diff --git a/test/support/factory.ex b/test/support/factory.ex
index 9bbf11f08..7f378915e 100644
--- a/test/support/factory.ex
+++ b/test/support/factory.ex
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ def user_factory do
       password_hash: Comeonin.Pbkdf2.hashpwsalt("test"),
       bio: sequence(:bio, &"Tester Number #{&1}")
     }
-    %{ user | ap_id: Pleroma.User.ap_id(user), follower_address: Pleroma.User.ap_followers(user) }
+    %{ user | ap_id: Pleroma.User.ap_id(user), follower_address: Pleroma.User.ap_followers(user), following: [Pleroma.User.ap_id(user)] }
   end
 
   def note_factory do
diff --git a/test/user_test.exs b/test/user_test.exs
index e9f7a8666..c06663ed7 100644
--- a/test/user_test.exs
+++ b/test/user_test.exs
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ test "follow takes a user and another user" do
     followed = User.get_by_ap_id(followed.ap_id)
     assert followed.info["follower_count"] == 1
 
-    assert user.following == [User.ap_followers(followed)]
+    assert User.ap_followers(followed) in user.following
   end
 
   test "following a remote user will ensure a websub subscription is present" do
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ test "following a remote user will ensure a websub subscription is present" do
     assert followed.local == false
 
     {:ok, user} = User.follow(user, followed)
-    assert user.following == [User.ap_followers(followed)]
+    assert User.ap_followers(followed) in user.following
 
     query = from w in WebsubClientSubscription,
     where: w.topic == ^followed.info["topic"]
diff --git a/test/web/twitter_api/twitter_api_controller_test.exs b/test/web/twitter_api/twitter_api_controller_test.exs
index 4ab18721d..4b8fa85a5 100644
--- a/test/web/twitter_api/twitter_api_controller_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/twitter_api/twitter_api_controller_test.exs
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ test "with credentials", %{conn: conn, user: current_user} do
       |> post("/api/friendships/create.json", %{user_id: followed.id})
 
       current_user = Repo.get(User, current_user.id)
-      assert current_user.following == [User.ap_followers(followed)]
+      assert User.ap_followers(followed) in current_user.following
       assert json_response(conn, 200) == UserView.render("show.json", %{user: followed, for: current_user})
     end
   end
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ test "with credentials", %{conn: conn, user: current_user} do
       followed = insert(:user)
 
       {:ok, current_user} = User.follow(current_user, followed)
-      assert current_user.following == [User.ap_followers(followed)]
+      assert User.ap_followers(followed) in current_user.following
       ActivityPub.follow(current_user, followed)
 
       conn = conn
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ test "with credentials", %{conn: conn, user: current_user} do
       |> post("/api/friendships/destroy.json", %{user_id: followed.id})
 
       current_user = Repo.get(User, current_user.id)
-      assert current_user.following == []
+      assert current_user.following == [current_user.ap_id]
       assert json_response(conn, 200) == UserView.render("show.json", %{user: followed, for: current_user})
     end
   end
diff --git a/test/web/twitter_api/twitter_api_test.exs b/test/web/twitter_api/twitter_api_test.exs
index 06ecd9e75..60daeec70 100644
--- a/test/web/twitter_api/twitter_api_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/twitter_api/twitter_api_test.exs
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ test "Follow another user using user_id" do
     followed = insert(:user)
 
     {:ok, user, followed, _activity } = TwitterAPI.follow(user, %{"user_id" => followed.id})
-    assert user.following == [User.ap_followers(followed)]
+    assert User.ap_followers(followed) in user.following
 
     { :error, msg } = TwitterAPI.follow(user, %{"user_id" => followed.id})
     assert msg == "Could not follow user: #{followed.nickname} is already on your list."
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ test "Follow another user using screen_name" do
     followed = insert(:user)
 
     {:ok, user, followed, _activity } = TwitterAPI.follow(user, %{"screen_name" => followed.nickname})
-    assert user.following == [User.ap_followers(followed)]
+    assert User.ap_followers(followed) in user.following
 
     followed = User.get_by_ap_id(followed.ap_id)
     assert followed.info["follower_count"] == 1
diff --git a/test/web/twitter_api/views/user_view_test.exs b/test/web/twitter_api/views/user_view_test.exs
index 9f8e15574..18a19ef70 100644
--- a/test/web/twitter_api/views/user_view_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/twitter_api/views/user_view_test.exs
@@ -92,7 +92,8 @@ test "A user for a given other follower", %{user: user} do
   end
 
   test "A user that follows you", %{user: user} do
-    {:ok, follower} = UserBuilder.insert(%{following: [User.ap_followers(user)]})
+    follower = insert(:user)
+    {:ok, follower} = User.follow(follower, user)
     {:ok, user} = User.update_follower_count(user)
     image = "https://placehold.it/48x48"
     represented = %{