diff --git a/newswire.py b/newswire.py
index 95a5b7a80..02b6c3c7c 100644
--- a/newswire.py
+++ b/newswire.py
@@ -179,7 +179,8 @@ def _downloadNewswireFeedFavicon(session, baseDir: str,
 
     # check svg for dubious scripts
     if favUrl.endswith('.svg'):
-        if dangerousSVG(str(imageData), False):
+        imageDataStr = str(imageData)
+        if dangerousSVG(imageDataStr, False):
             return False
 
     # save to the cache
diff --git a/person.py b/person.py
index 30214cc38..c3bcada06 100644
--- a/person.py
+++ b/person.py
@@ -1010,6 +1010,8 @@ def setDisplayNickname(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
 
 
 def setBio(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str, bio: str) -> bool:
+    """Only used within tests
+    """
     if len(bio) > 32:
         return False
     handle = nickname + '@' + domain
@@ -1683,13 +1685,19 @@ def validSendingActor(session, baseDir: str,
         return False
     # does the actor have a bio ?
     if not unitTest:
-        if not actorJson.get('summary'):
+        bioStr = ''
+        if actorJson.get('summary'):
+            bioStr = removeHtml(actorJson['summary']).strip()
+        if not bioStr:
             # allow no bio if it's an actor in this instance
             if domain not in sendingActor:
                 # probably a spam actor with no bio
                 print('REJECT: spam actor ' + sendingActor)
                 return False
-        bioStr = removeHtml(actorJson['summary'])
+        if len(bioStr) < 10:
+            print('REJECT: actor bio is not long enough ' +
+                  sendingActor + ' ' + bioStr)
+            return False
         bioStr += ' ' + removeHtml(actorJson['preferredUsername'])
 
         if actorJson.get('attachment'):