diff --git a/epicyon.py b/epicyon.py
index 638756a63..82422bbda 100644
--- a/epicyon.py
+++ b/epicyon.py
@@ -907,8 +907,9 @@ if args.actor:
     if nickname==domain:
         personUrl=personUrl.replace('/users/','/actor/').replace('/channel/','/actor/').replace('/profile/','/actor/')
     if not personUrl:
-        print('Failed to get actor url')
-        sys.exit()        
+        # try single user instance
+        personUrl=httpPrefix+'://'+domain
+        asHeader = {'Accept': 'application/ld+json; profile="https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams"'}
     if '/channel/' in personUrl:
         asHeader = {'Accept': 'application/ld+json; profile="https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams"'}
     personJson = getJson(session,personUrl,asHeader,None,__version__,httpPrefix,None)
diff --git a/posts.py b/posts.py
index 0c8064311..ef6aa5cbd 100644
--- a/posts.py
+++ b/posts.py
@@ -167,7 +167,10 @@ def getPersonBox(baseDir: str,session,wfRequest: {},personCache: {}, \
     else:
         personUrl = httpPrefix+'://'+domain+'/users/'+nickname
     if not personUrl:
-        return None,None,None,None,None,None,None,None
+        # try single user instance
+        personUrl = httpPrefix+'://'+domain
+        asHeader = {'Accept': 'application/ld+json; profile="https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams"'}
+        #return None,None,None,None,None,None,None,None
     personJson = getPersonFromCache(baseDir,personUrl,personCache)
     if not personJson:
         if '/channel/' in personUrl: