diff --git a/announce.py b/announce.py
index 814728c15..92c412c5c 100644
--- a/announce.py
+++ b/announce.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def outboxAnnounce(recentPostsCache: {},
                                      nickname, domain, debug)
             return True
     elif messageJson['type'] == 'Undo':
-        if not isinstance(messageJson['object'], dict):
+        if not hasObjectDict(messageJson):
             return False
         if not messageJson['object'].get('type'):
             return False
diff --git a/inbox.py b/inbox.py
index d1f6d2450..8fbaccf50 100644
--- a/inbox.py
+++ b/inbox.py
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ def inboxMessageHasParams(messageJson: {}) -> bool:
         return False
 
     # object should be a dict or a string
-    if not isinstance(messageJson['object'], dict):
+    if not hasObjectDict(messageJson):
         if not isinstance(messageJson['object'], str):
             print('WARN: object from ' + str(messageJson['actor']) +
                   ' should be a dict or string, but is actually: ' +
diff --git a/media.py b/media.py
index 2f788117e..0206a10ba 100644
--- a/media.py
+++ b/media.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from utils import getImageExtensions
 from utils import getVideoExtensions
 from utils import getAudioExtensions
 from utils import getMediaExtensions
+from utils import hasObjectDict
 from shutil import copyfile
 from shutil import rmtree
 from shutil import move
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ def replaceYouTube(postJsonObject: {}, replacementDomain: str) -> None:
     """
     if not replacementDomain:
         return
-    if not isinstance(postJsonObject['object'], dict):
+    if not hasObjectDict(postJsonObject):
         return
     if not postJsonObject['object'].get('content'):
         return
diff --git a/posts.py b/posts.py
index a213f7444..0dc9e7179 100644
--- a/posts.py
+++ b/posts.py
@@ -1296,7 +1296,7 @@ def _postIsAddressedToFollowers(baseDir: str,
     toList = []
     ccList = []
     if postJsonObject['type'] != 'Update' and \
-       isinstance(postJsonObject['object'], dict):
+       hasObjectDict(postJsonObject):
         if postJsonObject['object'].get('to'):
             toList = postJsonObject['object']['to']
         if postJsonObject['object'].get('cc'):
@@ -2169,7 +2169,7 @@ def _addFollowersToPublicPost(postJsonObject: {}) -> None:
         if postJsonObject.get('cc'):
             return
         postJsonObject['cc'] = postJsonObject['actor'] + '/followers'
-    elif isinstance(postJsonObject['object'], dict):
+    elif hasObjectDict(postJsonObject):
         if not postJsonObject['object'].get('to'):
             return
         if len(postJsonObject['object']['to']) > 1:
@@ -2433,7 +2433,7 @@ def sendToNamedAddresses(session, baseDir: str,
     if not postJsonObject.get('object'):
         return
     isProfileUpdate = False
-    if isinstance(postJsonObject['object'], dict):
+    if hasObjectDict(postJsonObject):
         if _isProfileUpdate(postJsonObject):
             # use the original object, which has a 'to'
             recipientsObject = postJsonObject
diff --git a/question.py b/question.py
index 9008cbd56..60deecdc4 100644
--- a/question.py
+++ b/question.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def isQuestion(postObjectJson: {}) -> bool:
     if postObjectJson['type'] != 'Create' and \
        postObjectJson['type'] != 'Update':
         return False
-    if not isinstance(postObjectJson['object'], dict):
+    if not hasObjectDict(postObjectJson):
         return False
     if not postObjectJson['object'].get('type'):
         return False
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 0d85039cb..9d21085f2 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -1401,7 +1401,7 @@ def deletePost(baseDir: str, httpPrefix: str,
 
     # remove from moderation index file
     if hasObject:
-        if isinstance(postJsonObject['object'], dict):
+        if hasObjectDict(postJsonObject):
             if postJsonObject['object'].get('moderationStatus'):
                 if postJsonObject.get('id'):
                     postId = removeIdEnding(postJsonObject['id'])
diff --git a/webapp_person_options.py b/webapp_person_options.py
index 6b55aafd8..3c3309196 100644
--- a/webapp_person_options.py
+++ b/webapp_person_options.py
@@ -398,9 +398,10 @@ def htmlPersonOptions(defaultTimeline: str,
             'accesskey="' + accessKeys['enterNotes'] + '">' + \
             personNotes + '</textarea>\n'
 
-    optionsStr += '  </form>\n'
-    optionsStr += '</center>\n'
-    optionsStr += '</div>\n'
-    optionsStr += '</div>\n'
+    optionsStr += \
+        '  </form>\n' + \
+        '</center>\n' + \
+        '</div>\n' + \
+        '</div>\n'
     optionsStr += htmlFooter()
     return optionsStr
diff --git a/webapp_post.py b/webapp_post.py
index fa1317344..3d3ff9941 100644
--- a/webapp_post.py
+++ b/webapp_post.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from posts import postIsMuted
 from posts import getPersonBox
 from posts import downloadAnnounce
 from posts import populateRepliesJson
+from utils import hasObjectDict
 from utils import updateAnnounceCollection
 from utils import isPGPEncrypted
 from utils import isDM
@@ -840,8 +841,7 @@ def _getPostTitleAnnounceHtml(baseDir: str,
                                                         postJsonObject)
             else:
                 titleStr += \
-                    _announceUnattributedHtml(translate,
-                                              postJsonObject)
+                    _announceUnattributedHtml(translate, postJsonObject)
     else:
         titleStr += \
             _announceUnattributedHtml(translate, postJsonObject)
@@ -1339,7 +1339,7 @@ def individualPostAsHtml(allowDownloads: bool,
 
     _logPostTiming(enableTimingLog, postStartTime, '8')
 
-    if not isinstance(postJsonObject['object'], dict):
+    if not hasObjectDict(postJsonObject):
         return ''
 
     # if this post should be public then check its recipients
@@ -1762,7 +1762,7 @@ def htmlIndividualPost(cssCache: {},
     messageId = removeIdEnding(postJsonObject['id'])
 
     # show the previous posts
-    if isinstance(postJsonObject['object'], dict):
+    if hasObjectDict(postJsonObject):
         while postJsonObject['object'].get('inReplyTo'):
             postFilename = \
                 locatePost(baseDir, nickname, domain,