diff --git a/src/backend/mod.rs b/src/backend/mod.rs
index 78af21a..7c13a47 100644
--- a/src/backend/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/mod.rs
@@ -1,40 +1,22 @@
 use crate::{
     backend::{
-        database::{article::DbArticleForm, instance::DbInstanceForm, IbisContext},
-        federation::{activities::submit_article_update, VerifyUrlData},
-        utils::{
-            config::IbisConfig,
-            error::{Error, MyResult},
-            generate_activity_id,
-        },
-    },
-    common::{
-        article::{DbArticle, EditVersion},
-        instance::DbInstance,
-        user::DbPerson,
-        utils::http_protocol_str,
-        MAIN_PAGE_NAME,
+        database::IbisContext,
+        federation::VerifyUrlData,
+        utils::{config::IbisConfig, error::MyResult, generate_activity_id},
     },
+    common::instance::DbInstance,
 };
-use activitypub_federation::{
-    config::{Data, FederationConfig},
-    fetch::object_id::ObjectId,
-};
-use chrono::Utc;
+use activitypub_federation::config::FederationConfig;
 use diesel::{
     r2d2::{ConnectionManager, Pool},
     PgConnection,
 };
 use diesel_migrations::{embed_migrations, EmbeddedMigrations, MigrationHarness};
-use federation::objects::{
-    articles_collection::local_articles_url,
-    instance_collection::linked_instances_url,
-};
 use log::info;
-use server::start_server;
+use server::{setup::setup, start_server};
 use std::{net::SocketAddr, thread};
 use tokio::sync::oneshot;
-use utils::{generate_keypair, scheduled_tasks};
+use utils::scheduled_tasks;
 
 pub mod api;
 pub mod database;
@@ -82,66 +64,3 @@ pub async fn start(
 
     Ok(())
 }
-
-const MAIN_PAGE_DEFAULT_TEXT: &str = "Welcome to Ibis, the federated Wikipedia alternative!
-
-This main page can only be edited by the admin. Use it as an introduction for new users, \
-and to list interesting articles.";
-
-async fn setup(context: &Data<IbisContext>) -> Result<(), Error> {
-    let domain = &context.config.federation.domain;
-    let ap_id = ObjectId::parse(&format!("{}://{domain}", http_protocol_str()))?;
-    let inbox_url = format!("{}://{domain}/inbox", http_protocol_str());
-    let keypair = generate_keypair()?;
-    let form = DbInstanceForm {
-        domain: domain.to_string(),
-        ap_id,
-        articles_url: Some(local_articles_url(domain)?),
-        instances_url: Some(linked_instances_url(domain)?),
-        inbox_url,
-        public_key: keypair.public_key,
-        private_key: Some(keypair.private_key),
-        last_refreshed_at: Utc::now(),
-        local: true,
-        topic: None,
-        name: None,
-    };
-    let instance = DbInstance::create(&form, context)?;
-
-    let person = DbPerson::create_local(
-        context.config.setup.admin_username.clone(),
-        context.config.setup.admin_password.clone(),
-        true,
-        context,
-    )?;
-
-    // Create the main page which is shown by default
-    let form = DbArticleForm {
-        title: MAIN_PAGE_NAME.to_string(),
-        text: String::new(),
-        ap_id: ObjectId::parse(&format!(
-            "{}://{domain}/article/{MAIN_PAGE_NAME}",
-            http_protocol_str()
-        ))?,
-        instance_id: instance.id,
-        local: true,
-        protected: true,
-        approved: true,
-    };
-    let article = DbArticle::create(form, context)?;
-    // also create an article so its included in most recently edited list
-    submit_article_update(
-        MAIN_PAGE_DEFAULT_TEXT.to_string(),
-        "Default main page".to_string(),
-        EditVersion::default(),
-        &article,
-        person.person.id,
-        context,
-    )
-    .await?;
-
-    // create ghost user
-    DbPerson::ghost(context)?;
-
-    Ok(())
-}
diff --git a/src/backend/server/mod.rs b/src/backend/server/mod.rs
index 7d43976..049d95d 100644
--- a/src/backend/server/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/server/mod.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ use tower_layer::Layer;
 mod assets;
 mod middleware;
 mod nodeinfo;
+pub(super) mod setup;
 
 pub(super) async fn start_server(
     context: FederationConfig<IbisContext>,
diff --git a/src/backend/server/setup.rs b/src/backend/server/setup.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7afddfb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/backend/server/setup.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+use crate::{
+    backend::{
+        database::{article::DbArticleForm, instance::DbInstanceForm, IbisContext},
+        federation::{
+            activities::submit_article_update,
+            objects::{
+                articles_collection::local_articles_url,
+                instance_collection::linked_instances_url,
+            },
+        },
+        utils::{error::Error, generate_keypair},
+    },
+    common::{
+        article::{DbArticle, EditVersion},
+        instance::DbInstance,
+        user::DbPerson,
+        utils::http_protocol_str,
+        MAIN_PAGE_NAME,
+    },
+};
+use activitypub_federation::{config::Data, fetch::object_id::ObjectId};
+use chrono::Utc;
+
+const MAIN_PAGE_DEFAULT_TEXT: &str = "Welcome to Ibis, the federated Wikipedia alternative!
+
+This main page can only be edited by the admin. Use it as an introduction for new users, \
+and to list interesting articles.
+";
+
+pub async fn setup(context: &Data<IbisContext>) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    let domain = &context.config.federation.domain;
+    let ap_id = ObjectId::parse(&format!("{}://{domain}", http_protocol_str()))?;
+    let inbox_url = format!("{}://{domain}/inbox", http_protocol_str());
+    let keypair = generate_keypair()?;
+    let form = DbInstanceForm {
+        domain: domain.to_string(),
+        ap_id,
+        articles_url: Some(local_articles_url(domain)?),
+        instances_url: Some(linked_instances_url(domain)?),
+        inbox_url,
+        public_key: keypair.public_key,
+        private_key: Some(keypair.private_key),
+        last_refreshed_at: Utc::now(),
+        local: true,
+        topic: None,
+        name: None,
+    };
+    let instance = DbInstance::create(&form, context)?;
+
+    let person = DbPerson::create_local(
+        context.config.setup.admin_username.clone(),
+        context.config.setup.admin_password.clone(),
+        true,
+        context,
+    )?;
+
+    // Create the main page which is shown by default
+    let form = DbArticleForm {
+        title: MAIN_PAGE_NAME.to_string(),
+        text: String::new(),
+        ap_id: ObjectId::parse(&format!(
+            "{}://{domain}/article/{MAIN_PAGE_NAME}",
+            http_protocol_str()
+        ))?,
+        instance_id: instance.id,
+        local: true,
+        protected: true,
+        approved: true,
+    };
+    let article = DbArticle::create(form, context)?;
+    // also create an article so its included in most recently edited list
+    submit_article_update(
+        MAIN_PAGE_DEFAULT_TEXT.to_string(),
+        "Default main page".to_string(),
+        EditVersion::default(),
+        &article,
+        person.person.id,
+        context,
+    )
+    .await?;
+
+    // create ghost user
+    DbPerson::ghost(context)?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}