diff --git a/posts.py b/posts.py
index 7eaee3a4e..c42e69ed5 100644
--- a/posts.py
+++ b/posts.py
@@ -4143,6 +4143,8 @@ def send_to_followers(server, session, session_onion, session_i2p,
     # randomize the order of sending to instances
     randomized_instances: list[str] = []
     for follower_domain, follower_handles in grouped.items():
+        if '<' in follower_domain:
+            follower_domain = follower_domain.split('<')[0]
         randomized_instances.append([follower_domain, follower_handles])
     random.shuffle(randomized_instances)
 
diff --git a/siteactive.py b/siteactive.py
index fe21daaea..b431e1077 100644
--- a/siteactive.py
+++ b/siteactive.py
@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ def site_is_active(url: str, timeout: int,
     """
     if '<>' in url:
         url = url.replace('<>', '')
+    if '<' in url:
+        url = url.split('<')[0]
     if not url.startswith('http') and \
        not url.startswith('ipfs') and \
        not url.startswith('ipns'):
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 069869419..ecb88e918 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -1512,6 +1512,10 @@ def get_domain_from_actor(actor: str) -> (str, int):
             domain = domain.replace(prefix, '')
         if '/' in actor:
             domain = domain.split('/')[0]
+    if '<' in domain:
+        # handle domain with handle appended
+        # https://domain<user@domain>
+        domain = domain.split('<')[0]
     if ':' in domain:
         port = get_port_from_domain(domain)
         domain = remove_domain_port(domain)