diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index b723097a6..eae0e75f6 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -356,7 +356,6 @@ def followPerson(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
 
     if not os.path.isdir(baseDir + '/accounts'):
         os.mkdir(baseDir + '/accounts')
-    followAdded = False
     handleToFollow = followNickname + '@' + followDomain
     filename = baseDir + '/accounts/' + handle + '/' + followFile
     if os.path.isfile(filename):
@@ -372,25 +371,24 @@ def followPerson(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
                 followFile.write(handleToFollow + '\n' + content)
                 if debug:
                     print('DEBUG: follow added')
-                followAdded = True
         except Exception as e:
             print('WARN: Failed to write entry to follow file ' +
                   filename + ' ' + str(e))
+    else:
+        # first follow
+        if debug:
+            print('DEBUG: creating new following file to follow ' +
+                  handleToFollow)
+        with open(filename, 'w+') as followfile:
+            followfile.write(handleToFollow + '\n')
 
-    if followAdded:
-        # Default to adding new follows to the calendar.
-        # Possibly this could be made optional
-        if followFile == 'following.txt':
-            # if following a person add them to the list of
-            # calendar follows
-            addPersonToCalendar(baseDir, nickname, domain,
-                                followNickname, followDomain)
-        return True
-
-    if debug:
-        print('DEBUG: creating new following file to follow ' + handleToFollow)
-    with open(filename, 'w+') as followfile:
-        followfile.write(handleToFollow + '\n')
+    # Default to adding new follows to the calendar.
+    # Possibly this could be made optional
+    if followFile == 'following.txt':
+        # if following a person add them to the list of
+        # calendar follows
+        addPersonToCalendar(baseDir, nickname, domain,
+                            followNickname, followDomain)
     return True