diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8d7e634..a89b9d0 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 - Added configuration option for automatic assigning of "read-only user" role after registration.
 - Added `set-role` command.
 
+### Changed
+
+- Don't retry activity if fetcher recursion limit has been reached.
+
 ### Deprecated
 
 - `registrations_open` configuration option.
diff --git a/src/activitypub/fetcher/fetchers.rs b/src/activitypub/fetcher/fetchers.rs
index 13f2227..000beab 100644
--- a/src/activitypub/fetcher/fetchers.rs
+++ b/src/activitypub/fetcher/fetchers.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ pub enum FetchError {
     #[error(transparent)]
     FileError(#[from] std::io::Error),
 
+    #[error("too many objects")]
+    RecursionError,
+
     #[error("{0}")]
     OtherError(&'static str),
 }
diff --git a/src/activitypub/fetcher/helpers.rs b/src/activitypub/fetcher/helpers.rs
index 051d0f5..e486304 100644
--- a/src/activitypub/fetcher/helpers.rs
+++ b/src/activitypub/fetcher/helpers.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ use super::fetchers::{
     fetch_actor,
     fetch_object,
     perform_webfinger_query,
+    FetchError,
 };
 
 pub async fn get_or_import_profile_by_actor_id(
@@ -160,6 +161,8 @@ pub async fn get_or_import_profile_by_actor_address(
     Ok(profile)
 }
 
+const RECURSION_DEPTH_MAX: usize = 50;
+
 pub async fn import_post(
     config: &Config,
     db_client: &mut impl DatabaseClient,
@@ -220,9 +223,9 @@ pub async fn import_post(
         let object = match maybe_object {
             Some(object) => object,
             None => {
-                if fetch_count >= 50 {
+                if fetch_count >= RECURSION_DEPTH_MAX {
                     // TODO: create tombstone
-                    return Err(ValidationError("too many objects").into());
+                    return Err(FetchError::RecursionError.into());
                 };
                 let object = fetch_object(&instance, &object_id).await
                     .map_err(|err| {
diff --git a/src/activitypub/queues.rs b/src/activitypub/queues.rs
index bd60886..1b3d8a8 100644
--- a/src/activitypub/queues.rs
+++ b/src/activitypub/queues.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ use crate::models::{
     users::queries::get_user_by_id,
 };
 use super::deliverer::{OutgoingActivity, Recipient};
-use super::receiver::handle_activity;
+use super::fetcher::fetchers::FetchError;
+use super::receiver::{handle_activity, HandlerError};
 
 #[derive(Deserialize, Serialize)]
 pub struct IncomingActivityJobData {
@@ -73,28 +74,27 @@ pub async fn process_queued_incoming_activities(
         let mut job_data: IncomingActivityJobData =
             serde_json::from_value(job.job_data)
                 .map_err(|_| DatabaseTypeError)?;
-        let is_error = match handle_activity(
+        if let Err(error) = handle_activity(
             config,
             db_client,
             &job_data.activity,
             job_data.is_authenticated,
         ).await {
-            Ok(_) => false,
-            Err(error) => {
-                job_data.failure_count += 1;
-                log::warn!(
-                    "failed to process activity ({}) (attempt #{}): {}",
-                    error,
-                    job_data.failure_count,
-                    job_data.activity,
-                );
-                true
-            },
-        };
-        if is_error && job_data.failure_count <= max_retries {
-            // Re-queue
-            log::info!("activity re-queued");
-            job_data.into_job(db_client, retry_after).await?;
+            job_data.failure_count += 1;
+            log::warn!(
+                "failed to process activity ({}) (attempt #{}): {}",
+                error,
+                job_data.failure_count,
+                job_data.activity,
+            );
+            if job_data.failure_count <= max_retries &&
+                // Don't retry after fetcher recursion error
+                !matches!(error, HandlerError::FetchError(FetchError::RecursionError))
+            {
+                // Re-queue
+                log::info!("activity re-queued");
+                job_data.into_job(db_client, retry_after).await?;
+            };
         };
         delete_job_from_queue(db_client, &job.id).await?;
     };