diff --git a/lib/pleroma/following_relationship.ex b/lib/pleroma/following_relationship.ex
index 0d789b5a6..2ffac17ee 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/following_relationship.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/following_relationship.ex
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def following(%User{} = user) do
       |> select([r, u], u.follower_address)
       |> Repo.all()
 
-    if user.nickname in [nil, "internal.fetch"] do
+    if not user.local or user.nickname in [nil, "internal.fetch"] do
       following
     else
       [user.follower_address | following]
diff --git a/test/user_test.exs b/test/user_test.exs
index 85e55876d..eb1cf4037 100644
--- a/test/user_test.exs
+++ b/test/user_test.exs
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ test "unfollow with syncronizes external user" do
 
       user = User.get_cached_by_id(user.id)
 
-      assert User.following(user) == [user.follower_address]
+      assert User.following(user) == []
     end
 
     test "unfollow takes a user and another user" do