diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/admin_api/admin_api_controller.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/admin_api/admin_api_controller.ex
index 84d0aabaf..78bf31893 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/admin_api/admin_api_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/admin_api/admin_api_controller.ex
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ def user_delete(conn, %{"nickname" => nickname}) do
   end
 
   def user_follow(conn, %{"follower" => follower_nick, "followed" => followed_nick}) do
-    with %User{} = follower <- Repo.get_by(User, %{nickname: follower_nick}),
-         %User{} = followed <- Repo.get_by(User, %{nickname: followed_nick}) do
+    with %User{} = follower <- User.get_by_nickname(follower_nick),
+         %User{} = followed <- User.get_by_nickname(followed_nick) do
       User.follow(follower, followed)
     end
 
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ def user_follow(conn, %{"follower" => follower_nick, "followed" => followed_nick
   end
 
   def user_unfollow(conn, %{"follower" => follower_nick, "followed" => followed_nick}) do
-    with %User{} = follower <- Repo.get_by(User, %{nickname: follower_nick}),
-         %User{} = followed <- Repo.get_by(User, %{nickname: followed_nick}) do
+    with %User{} = follower <- User.get_by_nickname(follower_nick),
+         %User{} = followed <- User.get_by_nickname(followed_nick) do
       User.unfollow(follower, followed)
     end