diff --git a/like.py b/like.py
index 0e1c74078..ed074a574 100644
--- a/like.py
+++ b/like.py
@@ -425,14 +425,12 @@ def updateLikesCollection(recentPostsCache: {},
             except BaseException:
                 pass
 
-    if not hasObjectDict(postJsonObject):
-        if debug:
-            pprint(postJsonObject)
-            print('DEBUG: post ' + objectUrl + ' has no object')
-        return
+    obj = postJsonObject
+    if hasObjectDict(postJsonObject):
+        obj = postJsonObject['object']
     if not objectUrl.endswith('/likes'):
         objectUrl = objectUrl + '/likes'
-    if not postJsonObject['object'].get('likes'):
+    if not obj.get('likes'):
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: Adding initial like to ' + objectUrl)
         likesJson = {
@@ -445,11 +443,11 @@ def updateLikesCollection(recentPostsCache: {},
                 'actor': actor
             }]
         }
-        postJsonObject['object']['likes'] = likesJson
+        obj['likes'] = likesJson
     else:
-        if not postJsonObject['object']['likes'].get('items'):
-            postJsonObject['object']['likes']['items'] = []
-        for likeItem in postJsonObject['object']['likes']['items']:
+        if not obj['likes'].get('items'):
+            obj['likes']['items'] = []
+        for likeItem in obj['likes']['items']:
             if likeItem.get('actor'):
                 if likeItem['actor'] == actor:
                     # already liked
@@ -458,9 +456,9 @@ def updateLikesCollection(recentPostsCache: {},
             'type': 'Like',
             'actor': actor
         }
-        postJsonObject['object']['likes']['items'].append(newLike)
-        itlen = len(postJsonObject['object']['likes']['items'])
-        postJsonObject['object']['likes']['totalItems'] = itlen
+        obj['likes']['items'].append(newLike)
+        itlen = len(obj['likes']['items'])
+        obj['likes']['totalItems'] = itlen
 
     if debug:
         print('DEBUG: saving post with likes added')
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 3afe85063..50007b2dd 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -2184,27 +2184,25 @@ def undoLikesCollectionEntry(recentPostsCache: {},
         return
     if postJsonObject['type'] != 'Create':
         return
-    if not hasObjectDict(postJsonObject):
-        if debug:
-            pprint(postJsonObject)
-            print('DEBUG: post ' + objectUrl + ' has no object')
+    obj = postJsonObject
+    if hasObjectDict(postJsonObject):
+        obj = postJsonObject['object']
+    if not obj.get('likes'):
         return
-    if not postJsonObject['object'].get('likes'):
+    if not isinstance(obj['likes'], dict):
         return
-    if not isinstance(postJsonObject['object']['likes'], dict):
-        return
-    if not postJsonObject['object']['likes'].get('items'):
+    if not obj['likes'].get('items'):
         return
     totalItems = 0
-    if postJsonObject['object']['likes'].get('totalItems'):
-        totalItems = postJsonObject['object']['likes']['totalItems']
+    if obj['likes'].get('totalItems'):
+        totalItems = obj['likes']['totalItems']
     itemFound = False
-    for likeItem in postJsonObject['object']['likes']['items']:
+    for likeItem in obj['likes']['items']:
         if likeItem.get('actor'):
             if likeItem['actor'] == actor:
                 if debug:
                     print('DEBUG: like was removed for ' + actor)
-                postJsonObject['object']['likes']['items'].remove(likeItem)
+                obj['likes']['items'].remove(likeItem)
                 itemFound = True
                 break
     if not itemFound:
@@ -2212,10 +2210,10 @@ def undoLikesCollectionEntry(recentPostsCache: {},
     if totalItems == 1:
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: likes was removed from post')
-        del postJsonObject['object']['likes']
+        del obj['likes']
     else:
-        itlen = len(postJsonObject['object']['likes']['items'])
-        postJsonObject['object']['likes']['totalItems'] = itlen
+        itlen = len(obj['likes']['items'])
+        obj['likes']['totalItems'] = itlen
 
     saveJson(postJsonObject, postFilename)