diff --git a/follow.py b/follow.py
index 31509499e..3d715ffa2 100644
--- a/follow.py
+++ b/follow.py
@@ -436,6 +436,13 @@ def receiveFollowRequest(session,baseDir: str,httpPrefix: str, \
     # what is the followers policy?
     if followApprovalRequired(baseDir,nicknameToFollow, \
                               domainToFollow,debug):
+        rejectedFollowsFilename=baseDir+'/accounts/'+nickname+'@'+domain+'/followrejects.txt'
+        if os.path.isfile(rejectedFollowsFilename):
+            denyHandle=nicknameToFollow+'@'+domainToFollowFull
+            if denyHandle in open(rejectedFollowsFilename).read():
+                print(denyHandle+' was already denied as a follower of '+nickname)
+                return True
+
         print('Storing follow request for approval')
         return storeFollowRequest(baseDir, \
                                   nicknameToFollow,domainToFollow,port, \
diff --git a/manualapprove.py b/manualapprove.py
index 9334fd354..03b5dcdd1 100644
--- a/manualapprove.py
+++ b/manualapprove.py
@@ -17,6 +17,14 @@ def manualDenyFollowRequest(baseDir: str,nickname: str,domain: str,denyHandle: s
     """
     handle=nickname+'@'+domain
     accountsDir=baseDir+'/accounts/'+handle
+
+    # has this handle already been rejected?
+    rejectedFollowsFilename=accountsDir+'/followrejects.txt'
+    if os.path.isfile(rejectedFollowsFilename):
+        if denyHandle in open(rejectedFollowsFilename).read():
+            print(denyHandle+' has already been rejected as a follower of '+nickname)
+            return
+
     approveFollowsFilename=accountsDir+'/followrequests.txt'
     if not os.path.isfile(approveFollowsFilename):
         if debug:
@@ -31,6 +39,12 @@ def manualDenyFollowRequest(baseDir: str,nickname: str,domain: str,denyHandle: s
                 approvefilenew.write(approveHandle)
     approvefilenew.close()
     os.rename(approveFollowsFilename+'.new',approveFollowsFilename)
+
+    # Store rejected follows
+    rejectsFile=open(rejectedFollowsFilename, "a+")
+    rejectsFile.write(denyHandle+'\n')
+    rejectsFile.close()
+
     print('Follow request from '+denyHandle+' was denied.')
     
 def manualApproveFollowRequest(session,baseDir: str, \