diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4fa50995..14aa58f5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -290,3 +290,13 @@ By default the server will federate with any others. You can limit this to a wel
 ``` bash
 python3 epicyon.py --domain [name] --port 8000 --https --federate domain1.net domain2.org domain3.co.uk
 ```
+
+## Following other accounts
+
+With your server running you can then follow other accounts with:
+
+``` bash
+python3 epicyon.py --nickname [yournick] --domain [name] --follow othernick@domain
+```
+
+You may or may not need to use the *--port*, *--https* and *--tor* options, depending upon how your server was set up.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/epicyon.py b/epicyon.py
index 87c8f1bc..8e1a029f 100644
--- a/epicyon.py
+++ b/epicyon.py
@@ -195,6 +195,10 @@ else:
     if configFederationList:
         federationList=configFederationList
 
+useTor=args.tor
+if domain.endswith('.onion'):
+    useTor=True
+
 if args.follow and nickname:
     if not os.path.isdir(baseDir+'/accounts/'+nickname+'@'+domain):
         print(nickname+' is not an account on the system. use --addaccount if necessary.')
@@ -212,6 +216,7 @@ if args.follow and nickname:
              print(nickname+'@'+domain+' is already following '+followNickname+'@'+followDomain)
              sys.exit()
 
+    session = createSession(domain,port,useTor)
     personCache={}
     cachedWebfingers={}
     sendThreads=[]
@@ -248,9 +253,6 @@ if args.ocap:
     ocapAlways=args.ocap
 if args.dat:
     httpPrefix='dat'
-useTor=args.tor
-if domain.endswith('.onion'):
-    useTor=True
 
 if args.actor:
     if '@' not in args.actor: