diff --git a/acceptreject.py b/acceptreject.py
index f1eecdea9..76f18713f 100644
--- a/acceptreject.py
+++ b/acceptreject.py
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ def receiveAcceptReject(session,baseDir: str, \
         return False
     nickname=getNicknameFromActor(messageJson['actor'])
     if not nickname:
+        # single user instance
         nickname='dev'
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: '+messageJson['type']+' does not contain a nickname. Assuming single user instance.')
diff --git a/follow.py b/follow.py
index 31a3c1153..865c040cb 100644
--- a/follow.py
+++ b/follow.py
@@ -459,9 +459,10 @@ def receiveFollowRequest(session,baseDir: str,httpPrefix: str, \
         return False
     nickname=getNicknameFromActor(messageJson['actor'])
     if not nickname:
+        # single user instance
+        nickname='dev'
         if debug:
-            print('DEBUG: follow request does not contain a nickname')
-        return False
+            print('DEBUG: follow request does not contain a nickname. Assuming single user instance.')
     if not messageJson.get('to'):
         messageJson['to']=messageJson['object']
     handle=nickname.lower()+'@'+domain.lower()