diff --git a/follow.py b/follow.py
index 6f852c366..f00d8e9e1 100644
--- a/follow.py
+++ b/follow.py
@@ -348,3 +348,31 @@ def sendFollowRequest(session,baseDir: str, \
                    sendThreads,postLog,cachedWebfingers,personCache, debug)
 
     return newFollowJson
+
+def getFollowersOfActor(baseDir :str,actor :str) -> []:
+    """In a shared inbox if we receive a post we know who it's from
+    and if it's addressed to followers then we need to get a list of those
+    """
+    result=[]
+    nickname=getNicknameFromActor(actor)
+    print("nickname: "+nickname)
+    if not nickname:
+        return result
+    domain,port=getDomainFromActor(actor)
+    print("domain: "+domain)
+    if not domain:
+        return result
+    actorHandle=nickname+'@'+domain
+    # for each of the accounts
+    for subdir, dirs, files in os.walk(baseDir+'/accounts'):
+        for account in dirs:
+            if '@' in account and not account.startswith('inbox@'):
+                print("account: "+account)
+                followingFilename = os.path.join(subdir, account)+'/following.txt'
+                if os.path.isfile(followingFilename):
+                    print("followingFilename: "+followingFilename)
+                    print("actorHandle: "+actorHandle)
+                    # does this account follow the given actor?
+                    if actorHandle in open(followingFilename).read():                
+                        result.append(account)
+    return result
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index dad93c833..aa4d085e6 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ from follow import unfollowPerson
 from follow import unfollowerOfPerson
 from follow import getFollowersOfPerson
 from follow import sendFollowRequest
+from follow import getFollowersOfActor
 from person import createPerson
 from person import setPreferredNickname
 from person import setBio
@@ -360,6 +361,11 @@ def testFollowBetweenServers():
                         break
         time.sleep(1)
 
+    actorFollows=getFollowersOfActor(aliceDir,httpPrefix+'://'+bobDomain+':'+str(bobPort)+'/users/bob')
+    assert len(actorFollows)==1
+    print("actorFollows: "+actorFollows[0])
+    assert actorFollows[0]=='alice@'+aliceDomain
+        
     print('\n\nEve tries to send to Bob')
     sessionEve = createSession(eveDomain,evePort,useTor)
     eveSendThreads = []