diff --git a/acceptreject.py b/acceptreject.py
index ee0124c22..96b1b5d94 100644
--- a/acceptreject.py
+++ b/acceptreject.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ __module_group__ = "ActivityPub"
 
 import os
 from utils import hasObjectStringObject
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import getFullDomain
 from utils import urlPermitted
 from utils import getDomainFromActor
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ def receiveAcceptReject(session, base_dir: str,
         return False
     if not hasActor(message_json, debug):
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['actor']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['actor']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: "users" or "profile" missing from actor in ' +
                   message_json['type'] + '. Assuming single user instance.')
diff --git a/announce.py b/announce.py
index 33ca9d03c..844b2150f 100644
--- a/announce.py
+++ b/announce.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from utils import hasObjectStringObject
 from utils import hasGroupType
 from utils import removeDomainPort
 from utils import removeIdEnding
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import getFullDomain
 from utils import getStatusNumber
 from utils import createOutboxDir
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ def createAnnounce(session, base_dir: str, federation_list: [],
     announceDomain = None
     announcePort = None
     group_account = False
-    if hasUsersPath(objectUrl):
+    if has_users_path(objectUrl):
         announceNickname = getNicknameFromActor(objectUrl)
         announceDomain, announcePort = getDomainFromActor(objectUrl)
         if '/' + str(announceNickname) + '/' in objectUrl:
diff --git a/auth.py b/auth.py
index f259d8861..b780799d2 100644
--- a/auth.py
+++ b/auth.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import os
 import secrets
 import datetime
 from utils import isSystemAccount
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 
 
 def _hashPassword(password: str) -> str:
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def authorizeBasic(base_dir: str, path: str, authHeader: str,
             print('DEBUG: basic auth - Authorisation header does not ' +
                   'contain a space character')
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(path):
+    if not has_users_path(path):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: basic auth - ' +
                   'path for Authorization does not contain a user')
diff --git a/blocking.py b/blocking.py
index db1519d18..b401da8a4 100644
--- a/blocking.py
+++ b/blocking.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ from utils import loadJson
 from utils import saveJson
 from utils import fileLastModified
 from utils import setConfigParam
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import getFullDomain
 from utils import removeIdEnding
 from utils import isEvil
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ def outboxBlock(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: c2s block object is not a status')
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(messageId):
+    if not has_users_path(messageId):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: c2s block object has no nickname')
         return False
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ def outboxUndoBlock(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: c2s undo block object is not a status')
         return
-    if not hasUsersPath(messageId):
+    if not has_users_path(messageId):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: c2s undo block object has no nickname')
         return
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ def outboxMute(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: c2s mute object is not a status')
         return
-    if not hasUsersPath(messageId):
+    if not has_users_path(messageId):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: c2s mute object has no nickname')
         return
@@ -848,7 +848,7 @@ def outboxUndoMute(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: c2s undo mute object is not a status')
         return
-    if not hasUsersPath(messageId):
+    if not has_users_path(messageId):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: c2s undo mute object has no nickname')
         return
diff --git a/bookmarks.py b/bookmarks.py
index a5a0372cd..3fad4e2bc 100644
--- a/bookmarks.py
+++ b/bookmarks.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from pprint import pprint
 from webfinger import webfingerHandle
 from auth import createBasicAuthHeader
 from utils import removeDomainPort
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import getFullDomain
 from utils import removeIdEnding
 from utils import removePostFromCache
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ def bookmark(recentPostsCache: {},
         bookmarkedPostNickname = getNicknameFromActor(acBm)
         bookmarkedPostDomain, bookmarkedPostPort = getDomainFromActor(acBm)
     else:
-        if hasUsersPath(objectUrl):
+        if has_users_path(objectUrl):
             ou = objectUrl
             bookmarkedPostNickname = getNicknameFromActor(ou)
             bookmarkedPostDomain, bookmarkedPostPort = getDomainFromActor(ou)
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ def undoBookmark(recentPostsCache: {},
         bookmarkedPostNickname = getNicknameFromActor(acBm)
         bookmarkedPostDomain, bookmarkedPostPort = getDomainFromActor(acBm)
     else:
-        if hasUsersPath(objectUrl):
+        if has_users_path(objectUrl):
             ou = objectUrl
             bookmarkedPostNickname = getNicknameFromActor(ou)
             bookmarkedPostDomain, bookmarkedPostPort = getDomainFromActor(ou)
diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index 686a9868a..c15d16bed 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ from utils import getLocalNetworkAddresses
 from utils import decodedHost
 from utils import isPublicPost
 from utils import get_locked_account
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import getFullDomain
 from utils import removeHtml
 from utils import isEditor
@@ -3489,7 +3489,7 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                     return
             elif ('@' in searchStr or
                   ('://' in searchStr and
-                   hasUsersPath(searchStr))):
+                   has_users_path(searchStr))):
                 if searchStr.endswith(':') or \
                    searchStr.endswith(';') or \
                    searchStr.endswith('.'):
@@ -3508,7 +3508,7 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
 
                 # are we already following the searched for handle?
                 if isFollowingActor(base_dir, nickname, domain, searchStr):
-                    if not hasUsersPath(searchStr):
+                    if not has_users_path(searchStr):
                         searchNickname = getNicknameFromActor(searchStr)
                         searchDomain, searchPort = \
                             getDomainFromActor(searchStr)
@@ -14807,7 +14807,7 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
 
         if '/ontologies/' in self.path or \
            '/data/' in self.path:
-            if not hasUsersPath(self.path):
+            if not has_users_path(self.path):
                 self._getOntology(callingDomain,
                                   self.path, self.server.base_dir,
                                   GETstartTime)
diff --git a/delete.py b/delete.py
index 447fc90d0..12fe50170 100644
--- a/delete.py
+++ b/delete.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import os
 from datetime import datetime
 from utils import hasObjectString
 from utils import removeDomainPort
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import getFullDomain
 from utils import removeIdEnding
 from utils import getNicknameFromActor
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ def outboxDelete(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: c2s delete object is not a status')
         return
-    if not hasUsersPath(messageId):
+    if not has_users_path(messageId):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: c2s delete object has no nickname')
         return
diff --git a/epicyon.py b/epicyon.py
index 057594902..cdc6a42d4 100644
--- a/epicyon.py
+++ b/epicyon.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ from auth import storeBasicCredentials
 from auth import createPassword
 from utils import removeDomainPort
 from utils import getPortFromDomain
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import getFullDomain
 from utils import setConfigParam
 from utils import getConfigParam
@@ -2129,7 +2129,7 @@ if args.followers:
         for prefix in prefixes:
             args.followers = args.followers.replace(prefix, '')
         args.followers = args.followers.replace('/@', '/users/')
-        if not hasUsersPath(args.followers):
+        if not has_users_path(args.followers):
             print('Expected actor format: ' +
                   'https://domain/@nick or https://domain/users/nick')
             sys.exit()
@@ -2212,7 +2212,7 @@ if args.followers:
     personUrl = None
     if wfRequest.get('errors'):
         print('wfRequest error: ' + str(wfRequest['errors']))
-        if hasUsersPath(args.followers):
+        if has_users_path(args.followers):
             personUrl = originalActor
         else:
             sys.exit()
diff --git a/follow.py b/follow.py
index 8c9ed5e79..f0118fb5d 100644
--- a/follow.py
+++ b/follow.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import os
 from utils import hasObjectStringObject
 from utils import hasObjectStringType
 from utils import removeDomainPort
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import getFullDomain
 from utils import getFollowersList
 from utils import validNickname
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ def _getNoOfFollows(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
                 ctr += 1
             elif ((line.startswith('http') or
                    line.startswith('hyper')) and
-                  hasUsersPath(line)):
+                  has_users_path(line)):
                 ctr += 1
     return ctr
 
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ def getFollowingFeed(base_dir: str, domain: str, port: int, path: str,
                     following['orderedItems'].append(url)
             elif ((line.startswith('http') or
                    line.startswith('hyper')) and
-                  hasUsersPath(line)):
+                  has_users_path(line)):
                 # https://domain/users/nickname
                 pageCtr += 1
                 totalCtr += 1
diff --git a/inbox.py b/inbox.py
index f737755e1..f2443c5d4 100644
--- a/inbox.py
+++ b/inbox.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ from utils import has_object_dict
 from utils import dmAllowedFromDomain
 from utils import isRecentPost
 from utils import getConfigParam
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import validPostDate
 from utils import getFullDomain
 from utils import removeIdEnding
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ def _receiveUndoFollow(session, base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: follow request has no actor within object')
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['object']['actor']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['object']['actor']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: "users" or "profile" missing ' +
                   'from actor within object')
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ def _receiveUndo(session, base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
         print('DEBUG: Undo activity received')
     if not hasActor(message_json, debug):
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['actor']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['actor']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: "users" or "profile" missing from actor')
         return False
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ def _receiveUpdate(recentPostsCache: {}, session, base_dir: str,
         return False
     if not hasObjectStringType(message_json, debug):
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['actor']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['actor']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: "users" or "profile" missing from actor in ' +
                   message_json['type'])
@@ -1021,7 +1021,7 @@ def _receiveLike(recentPostsCache: {},
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: ' + message_json['type'] + ' has no "to" list')
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['actor']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['actor']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: "users" or "profile" missing from actor in ' +
                   message_json['type'])
@@ -1143,7 +1143,7 @@ def _receiveUndoLike(recentPostsCache: {},
         return False
     if not hasObjectStringObject(message_json, debug):
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['actor']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['actor']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: "users" or "profile" missing from actor in ' +
                   message_json['type'] + ' like')
@@ -1267,7 +1267,7 @@ def _receiveReaction(recentPostsCache: {},
         print('_receiveReaction: Invalid emoji reaction: "' +
               message_json['content'] + '" from ' + message_json['actor'])
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['actor']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['actor']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: "users" or "profile" missing from actor in ' +
                   message_json['type'])
@@ -1412,7 +1412,7 @@ def _receiveUndoReaction(recentPostsCache: {},
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: ' + message_json['type'] + ' content is not string')
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['actor']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['actor']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: "users" or "profile" missing from actor in ' +
                   message_json['type'] + ' reaction')
@@ -1753,7 +1753,7 @@ def _receiveDelete(session, handle: str, isGroup: bool, base_dir: str,
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: ' + message_json['type'] + ' has no "to" list')
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['actor']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['actor']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: ' +
                   '"users" or "profile" missing from actor in ' +
@@ -1835,7 +1835,7 @@ def _receiveAnnounce(recentPostsCache: {},
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: ' + message_json['type'] + ' has no "to" list')
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['actor']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['actor']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: ' +
                   '"users" or "profile" missing from actor in ' +
@@ -1845,7 +1845,7 @@ def _receiveAnnounce(recentPostsCache: {},
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: self-boost rejected')
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['object']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['object']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: ' +
                   '"users", "channel" or "profile" missing in ' +
@@ -1984,7 +1984,7 @@ def _receiveAnnounce(recentPostsCache: {},
                     if isinstance(attrib, str):
                         lookupActor = attrib
         if lookupActor:
-            if hasUsersPath(lookupActor):
+            if has_users_path(lookupActor):
                 if '/statuses/' in lookupActor:
                     lookupActor = lookupActor.split('/statuses/')[0]
 
@@ -2048,7 +2048,7 @@ def _receiveUndoAnnounce(recentPostsCache: {},
         return False
     if message_json['object']['type'] != 'Announce':
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['actor']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['actor']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: "users" or "profile" missing from actor in ' +
                   message_json['type'] + ' announce')
@@ -2318,7 +2318,7 @@ def _obtainAvatarForReplyPost(session, base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
     if not isinstance(lookupActor, str):
         return
 
-    if not hasUsersPath(lookupActor):
+    if not has_users_path(lookupActor):
         return
 
     if '/statuses/' in lookupActor:
@@ -3868,7 +3868,7 @@ def _receiveFollowRequest(session, base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
     print('Receiving follow request')
     if not hasActor(message_json, debug):
         return False
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['actor']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['actor']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: users/profile/accounts/channel missing from actor')
         return False
@@ -3890,7 +3890,7 @@ def _receiveFollowRequest(session, base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
                   'nickname. Assuming single user instance.')
     if not message_json.get('to'):
         message_json['to'] = message_json['object']
-    if not hasUsersPath(message_json['object']):
+    if not has_users_path(message_json['object']):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: users/profile/channel/accounts ' +
                   'not found within object')
diff --git a/like.py b/like.py
index abd806339..22680999f 100644
--- a/like.py
+++ b/like.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from utils import hasObjectStringObject
 from utils import hasObjectStringType
 from utils import removeDomainPort
 from utils import has_object_dict
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import getFullDomain
 from utils import removeIdEnding
 from utils import urlPermitted
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def _like(recentPostsCache: {},
         likedPostDomain, likedPostPort = getDomainFromActor(actorLiked)
         group_account = hasGroupType(base_dir, actorLiked, person_cache)
     else:
-        if hasUsersPath(objectUrl):
+        if has_users_path(objectUrl):
             likedPostNickname = getNicknameFromActor(objectUrl)
             likedPostDomain, likedPostPort = getDomainFromActor(objectUrl)
             if '/' + str(likedPostNickname) + '/' in objectUrl:
diff --git a/person.py b/person.py
index 87b913e13..8e3b3ab8e 100644
--- a/person.py
+++ b/person.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ from utils import setConfigParam
 from utils import getConfigParam
 from utils import refresh_newswire
 from utils import getProtocolPrefixes
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import getImageExtensions
 from utils import isImageFile
 from utils import acct_dir
@@ -1450,7 +1450,7 @@ def getActorJson(hostDomain: str, handle: str, http: bool, gnunet: bool,
             group_account = True
         # format: https://domain/@nick
         originalHandle = handle
-        if not hasUsersPath(originalHandle):
+        if not has_users_path(originalHandle):
             if not quiet or debug:
                 print('getActorJson: Expected actor format: ' +
                       'https://domain/@nick or https://domain' +
@@ -1556,7 +1556,7 @@ def getActorJson(hostDomain: str, handle: str, http: bool, gnunet: bool,
             if not quiet or debug:
                 print('getActorJson wfRequest error: ' +
                       str(wfRequest['errors']))
-            if hasUsersPath(handle):
+            if has_users_path(handle):
                 personUrl = originalActor
             else:
                 if debug:
diff --git a/posts.py b/posts.py
index 021f8f9ba..8239c71c5 100644
--- a/posts.py
+++ b/posts.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ from utils import rejectPostId
 from utils import removeInvalidChars
 from utils import fileLastModified
 from utils import isPublicPost
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import validPostDate
 from utils import getFullDomain
 from utils import getFollowersList
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ def getUserUrl(wfRequest: {}, sourceId: int, debug: bool) -> str:
         if link['type'] != 'application/activity+json':
             continue
         if '/@' not in link['href']:
-            if debug and not hasUsersPath(link['href']):
+            if debug and not has_users_path(link['href']):
                 print('getUserUrl webfinger activity+json ' +
                       'contains single user instance actor ' +
                       str(sourceId) + ' ' + str(link))
@@ -4636,7 +4636,7 @@ def downloadAnnounce(session, base_dir: str, http_prefix: str,
                             base_dir, nickname, domain, postId,
                             recentPostsCache)
             return None
-        if not hasUsersPath(announcedJson['id']):
+        if not has_users_path(announcedJson['id']):
             _rejectAnnounce(announceFilename,
                             base_dir, nickname, domain, postId,
                             recentPostsCache)
@@ -5299,7 +5299,7 @@ def getOriginalPostFromAnnounceUrl(announceUrl: str, base_dir: str,
                     url = origPostId
     else:
         # we don't have the original post
-        if hasUsersPath(origPostId):
+        if has_users_path(origPostId):
             # get the actor from the original post url
             origNick = getNicknameFromActor(origPostId)
             origDomain, origPort = getDomainFromActor(origPostId)
diff --git a/reaction.py b/reaction.py
index 500dd8a6b..28d725530 100644
--- a/reaction.py
+++ b/reaction.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from utils import hasObjectStringObject
 from utils import hasObjectStringType
 from utils import removeDomainPort
 from utils import has_object_dict
-from utils import hasUsersPath
+from utils import has_users_path
 from utils import getFullDomain
 from utils import removeIdEnding
 from utils import urlPermitted
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def _reaction(recentPostsCache: {},
             getDomainFromActor(actorReaction)
         group_account = hasGroupType(base_dir, actorReaction, person_cache)
     else:
-        if hasUsersPath(objectUrl):
+        if has_users_path(objectUrl):
             reactionPostNickname = getNicknameFromActor(objectUrl)
             reactionPostDomain, reactionPostPort = \
                 getDomainFromActor(objectUrl)
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 3f97869ab..9910bb308 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ def get_locked_account(actor_json: {}) -> bool:
     return False
 
 
-def hasUsersPath(pathStr: str) -> bool:
+def has_users_path(pathStr: str) -> bool:
     """Whether there is a /users/ path (or equivalent) in the given string
     """
     usersList = getUserPaths()