   // Make sure alpha sees it
   let alphaPostComments2 = await waitUntil(
     () => getComments(alpha, alphaPost!.post.id),
-    e => !!e.comments[0],
+    e => e.comments[0]?.counts.score === 1,
   );
   expect(alphaPostComments2.comments[0].comment.content).toBe(commentContent);
   expect(alphaPostComments2.comments[0].community.local).toBe(false);
@@ -607,8 +617,7 @@ test("Check that activity from another instance is sent to third instance", asyn
     commentRes.comment_view,
   );
 
-  await unfollowRemotes(alpha);
-  await unfollowRemotes(gamma);
+  await Promise.all([unfollowRemotes(alpha), unfollowRemotes(gamma)]);
 });
 
 test("Fetch in_reply_tos: A is unsubbed from B, B makes a post, and some embedded comments, A subs to B, B updates the lowest level comment, A fetches both the post and all the inreplyto comments for that post.", async () => {
@@ -660,8 +669,8 @@ test("Fetch in_reply_tos: A is unsubbed from B, B makes a post, and some embedde
   expect(updateRes.comment_view.comment.content).toBe(updatedCommentContent);
 
   // Get the post from alpha
-  let alphaPostB = (await resolvePost(alpha, postOnBetaRes.post_view.post))
-    .post;
+  let alphaPostB = await waitForPost(alpha, postOnBetaRes.post_view.post);
+
   if (!alphaPostB) {
     throw "Missing alpha post B";
   }
@@ -671,7 +680,8 @@ test("Fetch in_reply_tos: A is unsubbed from B, B makes a post, and some embedde
     () => getComments(alpha, alphaPostB!.post.id),
     c =>
       c.comments[1]?.comment.content ===
-      parentCommentRes.comment_view.comment.content,
+        parentCommentRes.comment_view.comment.content &&
+      c.comments[0]?.comment.content === updateRes.comment_view.comment.content,
   );
   expect(alphaPost.post_view.post.name).toBeDefined();
   assertCommentFederation(
@@ -705,16 +715,17 @@ test("Report a comment", async () => {
     throw "Missing alpha comment";
   }
 
-  let alphaReport = (
-    await reportComment(alpha, alphaComment.id, randomString(10))
-  ).comment_report_view.comment_report;
+  const reason = randomString(10);
+  let alphaReport = (await reportComment(alpha, alphaComment.id, reason))
+    .comment_report_view.comment_report;
 
-  let betaReport = (
-    await waitUntil(
-      () => listCommentReports(beta),
-      e => !!e.comment_reports[0],
-    )
-  ).comment_reports[0].comment_report;
+  let betaReport = (await waitUntil(
+    () =>
+      listCommentReports(beta).then(r =>
+        r.comment_reports.find(rep => rep.comment_report.reason === reason),
+      ),
+    e => !!e,
+  ))!.comment_report;
   expect(betaReport).toBeDefined();
   expect(betaReport.resolved).toBe(false);
   expect(betaReport.original_comment_text).toBe(
diff --git a/api_tests/src/community.spec.ts b/api_tests/src/community.spec.ts
index d91ac8aa..b81dd900 100644
--- a/api_tests/src/community.spec.ts
+++ b/api_tests/src/community.spec.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
   blockInstance,
   waitUntil,
   delay,
+  waitForPost,
   alphaUrl,
 } from "./shared";
 import { LemmyHttp } from "lemmy-js-client";
@@ -89,12 +90,6 @@ test("Delete community", async () => {
   // Make sure the follow response went through
   expect(follow.community_view.community.local).toBe(false);
 
-  await waitUntil(
-    () => resolveCommunity(alpha, searchShort),
-    g => g.community?.subscribed === "Subscribed",
-  );
-  // wait FOLLOW_ADDITIONS_RECHECK_DELAY
-  await delay(2000);
   let deleteCommunityRes = await deleteCommunity(
     beta,
     true,
@@ -147,10 +142,6 @@ test("Remove community", async () => {
   // Make sure the follow response went through
   expect(follow.community_view.community.local).toBe(false);
 
-  await waitUntil(
-    () => resolveCommunity(alpha, searchShort),
-    g => g.community?.subscribed === "Subscribed",
-  );
   let removeCommunityRes = await removeCommunity(
     beta,
     true,
@@ -361,8 +352,8 @@ test("User blocks instance, communities are hidden", async () => {
   expect(postRes.post_view.post.id).toBeDefined();
 
   // fetch post to alpha
-  let alphaPost = await resolvePost(alpha, postRes.post_view.post);
-  expect(alphaPost.post?.post).toBeDefined();
+  let alphaPost = (await resolvePost(alpha, postRes.post_view.post)).post!;
+  expect(alphaPost.post).toBeDefined();
 
   // post should be included in listing
   let listing = await getPosts(alpha, "All");
@@ -370,7 +361,7 @@ test("User blocks instance, communities are hidden", async () => {
   expect(listing_ids).toContain(postRes.post_view.post.ap_id);
 
   // block the beta instance
-  await blockInstance(alpha, alphaPost.post!.community.instance_id, true);
+  await blockInstance(alpha, alphaPost.community.instance_id, true);
 
   // after blocking, post should not be in listing
   let listing2 = await getPosts(alpha, "All");
@@ -378,7 +369,7 @@ test("User blocks instance, communities are hidden", async () => {
   expect(listing_ids2.indexOf(postRes.post_view.post.ap_id)).toBe(-1);
 
   // unblock instance again
-  await blockInstance(alpha, alphaPost.post!.community.instance_id, false);
+  await blockInstance(alpha, alphaPost.community.instance_id, false);
 
   // post should be included in listing
   let listing3 = await getPosts(alpha, "All");
diff --git a/api_tests/src/post.spec.ts b/api_tests/src/post.spec.ts
index 2ef28951..51a10293 100644
--- a/api_tests/src/post.spec.ts
+++ b/api_tests/src/post.spec.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import {
   unfollows,
   resolveCommunity,
   waitUntil,
-  delay,
+  waitForPost,
   alphaUrl,
 } from "./shared";
 import { PostView } from "lemmy-js-client/dist/types/PostView";
@@ -83,11 +83,11 @@ test("Create a post", async () => {
   expect(postRes.post_view.counts.score).toBe(1);
 
   // Make sure that post is liked on beta
-  const res = await waitUntil(
-    () => resolvePost(beta, postRes.post_view.post),
-    res => res.post?.counts.score === 1,
+  const betaPost = await waitForPost(
+    beta,
+    postRes.post_view.post,
+    res => res?.counts.score === 1,
   );
-  let betaPost = res.post;
 
   expect(betaPost).toBeDefined();
   expect(betaPost?.community.local).toBe(true);
@@ -123,12 +123,12 @@ test("Unlike a post", async () => {
   expect(unlike2.post_view.counts.score).toBe(0);
 
   // Make sure that post is unliked on beta
-  const betaPost = (
-    await waitUntil(
-      () => resolvePost(beta, postRes.post_view.post),
-      b => b.post?.counts.score === 0,
-    )
-  ).post;
+  const betaPost = await waitForPost(
+    beta,
+    postRes.post_view.post,
+    post => post?.counts.score === 0,
+  );
+
   expect(betaPost).toBeDefined();
   expect(betaPost?.community.local).toBe(true);
   expect(betaPost?.creator.local).toBe(false);
@@ -141,26 +141,16 @@ test("Update a post", async () => {
     throw "Missing beta community";
   }
   let postRes = await createPost(alpha, betaCommunity.community.id);
-  await waitUntil(
-    () => resolvePost(beta, postRes.post_view.post),
-    res => !!res.post,
-  );
+  await waitForPost(beta, postRes.post_view.post);
 
   let updatedName = "A jest test federated post, updated";
   let updatedPost = await editPost(alpha, postRes.post_view.post);
-  await waitUntil(
-    () => resolvePost(beta, postRes.post_view.post),
-    res => res.post?.post.name === updatedName,
-  );
   expect(updatedPost.post_view.post.name).toBe(updatedName);
   expect(updatedPost.post_view.community.local).toBe(false);
   expect(updatedPost.post_view.creator.local).toBe(true);
 
   // Make sure that post is updated on beta
-  let betaPost = (await resolvePost(beta, postRes.post_view.post)).post;
-  if (!betaPost) {
-    throw "Missing beta post";
-  }
+  let betaPost = await waitForPost(beta, updatedPost.post_view.post);
   expect(betaPost.community.local).toBe(true);
   expect(betaPost.creator.local).toBe(false);
   expect(betaPost.post.name).toBe(updatedName);
@@ -178,7 +168,7 @@ test("Sticky a post", async () => {
   }
   let postRes = await createPost(alpha, betaCommunity.community.id);
 
-  let betaPost1 = (await resolvePost(beta, postRes.post_view.post)).post;
+  let betaPost1 = await waitForPost(beta, postRes.post_view.post);
   if (!betaPost1) {
     throw "Missing beta post1";
   }
@@ -221,30 +211,19 @@ test("Lock a post", async () => {
     () => resolveBetaCommunity(alpha),
     c => c.community?.subscribed === "Subscribed",
   );
-  // wait FOLLOW_ADDITIONS_RECHECK_DELAY (there's no API to wait for this currently)
-  await delay(2_000);
 
   let postRes = await createPost(alpha, betaCommunity.community.id);
-  // wait for federation
-  await waitUntil(
-    () => searchPostLocal(beta, postRes.post_view.post),
-    res => !!res.posts[0],
-  );
+  let betaPost1 = await waitForPost(beta, postRes.post_view.post);
   // Lock the post
-  let betaPost1 = (await resolvePost(beta, postRes.post_view.post)).post;
-  if (!betaPost1) {
-    throw "Missing beta post1";
-  }
   let lockedPostRes = await lockPost(beta, true, betaPost1.post);
   expect(lockedPostRes.post_view.post.locked).toBe(true);
 
   // Make sure that post is locked on alpha
-  let searchAlpha = await waitUntil(
-    () => searchPostLocal(alpha, postRes.post_view.post),
-    res => res.posts[0]?.post.locked,
+  let alphaPost1 = await waitForPost(
+    alpha,
+    postRes.post_view.post,
+    post => !!post && post.post.locked,
   );
-  let alphaPost1 = searchAlpha.posts[0];
-  expect(alphaPost1.post.locked).toBe(true);
 
   // Try to make a new comment there, on alpha
   await expect(createComment(alpha, alphaPost1.post.id)).rejects.toBe("locked");
@@ -254,11 +233,11 @@ test("Lock a post", async () => {
   expect(unlockedPost.post_view.post.locked).toBe(false);
 
   // Make sure that post is unlocked on alpha
-  let searchAlpha2 = await waitUntil(
-    () => searchPostLocal(alpha, postRes.post_view.post),
-    res => !res.posts[0]?.post.locked,
+  let alphaPost2 = await waitForPost(
+    alpha,
+    postRes.post_view.post,
+    post => !!post && !post.post.locked,
   );
-  let alphaPost2 = searchAlpha2.posts[0];
   expect(alphaPost2.community.local).toBe(false);
   expect(alphaPost2.creator.local).toBe(true);
   expect(alphaPost2.post.locked).toBe(false);
@@ -275,6 +254,7 @@ test("Delete a post", async () => {
 
   let postRes = await createPost(alpha, betaCommunity.community.id);
   expect(postRes.post_view.post).toBeDefined();
+  await waitForPost(beta, postRes.post_view.post);
 
   let deletedPost = await deletePost(alpha, true, postRes.post_view.post);
   expect(deletedPost.post_view.post.deleted).toBe(true);
@@ -282,16 +262,18 @@ test("Delete a post", async () => {
 
   // Make sure lemmy beta sees post is deleted
   // This will be undefined because of the tombstone
-  await expect(resolvePost(beta, postRes.post_view.post)).rejects.toBe(
-    "couldnt_find_object",
-  );
+  await waitForPost(beta, postRes.post_view.post, p => !p || p.post.deleted);
 
   // Undelete
   let undeletedPost = await deletePost(alpha, false, postRes.post_view.post);
-  expect(undeletedPost.post_view.post.deleted).toBe(false);
 
   // Make sure lemmy beta sees post is undeleted
-  let betaPost2 = (await resolvePost(beta, postRes.post_view.post)).post;
+  let betaPost2 = await waitForPost(
+    beta,
+    postRes.post_view.post,
+    p => !!p && !p.post.deleted,
+  );
+
   if (!betaPost2) {
     throw "Missing beta post 2";
   }
@@ -350,11 +332,7 @@ test("Remove a post from admin and community on same instance", async () => {
   let postRes = await createPost(alpha, betaCommunity.community.id);
   expect(postRes.post_view.post).toBeDefined();
   // Get the id for beta
-  let searchBeta = await waitUntil(
-    () => searchPostLocal(beta, postRes.post_view.post),
-    res => !!res.posts[0],
-  );
-  let betaPost = searchBeta.posts[0];
+  let betaPost = await waitForPost(beta, postRes.post_view.post);
   expect(betaPost).toBeDefined();
 
   // The beta admin removes it (the community lives on beta)
@@ -362,18 +340,25 @@ test("Remove a post from admin and community on same instance", async () => {
   expect(removePostRes.post_view.post.removed).toBe(true);
 
   // Make sure lemmy alpha sees post is removed
-  // let alphaPost = await getPost(alpha, postRes.post_view.post.id);
-  // expect(alphaPost.post_view.post.removed).toBe(true); // TODO this shouldn't be commented
-  // assertPostFederation(alphaPost.post_view, removePostRes.post_view);
+  let alphaPost = await waitUntil(
+    () => getPost(alpha, postRes.post_view.post.id),
+    p => p?.post_view.post.removed ?? false,
+  );
+  expect(alphaPost.post_view?.post.removed).toBe(true);
+  assertPostFederation(alphaPost.post_view, removePostRes.post_view);
 
   // Undelete
   let undeletedPost = await removePost(beta, false, betaPost.post);
   expect(undeletedPost.post_view.post.removed).toBe(false);
 
   // Make sure lemmy alpha sees post is undeleted
-  let alphaPost2 = await getPost(alpha, postRes.post_view.post.id);
-  expect(alphaPost2.post_view.post.removed).toBe(false);
-  assertPostFederation(alphaPost2.post_view, undeletedPost.post_view);
+  let alphaPost2 = await waitForPost(
+    alpha,
+    postRes.post_view.post,
+    p => !!p && !p.post.removed,
+  );
+  expect(alphaPost2.post.removed).toBe(false);
+  assertPostFederation(alphaPost2, undeletedPost.post_view);
   await unfollowRemotes(alpha);
 });
 
@@ -385,7 +370,7 @@ test("Search for a post", async () => {
   let postRes = await createPost(alpha, betaCommunity.community.id);
   expect(postRes.post_view.post).toBeDefined();
 
-  let betaPost = (await resolvePost(beta, postRes.post_view.post)).post;
+  let betaPost = await waitForPost(beta, postRes.post_view.post);
   expect(betaPost?.post.name).toBeDefined();
 });
 
@@ -413,11 +398,7 @@ test("Enforce site ban for federated user", async () => {
 
   // alpha makes post in beta community, it federates to beta instance
   let postRes1 = await createPost(alpha_user, betaCommunity.community.id);
-  let searchBeta1 = await waitUntil(
-    () => searchPostLocal(beta, postRes1.post_view.post),
-    res => !!res.posts[0],
-  );
-  expect(searchBeta1.posts[0]).toBeDefined();
+  let searchBeta1 = await waitForPost(beta, postRes1.post_view.post);
 
   // ban alpha from its instance
   let banAlpha = await banPersonFromSite(
@@ -436,8 +417,10 @@ test("Enforce site ban for federated user", async () => {
   expect(alphaUserOnBeta1.person?.person.banned).toBe(true);
 
   // existing alpha post should be removed on beta
-  let searchBeta2 = await getPost(beta, searchBeta1.posts[0].post.id);
-  expect(searchBeta2.post_view.post.removed).toBe(true);
+  let searchBeta2 = await waitUntil(
+    () => getPost(beta, searchBeta1.post.id),
+    s => s.post_view.post.removed,
+  );
 
   // Unban alpha
   let unBanAlpha = await banPersonFromSite(
@@ -450,11 +433,7 @@ test("Enforce site ban for federated user", async () => {
 
   // alpha makes new post in beta community, it federates
   let postRes2 = await createPost(alpha_user, betaCommunity.community.id);
-  let searchBeta3 = await waitUntil(
-    () => searchPostLocal(beta, postRes2.post_view.post),
-    e => !!e.posts[0],
-  );
-  expect(searchBeta3.posts[0]).toBeDefined();
+  let searchBeta3 = await waitForPost(beta, postRes2.post_view.post);
 
   let alphaUserOnBeta2 = await resolvePerson(beta, alphaUserActorId!);
   expect(alphaUserOnBeta2.person?.person.banned).toBe(false);
@@ -544,12 +523,16 @@ test("Report a post", async () => {
     await reportPost(alpha, alphaPost.post.id, randomString(10))
   ).post_report_view.post_report;
 
-  let betaReport = (
-    await waitUntil(
-      () => listPostReports(beta),
-      res => !!res.post_reports[0],
-    )
-  ).post_reports[0].post_report;
+  let betaReport = (await waitUntil(
+    () =>
+      listPostReports(beta).then(p =>
+        p.post_reports.find(
+          r =>
+            r.post_report.original_post_name === alphaReport.original_post_name,
+        ),
+      ),
+    res => !!res,
+  ))!.post_report;
   expect(betaReport).toBeDefined();
   expect(betaReport.resolved).toBe(false);
   expect(betaReport.original_post_name).toBe(alphaReport.original_post_name);
diff --git a/api_tests/src/shared.ts b/api_tests/src/shared.ts
index 19636f38..a1868f8f 100644
--- a/api_tests/src/shared.ts
+++ b/api_tests/src/shared.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   GetUnreadCountResponse,
   InstanceId,
   LemmyHttp,
+  PostView,
 } from "lemmy-js-client";
 import { CreatePost } from "lemmy-js-client/dist/types/CreatePost";
 import { DeletePost } from "lemmy-js-client/dist/types/DeletePost";
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@ export async function setupLogins() {
     // otherwise the first few federated events may be missed
     // (because last_successful_id is set to current id when federation to an instance is first started)
     // only needed the first time so do in this try
-    await delay(6_000);
+    await delay(10_000);
   } catch (_) {
     console.log("Communities already exist");
   }
@@ -288,6 +289,18 @@ export async function searchPostLocal(
   return api.search(form);
 }
 
+/// wait for a post to appear locally without pulling it
+export async function waitForPost(
+  api: LemmyHttp,
+  post: Post,
+  checker: (t: PostView | undefined) => boolean = p => !!p,
+) {
+  return waitUntil<PostView>(
+    () => searchPostLocal(api, post).then(p => p.posts[0]),
+    checker,
+  );
+}
+
 export async function getPost(
   api: LemmyHttp,
   post_id: number,
@@ -405,7 +418,14 @@ export async function followCommunity(
     community_id,
     follow,
   };
-  return api.followCommunity(form);
+  const res = await api.followCommunity(form);
+  await waitUntil(
+    () => resolveCommunity(api, res.community_view.community.actor_id),
+    g => g.community?.subscribed === (follow ? "Subscribed" : "NotSubscribed"),
+  );
+  // wait FOLLOW_ADDITIONS_RECHECK_DELAY (there's no API to wait for this currently)
+  await delay(2000);
+  return res;
 }
 
 export async function likePost(
@@ -686,9 +706,9 @@ export async function unfollowRemotes(
   let site = await getSite(api);
   let remoteFollowed =
     site.my_user?.follows.filter(c => c.community.local == false) ?? [];
-  for (let cu of remoteFollowed) {
-    await followCommunity(api, false, cu.community.id);
-  }
+  await Promise.all(
+    remoteFollowed.map(cu => followCommunity(api, false, cu.community.id)),
+  );
   let siteRes = await getSite(api);
   return siteRes;
 }
@@ -787,10 +807,12 @@ export function randomString(length: number): string {
 }
 
 export async function unfollows() {
-  await unfollowRemotes(alpha);
-  await unfollowRemotes(gamma);
-  await unfollowRemotes(delta);
-  await unfollowRemotes(epsilon);
+  await Promise.all([
+    unfollowRemotes(alpha),
+    unfollowRemotes(gamma),
+    unfollowRemotes(delta),
+    unfollowRemotes(epsilon),
+  ]);
 }
 
 export function getCommentParentId(comment: Comment): number | undefined {
@@ -809,14 +831,18 @@ export async function waitUntil<T>(
   fetcher: () => Promise<T>,
   checker: (t: T) => boolean,
   retries = 10,
-  delaySeconds = 2,
+  delaySeconds = [0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 3],
 ) {
   let retry = 0;
+  let result;
   while (retry++ < retries) {
-    const result = await fetcher();
+    result = await fetcher();
     if (checker(result)) return result;
-    await delay(delaySeconds * 1000);
+    await delay(
+      delaySeconds[Math.min(retry - 1, delaySeconds.length - 1)] * 1000,
+    );
   }
+  console.error("result", result);
   throw Error(
     `Failed "${fetcher}": "${checker}" did not return true after ${retries} retries (delayed ${delaySeconds}s each)`,
   );
diff --git a/crates/api_common/src/send_activity.rs b/crates/api_common/src/send_activity.rs
index 84b2efb2..6d9c722a 100644
--- a/crates/api_common/src/send_activity.rs
+++ b/crates/api_common/src/send_activity.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,15 @@ use lemmy_db_schema::{
 };
 use lemmy_db_views::structs::PrivateMessageView;
 use lemmy_utils::error::LemmyResult;
-use once_cell::sync::OnceCell;
+use once_cell::sync::{Lazy, OnceCell};
+use tokio::{
+  sync::{
+    mpsc,
+    mpsc::{UnboundedReceiver, UnboundedSender, WeakUnboundedSender},
+    Mutex,
+  },
+  task::JoinHandle,
+};
 use url::Url;
 
 type MatchOutgoingActivitiesBoxed =
@@ -54,16 +62,45 @@ pub enum SendActivityData {
   CreateReport(Url, Person, Community, String),
 }
 
-pub struct ActivityChannel;
+// TODO: instead of static, move this into LemmyContext. make sure that stopping the process with
+//       ctrl+c still works.
+static ACTIVITY_CHANNEL: Lazy<ActivityChannel> = Lazy::new(|| {
+  let (sender, receiver) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
+  let weak_sender = sender.downgrade();
+  ActivityChannel {
+    weak_sender,
+    receiver: Mutex::new(receiver),
+    keepalive_sender: Mutex::new(Some(sender)),
+  }
+});
+
+pub struct ActivityChannel {
+  weak_sender: WeakUnboundedSender<SendActivityData>,
+  receiver: Mutex<UnboundedReceiver<SendActivityData>>,
+  keepalive_sender: Mutex<Option<UnboundedSender<SendActivityData>>>,
+}
 
 impl ActivityChannel {
+  pub async fn retrieve_activity() -> Option<SendActivityData> {
+    let mut lock = ACTIVITY_CHANNEL.receiver.lock().await;
+    lock.recv().await
+  }
+
   pub async fn submit_activity(
     data: SendActivityData,
-    context: &Data<LemmyContext>,
+    _context: &Data<LemmyContext>,
   ) -> LemmyResult<()> {
-    MATCH_OUTGOING_ACTIVITIES
-      .get()
-      .expect("retrieve function pointer")(data, context)
-    .await
+    // could do `ACTIVITY_CHANNEL.keepalive_sender.lock()` instead and get rid of weak_sender,
+    // not sure which way is more efficient
+    if let Some(sender) = ACTIVITY_CHANNEL.weak_sender.upgrade() {
+      sender.send(data)?;
+    }
+    Ok(())
+  }
+
+  pub async fn close(outgoing_activities_task: JoinHandle<LemmyResult<()>>) -> LemmyResult<()> {
+    ACTIVITY_CHANNEL.keepalive_sender.lock().await.take();
+    outgoing_activities_task.await??;
+    Ok(())
   }
 }
diff --git a/crates/api_crud/src/post/create.rs b/crates/api_crud/src/post/create.rs
index 5c061cb3..4fb97c1c 100644
--- a/crates/api_crud/src/post/create.rs
+++ b/crates/api_crud/src/post/create.rs
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ pub async fn create_post(
   mark_post_as_read(person_id, post_id, &mut context.pool()).await?;
 
   if let Some(url) = updated_post.url.clone() {
-    let task = async move {
+    spawn_try_task(async move {
       let mut webmention =
         Webmention::new::<Url>(updated_post.ap_id.clone().into(), url.clone().into())?;
       webmention.set_checked(true);
@@ -188,8 +188,7 @@ pub async fn create_post(
         Ok(_) => Ok(()),
         Err(e) => Err(e).with_lemmy_type(LemmyErrorType::CouldntSendWebmention),
       }
-    };
-    spawn_try_task(task);
+    });
   };
 
   build_post_response(&context, community_id, person_id, post_id).await
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/announce.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/announce.rs
index 5939c023..e84a970f 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/community/announce.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/community/announce.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use crate::{
   activities::{
     generate_activity_id,
+    generate_announce_activity_id,
     send_lemmy_activity,
     verify_is_public,
     verify_person_in_community,
@@ -75,16 +76,20 @@ impl AnnounceActivity {
     community: &ApubCommunity,
     context: &Data<LemmyContext>,
   ) -> Result<AnnounceActivity, LemmyError> {
+    let inner_kind = object
+      .other
+      .get("type")
+      .and_then(serde_json::Value::as_str)
+      .unwrap_or("other");
+    let id =
+      generate_announce_activity_id(inner_kind, &context.settings().get_protocol_and_hostname())?;
     Ok(AnnounceActivity {
       actor: community.id().into(),
       to: vec![public()],
       object: IdOrNestedObject::NestedObject(object),
       cc: vec![community.followers_url.clone().into()],
       kind: AnnounceType::Announce,
-      id: generate_activity_id(
-        &AnnounceType::Announce,
-        &context.settings().get_protocol_and_hostname(),
-      )?,
+      id,
     })
   }
 
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/mod.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/mod.rs
index 29ec5bd3..958065ff 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/mod.rs
@@ -28,12 +28,15 @@ use crate::{
 use activitypub_federation::{
   config::Data,
   fetch::object_id::ObjectId,
-  kinds::public,
+  kinds::{activity::AnnounceType, public},
   protocol::context::WithContext,
   traits::{ActivityHandler, Actor},
 };
 use anyhow::anyhow;
-use lemmy_api_common::{context::LemmyContext, send_activity::SendActivityData};
+use lemmy_api_common::{
+  context::LemmyContext,
+  send_activity::{ActivityChannel, SendActivityData},
+};
 use lemmy_db_schema::{
   newtypes::CommunityId,
   source::{
@@ -42,10 +45,7 @@ use lemmy_db_schema::{
   },
 };
 use lemmy_db_views_actor::structs::{CommunityPersonBanView, CommunityView};
-use lemmy_utils::{
-  error::{LemmyError, LemmyErrorExt, LemmyErrorType, LemmyResult},
-  spawn_try_task,
-};
+use lemmy_utils::error::{LemmyError, LemmyErrorExt, LemmyErrorType, LemmyResult};
 use serde::Serialize;
 use std::{ops::Deref, time::Duration};
 use tracing::info;
@@ -181,6 +181,21 @@ where
   Url::parse(&id)
 }
 
+/// like generate_activity_id but also add the inner kind for easier debugging
+fn generate_announce_activity_id(
+  inner_kind: &str,
+  protocol_and_hostname: &str,
+) -> Result<Url, ParseError> {
+  let id = format!(
+    "{}/activities/{}/{}/{}",
+    protocol_and_hostname,
+    AnnounceType::Announce.to_string().to_lowercase(),
+    inner_kind.to_lowercase(),
+    Uuid::new_v4()
+  );
+  Url::parse(&id)
+}
+
 pub(crate) trait GetActorType {
   fn actor_type(&self) -> ActorType;
 }
@@ -198,12 +213,12 @@ where
   ActorT: Actor + GetActorType,
   Activity: ActivityHandler<Error = LemmyError>,
 {
-  info!("Sending activity {}", activity.id().to_string());
+  info!("Saving outgoing activity to queue {}", activity.id());
   let activity = WithContext::new(activity, CONTEXT.deref().clone());
 
   let form = SentActivityForm {
     ap_id: activity.id().clone().into(),
-    data: serde_json::to_value(activity.clone())?,
+    data: serde_json::to_value(activity)?,
     sensitive,
     send_inboxes: send_targets
       .inboxes
@@ -220,6 +235,13 @@ where
   Ok(())
 }
 
+pub async fn handle_outgoing_activities(context: Data<LemmyContext>) -> LemmyResult<()> {
+  while let Some(data) = ActivityChannel::retrieve_activity().await {
+    match_outgoing_activities(data, &context.reset_request_count()).await?
+  }
+  Ok(())
+}
+
 pub async fn match_outgoing_activities(
   data: SendActivityData,
   context: &Data<LemmyContext>,
@@ -324,6 +346,6 @@ pub async fn match_outgoing_activities(
       }
     }
   };
-  spawn_try_task(fed_task);
+  fed_task.await?;
   Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/crates/federate/src/util.rs b/crates/federate/src/util.rs
index 4f260708..f744d45f 100644
--- a/crates/federate/src/util.rs
+++ b/crates/federate/src/util.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Context, Result};
-use diesel::{
-  prelude::*,
-  sql_types::{Bool, Int8},
-};
+use diesel::prelude::*;
 use diesel_async::RunQueryDsl;
 use lemmy_apub::{
   activity_lists::SharedInboxActivities,
@@ -31,6 +28,26 @@ use std::{
 use tokio::{task::JoinHandle, time::sleep};
 use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
 
+/// Decrease the delays of the federation queue.
+/// Should only be used for federation tests since it significantly increases CPU and DB load of the federation queue.
+pub(crate) static LEMMY_TEST_FAST_FEDERATION: Lazy<bool> = Lazy::new(|| {
+  std::env::var("LEMMY_TEST_FAST_FEDERATION")
+    .map(|s| !s.is_empty())
+    .unwrap_or(false)
+});
+/// Recheck for new federation work every n seconds.
+///
+/// When the queue is processed faster than new activities are added and it reaches the current time with an empty batch,
+/// this is the delay the queue waits before it checks if new activities have been added to the sent_activities table.
+/// This delay is only applied if no federated activity happens during sending activities of the last batch.
+pub(crate) static WORK_FINISHED_RECHECK_DELAY: Lazy<Duration> = Lazy::new(|| {
+  if *LEMMY_TEST_FAST_FEDERATION {
+    Duration::from_millis(100)
+  } else {
+    Duration::from_secs(30)
+  }
+});
+
 pub struct CancellableTask<R: Send + 'static> {
   f: Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = Result<R, anyhow::Error>> + Send + 'static>>,
   ended: Arc<RwLock<bool>>,
@@ -162,22 +179,20 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_activity_cached(
 pub(crate) async fn get_latest_activity_id(pool: &mut DbPool<'_>) -> Result<ActivityId> {
   static CACHE: Lazy<Cache<(), ActivityId>> = Lazy::new(|| {
     Cache::builder()
-      .time_to_live(Duration::from_secs(1))
+      .time_to_live(if *LEMMY_TEST_FAST_FEDERATION {
+        *WORK_FINISHED_RECHECK_DELAY
+      } else {
+        Duration::from_secs(1)
+      })
       .build()
   });
   CACHE
     .try_get_with((), async {
+      use diesel::dsl::max;
+      use lemmy_db_schema::schema::sent_activity::dsl::{id, sent_activity};
       let conn = &mut get_conn(pool).await?;
-      let seq: Sequence =
-        diesel::sql_query("select last_value, is_called from sent_activity_id_seq")
-          .get_result(conn)
-          .await?;
-      let latest_id = if seq.is_called {
-        seq.last_value as ActivityId
-      } else {
-        // if a PG sequence has never been used, last_value will actually be next_value
-        (seq.last_value - 1) as ActivityId
-      };
+      let seq: Option<ActivityId> = sent_activity.select(max(id)).get_result(conn).await?;
+      let latest_id = seq.unwrap_or(0);
       anyhow::Result::<_, anyhow::Error>::Ok(latest_id as ActivityId)
     })
     .await
@@ -188,11 +203,3 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_latest_activity_id(pool: &mut DbPool<'_>) -> Result<Acti
 pub(crate) fn retry_sleep_duration(retry_count: i32) -> Duration {
   Duration::from_secs_f64(10.0 * 2.0_f64.powf(f64::from(retry_count)))
 }
-
-#[derive(QueryableByName)]
-struct Sequence {
-  #[diesel(sql_type = Int8)]
-  last_value: i64, // this value is bigint for some reason even if sequence is int4
-  #[diesel(sql_type = Bool)]
-  is_called: bool,
-}
diff --git a/crates/federate/src/worker.rs b/crates/federate/src/worker.rs
index a2bdf33c..3eda2e74 100644
--- a/crates/federate/src/worker.rs
+++ b/crates/federate/src/worker.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 use crate::{
   federation_queue_state::FederationQueueState,
-  util::{get_activity_cached, get_actor_cached, get_latest_activity_id, retry_sleep_duration},
+  util::{
+    get_activity_cached,
+    get_actor_cached,
+    get_latest_activity_id,
+    retry_sleep_duration,
+    LEMMY_TEST_FAST_FEDERATION,
+    WORK_FINISHED_RECHECK_DELAY,
+  },
 };
 use activitypub_federation::{activity_sending::SendActivityTask, config::Data};
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
@@ -22,20 +29,27 @@ use std::{
 };
 use tokio::{sync::mpsc::UnboundedSender, time::sleep};
 use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
-/// save state to db every n sends if there's no failures (otherwise state is saved after every attempt)
+
+/// Check whether to save state to db every n sends if there's no failures (during failures state is saved after every attempt)
+/// This determines the batch size for loop_batch. After a batch ends and SAVE_STATE_EVERY_TIME has passed, the federation_queue_state is updated in the DB.
 static CHECK_SAVE_STATE_EVERY_IT: i64 = 100;
+/// Save state to db after this time has passed since the last state (so if the server crashes or is SIGKILLed, less than X seconds of activities are resent)
 static SAVE_STATE_EVERY_TIME: Duration = Duration::from_secs(60);
-/// recheck for new federation work every n seconds
-#[cfg(debug_assertions)]
-static WORK_FINISHED_RECHECK_DELAY: Duration = Duration::from_secs(1);
-#[cfg(not(debug_assertions))]
-static WORK_FINISHED_RECHECK_DELAY: Duration = Duration::from_secs(30);
-#[cfg(debug_assertions)]
-static FOLLOW_ADDITIONS_RECHECK_DELAY: Lazy<chrono::Duration> =
-  Lazy::new(|| chrono::Duration::seconds(1));
-#[cfg(not(debug_assertions))]
-static FOLLOW_ADDITIONS_RECHECK_DELAY: Lazy<chrono::Duration> =
-  Lazy::new(|| chrono::Duration::minutes(1));
+/// interval with which new additions to community_followers are queried.
+///
+/// The first time some user on an instance follows a specific remote community (or, more precisely: the first time a (followed_community_id, follower_inbox_url) tuple appears),
+/// this delay limits the maximum time until the follow actually results in activities from that community id being sent to that inbox url.
+/// This delay currently needs to not be too small because the DB load is currently fairly high because of the current structure of storing inboxes for every person, not having a separate list of shared_inboxes, and the architecture of having every instance queue be fully separate.
+/// (see https://github.com/LemmyNet/lemmy/issues/3958)
+static FOLLOW_ADDITIONS_RECHECK_DELAY: Lazy<chrono::Duration> = Lazy::new(|| {
+  if *LEMMY_TEST_FAST_FEDERATION {
+    chrono::Duration::seconds(1)
+  } else {
+    chrono::Duration::minutes(2)
+  }
+});
+/// The same as FOLLOW_ADDITIONS_RECHECK_DELAY, but triggering when the last person on an instance unfollows a specific remote community.
+/// This is expected to happen pretty rarely and updating it in a timely manner is not too important.
 static FOLLOW_REMOVALS_RECHECK_DELAY: Lazy<chrono::Duration> =
   Lazy::new(|| chrono::Duration::hours(1));
 pub(crate) struct InstanceWorker {
@@ -121,6 +135,7 @@ impl InstanceWorker {
     }
     Ok(())
   }
+  /// send out a batch of CHECK_SAVE_STATE_EVERY_IT activities
   async fn loop_batch(&mut self, pool: &mut DbPool<'_>) -> Result<()> {
     let latest_id = get_latest_activity_id(pool).await?;
     if self.state.last_successful_id == -1 {
@@ -134,7 +149,7 @@ impl InstanceWorker {
     if id == latest_id {
       // no more work to be done, wait before rechecking
       tokio::select! {
-        () = sleep(WORK_FINISHED_RECHECK_DELAY) => {},
+        () = sleep(*WORK_FINISHED_RECHECK_DELAY) => {},
         () = self.stop.cancelled() => {}
       }
       return Ok(());
@@ -254,7 +269,8 @@ impl InstanceWorker {
         .send_inboxes
         .iter()
         .filter_map(std::option::Option::as_ref)
-        .filter_map(|u| (u.domain() == Some(&self.instance.domain)).then(|| u.inner().clone())),
+        .filter(|&u| (u.domain() == Some(&self.instance.domain)))
+        .map(|u| u.inner().clone()),
     );
     Ok(inbox_urls)
   }
@@ -263,7 +279,7 @@ impl InstanceWorker {
     if (Utc::now() - self.last_full_communities_fetch) > *FOLLOW_REMOVALS_RECHECK_DELAY {
       // process removals every hour
       (self.followed_communities, self.last_full_communities_fetch) = self
-        .get_communities(pool, self.instance.id, self.last_full_communities_fetch)
+        .get_communities(pool, self.instance.id, Utc.timestamp_nanos(0))
         .await?;
       self.last_incremental_communities_fetch = self.last_full_communities_fetch;
     }
@@ -289,13 +305,13 @@ impl InstanceWorker {
     instance_id: InstanceId,
     last_fetch: DateTime<Utc>,
   ) -> Result<(HashMap<CommunityId, HashSet<Url>>, DateTime<Utc>)> {
-    let new_last_fetch = Utc::now(); // update to time before fetch to ensure overlap
+    let new_last_fetch = Utc::now() - chrono::Duration::seconds(10); // update to time before fetch to ensure overlap. subtract 10s to ensure overlap even if published date is not exact
     Ok((
       CommunityFollowerView::get_instance_followed_community_inboxes(pool, instance_id, last_fetch)
         .await?
         .into_iter()
         .fold(HashMap::new(), |mut map, (c, u)| {
-          map.entry(c).or_insert_with(HashSet::new).insert(u.into());
+          map.entry(c).or_default().insert(u.into());
           map
         }),
       new_last_fetch,
diff --git a/migrations/2023-09-12-194850_add_federation_worker_index/down.sql b/migrations/2023-09-12-194850_add_federation_worker_index/down.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a203e808
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/2023-09-12-194850_add_federation_worker_index/down.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+DROP INDEX idx_person_local_instance;
+
diff --git a/migrations/2023-09-12-194850_add_federation_worker_index/up.sql b/migrations/2023-09-12-194850_add_federation_worker_index/up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bbbab0b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/2023-09-12-194850_add_federation_worker_index/up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+CREATE INDEX idx_person_local_instance ON person (local DESC, instance_id);
+
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index e1c6d1fa..9ce1bfa0 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -28,14 +28,14 @@ use lemmy_api_common::{
   context::LemmyContext,
   lemmy_db_views::structs::SiteView,
   request::build_user_agent,
-  send_activity::MATCH_OUTGOING_ACTIVITIES,
+  send_activity::{ActivityChannel, MATCH_OUTGOING_ACTIVITIES},
   utils::{
     check_private_instance_and_federation_enabled,
     local_site_rate_limit_to_rate_limit_config,
   },
 };
 use lemmy_apub::{
-  activities::match_outgoing_activities,
+  activities::{handle_outgoing_activities, match_outgoing_activities},
   VerifyUrlData,
   FEDERATION_HTTP_FETCH_LIMIT,
 };
@@ -203,6 +203,8 @@ pub async fn start_lemmy_server(args: CmdArgs) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
       Box::pin(match_outgoing_activities(d, c))
     }))
     .expect("set function pointer");
+  let request_data = federation_config.to_request_data();
+  let outgoing_activities_task = tokio::task::spawn(handle_outgoing_activities(request_data));
 
   let server = if args.http_server {
     Some(create_http_server(
@@ -245,6 +247,9 @@ pub async fn start_lemmy_server(args: CmdArgs) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
     federate.cancel().await?;
   }
 
+  // Wait for outgoing apub sends to complete
+  ActivityChannel::close(outgoing_activities_task).await?;
+
   Ok(())
 }