diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/pipeline.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/pipeline.ex
index 7ccee54c9..d5abb7567 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/pipeline.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/pipeline.ex
@@ -4,20 +4,33 @@
 
 defmodule Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.Pipeline do
   alias Pleroma.Activity
+  alias Pleroma.Object
+  alias Pleroma.Repo
   alias Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.ActivityPub
   alias Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.MRF
   alias Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.ObjectValidator
   alias Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.SideEffects
   alias Pleroma.Web.Federator
 
-  @spec common_pipeline(map(), keyword()) :: {:ok, Activity.t(), keyword()} | {:error, any()}
+  @spec common_pipeline(map(), keyword()) ::
+          {:ok, Activity.t() | Object.t(), keyword()} | {:error, any()}
   def common_pipeline(object, meta) do
+    case Repo.transaction(fn -> do_common_pipeline(object, meta) end) do
+      {:ok, value} ->
+        value
+
+      {:error, e} ->
+        {:error, e}
+    end
+  end
+
+  def do_common_pipeline(object, meta) do
     with {_, {:ok, validated_object, meta}} <-
            {:validate_object, ObjectValidator.validate(object, meta)},
          {_, {:ok, mrfd_object}} <- {:mrf_object, MRF.filter(validated_object)},
-         {_, {:ok, %Activity{} = activity, meta}} <-
+         {_, {:ok, activity, meta}} <-
            {:persist_object, ActivityPub.persist(mrfd_object, meta)},
-         {_, {:ok, %Activity{} = activity, meta}} <-
+         {_, {:ok, activity, meta}} <-
            {:execute_side_effects, SideEffects.handle(activity, meta)},
          {_, {:ok, _}} <- {:federation, maybe_federate(activity, meta)} do
       {:ok, activity, meta}
@@ -27,7 +40,9 @@ def common_pipeline(object, meta) do
     end
   end
 
-  defp maybe_federate(activity, meta) do
+  defp maybe_federate(%Object{}, _), do: {:ok, :not_federated}
+
+  defp maybe_federate(%Activity{} = activity, meta) do
     with {:ok, local} <- Keyword.fetch(meta, :local) do
       if local do
         Federator.publish(activity)
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/side_effects.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/side_effects.ex
index 5981e7545..6a8f1af96 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/side_effects.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/side_effects.ex
@@ -15,17 +15,12 @@ def handle(object, meta \\ [])
   # - Add like to object
   # - Set up notification
   def handle(%{data: %{"type" => "Like"}} = object, meta) do
-    {:ok, result} =
-      Pleroma.Repo.transaction(fn ->
-        liked_object = Object.get_by_ap_id(object.data["object"])
-        Utils.add_like_to_object(object, liked_object)
+    liked_object = Object.get_by_ap_id(object.data["object"])
+    Utils.add_like_to_object(object, liked_object)
 
-        Notification.create_notifications(object)
+    Notification.create_notifications(object)
 
-        {:ok, object, meta}
-      end)
-
-    result
+    {:ok, object, meta}
   end
 
   # Nothing to do