diff --git a/lemmy_apub/src/fetcher.rs b/lemmy_apub/src/fetcher.rs
index 76d8b645e..0fb0cb10c 100644
--- a/lemmy_apub/src/fetcher.rs
+++ b/lemmy_apub/src/fetcher.rs
@@ -258,8 +258,12 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_or_fetch_and_upsert_user(
         recursion_counter,
       )
       .await?;
-      // TODO: do we need to set this? would need a separate db call
-      //uf.last_refreshed_at = Some(naive_now());
+
+      let user_id = user.id;
+      blocking(context.pool(), move |conn| {
+        User_::mark_as_updated(conn, user_id)
+      })
+      .await??;
 
       Ok(user)
     }
diff --git a/lemmy_db/src/user.rs b/lemmy_db/src/user.rs
index 2c4c67ea2..3f2efd2cc 100644
--- a/lemmy_db/src/user.rs
+++ b/lemmy_db/src/user.rs
@@ -188,6 +188,12 @@ impl User_ {
       .get_result::<Self>(conn)
   }
 
+  pub fn mark_as_updated(conn: &PgConnection, user_id: i32) -> Result<User_, Error> {
+    diesel::update(user_.find(user_id))
+      .set((updated.eq(naive_now()),))
+      .get_result::<Self>(conn)
+  }
+
   pub fn delete_account(conn: &PgConnection, user_id: i32) -> Result<User_, Error> {
     diesel::update(user_.find(user_id))
       .set((