diff --git a/mastoapiv1.py b/mastoapiv1.py
index 9eeea17cb..3ab8134a5 100644
--- a/mastoapiv1.py
+++ b/mastoapiv1.py
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ def _get_masto_api_v1account(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
     no_of_followers = 0
     no_of_following = 0
     fields = []
+    published = None
     if show_accounts and not broch_mode:
         no_of_followers = _lines_in_file(account_dir + '/followers.txt')
         no_of_following = _lines_in_file(account_dir + '/following.txt')
@@ -131,6 +132,16 @@ def _get_masto_api_v1account(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
                         "value": tag[prop_value_name],
                         "verified_at": None
                     })
+            published_filename = \
+                acct_dir(base_dir, nickname, domain) + '/.last_published'
+            if os.path.isfile(published_filename):
+                try:
+                    with open(published_filename, 'r',
+                              encoding='utf-8') as fp_pub:
+                        published = fp_pub.read()
+                except OSError:
+                    print('EX: unable to read last published time ' +
+                          published_filename)
 
     masto_account_json = {
         "id": get_masto_api_v1id_from_nickname(nickname),
@@ -156,6 +167,8 @@ def _get_masto_api_v1account(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
         "roles": [],
         "fields": fields
     }
+    if published:
+        masto_account_json['last_status_at'] = published
     return masto_account_json
 
 
diff --git a/posts.py b/posts.py
index d40bf558c..8b73bbb4b 100644
--- a/posts.py
+++ b/posts.py
@@ -954,9 +954,14 @@ def save_post_to_box(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str, post_id: str,
             local_actor_url(http_prefix, nickname, original_domain) + \
             '/statuses/' + status_number
         post_json_object['id'] = post_id + '/activity'
+    published = None
+    if post_json_object.get('published'):
+        published = post_json_object['published']
     if has_object_dict(post_json_object):
         post_json_object['object']['id'] = post_id
         post_json_object['object']['atomUri'] = post_id
+        if post_json_object['object'].get('published'):
+            published = post_json_object['object']['published']
 
     box_dir = create_person_dir(nickname, domain, base_dir, boxname)
     filename = box_dir + '/' + post_id.replace('/', '#') + '.json'
@@ -965,6 +970,17 @@ def save_post_to_box(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str, post_id: str,
     # if this is an outbox post with a duplicate in the inbox then save to both
     # This happens for edited posts
     if '/outbox/' in filename:
+        if published:
+            published_filename = \
+                acct_dir(base_dir, nickname, domain) + '/.last_published'
+            try:
+                with open(published_filename, 'w+',
+                          encoding='utf-8') as fp_last:
+                    fp_last.write(published)
+            except OSError:
+                print('EX: unable to save last published time ' +
+                      published_filename)
+
         inbox_filename = filename.replace('/outbox/', '/inbox/')
         if os.path.isfile(inbox_filename):
             save_json(post_json_object, inbox_filename)