diff --git a/crates/apub/src/api/list_posts.rs b/crates/apub/src/api/list_posts.rs
index 6cfbe18b6..5067d7da2 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/api/list_posts.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/api/list_posts.rs
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ pub async fn list_posts(
 
   // If in their user settings (or as part of the API request), auto-mark fetched posts as read
   if let Some(local_user) = local_user {
-    if data
-      .auto_mark_fetched_posts_as_read
-      .unwrap_or(local_user.auto_mark_fetched_posts_as_read)
+    // If false is passed, then don't mark as read
+    if data.auto_mark_fetched_posts_as_read.unwrap_or(true)
+      && local_user.auto_mark_fetched_posts_as_read
     {
       let post_ids = posts.iter().map(|p| p.post.id).collect::<Vec<PostId>>();
       PostRead::mark_as_read(&mut context.pool(), &post_ids, local_user.person_id).await?;