diff --git a/lib/pleroma/user.ex b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
index 7a2558c29..5052f7b97 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/user.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ def account_status(%User{confirmation_pending: true}) do
   def account_status(%User{}), do: :active
 
   @spec visible_for(User.t(), User.t() | nil) ::
-          boolean()
+          :visible
           | :invisible
           | :restricted_unauthenticated
           | :deactivated
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ def visible_for(user, for_user \\ nil)
 
   def visible_for(%User{invisible: true}, _), do: :invisible
 
-  def visible_for(%User{id: user_id}, %User{id: user_id}), do: true
+  def visible_for(%User{id: user_id}, %User{id: user_id}), do: :visible
 
   def visible_for(%User{} = user, nil) do
     if restrict_unauthenticated?(user) do
@@ -292,10 +292,14 @@ def visible_for(%User{} = user, nil) do
   end
 
   def visible_for(%User{} = user, for_user) do
-    superuser?(for_user) || visible_account_status(user)
+    if superuser?(for_user) do
+      :visible
+    else
+      visible_account_status(user)
+    end
   end
 
-  def visible_for(_, _), do: false
+  def visible_for(_, _), do: :invisible
 
   defp restrict_unauthenticated?(%User{local: local}) do
     config_key = if local, do: :local, else: :remote
@@ -305,7 +309,12 @@ defp restrict_unauthenticated?(%User{local: local}) do
 
   defp visible_account_status(user) do
     status = account_status(user)
-    status in [:active, :password_reset_pending] || status
+
+    if status in [:active, :password_reset_pending] do
+      :visible
+    else
+      status
+    end
   end
 
   @spec superuser?(User.t()) :: boolean()
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/account_controller.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/account_controller.ex
index 1edc0d96a..8727faab7 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/account_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/account_controller.ex
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ def relationships(%{assigns: %{user: _user}} = conn, _), do: json(conn, [])
   @doc "GET /api/v1/accounts/:id"
   def show(%{assigns: %{user: for_user}} = conn, %{id: nickname_or_id}) do
     with %User{} = user <- User.get_cached_by_nickname_or_id(nickname_or_id, for: for_user),
-         true <- User.visible_for(user, for_user) do
+         :visible <- User.visible_for(user, for_user) do
       render(conn, "show.json", user: user, for: for_user)
     else
       error -> user_visibility_error(conn, error)
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ def show(%{assigns: %{user: for_user}} = conn, %{id: nickname_or_id}) do
   @doc "GET /api/v1/accounts/:id/statuses"
   def statuses(%{assigns: %{user: reading_user}} = conn, params) do
     with %User{} = user <- User.get_cached_by_nickname_or_id(params.id, for: reading_user),
-         true <- User.visible_for(user, reading_user) do
+         :visible <- User.visible_for(user, reading_user) do
       params =
         params
         |> Map.delete(:tagged)
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/account_view.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/account_view.ex
index 8e723d013..4a1508b22 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/account_view.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/account_view.ex
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def render("index.json", %{users: users} = opts) do
   end
 
   def render("show.json", %{user: user} = opts) do
-    if User.visible_for(user, opts[:for]) == true do
+    if User.visible_for(user, opts[:for]) == :visible do
       do_render("show.json", opts)
     else
       %{}
diff --git a/test/user_test.exs b/test/user_test.exs
index 3bfcfd10c..6865bd9be 100644
--- a/test/user_test.exs
+++ b/test/user_test.exs
@@ -1293,7 +1293,7 @@ test "returns false for a non-invisible user" do
     test "returns true when the account is itself" do
       user = insert(:user, local: true)
 
-      assert User.visible_for(user, user)
+      assert User.visible_for(user, user) == :visible
     end
 
     test "returns false when the account is unauthenticated and auth is required" do
@@ -1302,14 +1302,14 @@ test "returns false when the account is unauthenticated and auth is required" do
       user = insert(:user, local: true, confirmation_pending: true)
       other_user = insert(:user, local: true)
 
-      refute User.visible_for(user, other_user) == true
+      refute User.visible_for(user, other_user) == :visible
     end
 
     test "returns true when the account is unauthenticated and auth is not required" do
       user = insert(:user, local: true, confirmation_pending: true)
       other_user = insert(:user, local: true)
 
-      assert User.visible_for(user, other_user)
+      assert User.visible_for(user, other_user) == :visible
     end
 
     test "returns true when the account is unauthenticated and being viewed by a privileged account (auth required)" do
@@ -1318,7 +1318,7 @@ test "returns true when the account is unauthenticated and being viewed by a pri
       user = insert(:user, local: true, confirmation_pending: true)
       other_user = insert(:user, local: true, is_admin: true)
 
-      assert User.visible_for(user, other_user)
+      assert User.visible_for(user, other_user) == :visible
     end
   end