diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier.ex
index c2ced51d8..43725c3db 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/transmogrifier.ex
@@ -453,9 +453,9 @@ def handle_incoming(
          {:ok, follow_activity} <- Utils.update_follow_state(follow_activity, "reject"),
          %User{local: true} = follower <- User.get_cached_by_ap_id(follow_activity.data["actor"]),
          {:ok, activity} <-
-           ActivityPub.accept(%{
+           ActivityPub.reject(%{
              to: follow_activity.data["to"],
-             type: "Accept",
+             type: "Reject",
              actor: followed.ap_id,
              object: follow_activity.data["id"],
              local: false
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/utils.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/utils.ex
index e40d05fcd..3b0cdfe71 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/utils.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/utils.ex
@@ -316,6 +316,25 @@ def remove_like_from_object(%Activity{data: %{"actor" => actor}}, object) do
   @doc """
   Updates a follow activity's state (for locked accounts).
   """
+  def update_follow_state(
+        %Activity{data: %{"actor" => actor, "object" => object, "state" => "pending"}} = activity,
+        state
+      ) do
+    try do
+      Ecto.Adapters.SQL.query!(
+        Repo,
+        "UPDATE activities SET data = jsonb_set(data, '{state}', $1) WHERE data->>'type' = 'Follow' AND data->>'actor' = $2 AND data->>'object' = $3 AND data->>'state' = 'pending'",
+        [state, actor, object]
+      )
+
+      activity = Repo.get(Activity, activity.id)
+      {:ok, activity}
+    rescue
+      e ->
+        {:error, e}
+    end
+  end
+
   def update_follow_state(%Activity{} = activity, state) do
     with new_data <-
            activity.data