diff --git a/src/activitypub/handlers/follow.rs b/src/activitypub/handlers/follow.rs
index f91e7be..41b668e 100644
--- a/src/activitypub/handlers/follow.rs
+++ b/src/activitypub/handlers/follow.rs
@@ -12,8 +12,13 @@ use crate::activitypub::{
 use crate::config::Config;
 use crate::database::DatabaseError;
 use crate::errors::ValidationError;
-use crate::models::relationships::queries::follow;
-use crate::models::users::queries::get_user_by_name;
+use crate::models::{
+    relationships::queries::{
+        create_remote_follow_request_opt,
+        follow_request_accepted,
+    },
+    users::queries::get_user_by_name,
+};
 use super::{HandlerError, HandlerResult};
 
 #[derive(Deserialize)]
@@ -45,7 +50,13 @@ pub async fn handle_follow(
         &activity.object,
     )?;
     let target_user = get_user_by_name(db_client, &target_username).await?;
-    match follow(db_client, &source_profile.id, &target_user.profile.id).await {
+    let follow_request = create_remote_follow_request_opt(
+        db_client,
+        &source_profile.id,
+        &target_user.id,
+        &activity.id,
+    ).await?;
+    match follow_request_accepted(db_client, &follow_request.id).await {
         Ok(_) => (),
         // Proceed even if relationship already exists
         Err(DatabaseError::AlreadyExists(_)) => (),
diff --git a/src/models/relationships/queries.rs b/src/models/relationships/queries.rs
index 2e68c91..7645c05 100644
--- a/src/models/relationships/queries.rs
+++ b/src/models/relationships/queries.rs
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ pub async fn unfollow(
     ).await?;
     let relationship_deleted = deleted_count > 0;
     // Delete follow request (for remote follows)
-    let follow_request_deleted = delete_follow_request(
+    let follow_request_deleted = delete_follow_request_opt(
         &transaction,
         source_id,
         target_id,
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ pub async fn unfollow(
     Ok(follow_request_deleted)
 }
 
+// Follow remote actor
 pub async fn create_follow_request(
     db_client: &impl GenericClient,
     source_id: &Uuid,
@@ -160,6 +161,40 @@ pub async fn create_follow_request(
     Ok(request)
 }
 
+// Save follow request from remote actor
+pub async fn create_remote_follow_request_opt(
+    db_client: &impl GenericClient,
+    source_id: &Uuid,
+    target_id: &Uuid,
+    activity_id: &str,
+) -> Result<DbFollowRequest, DatabaseError> {
+    let request_id = new_uuid();
+    let row = db_client.query_one(
+        "
+        INSERT INTO follow_request (
+            id,
+            source_id,
+            target_id,
+            activity_id,
+            request_status
+        )
+        VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5)
+        ON CONFLICT (source_id, target_id)
+        DO UPDATE SET activity_id = $4
+        RETURNING follow_request
+        ",
+        &[
+            &request_id,
+            &source_id,
+            &target_id,
+            &activity_id,
+            &FollowRequestStatus::Pending,
+        ],
+    ).await?;
+    let request = row.try_get("follow_request")?;
+    Ok(request)
+}
+
 pub async fn follow_request_accepted(
     db_client: &mut impl GenericClient,
     request_id: &Uuid,
@@ -200,7 +235,7 @@ pub async fn follow_request_rejected(
     Ok(())
 }
 
-async fn delete_follow_request(
+async fn delete_follow_request_opt(
     db_client: &impl GenericClient,
     source_id: &Uuid,
     target_id: &Uuid,
@@ -557,4 +592,40 @@ mod tests {
         let following = get_following(db_client, &source.id).await.unwrap();
         assert!(following.is_empty());
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    #[serial]
+    async fn test_followed_by_remote_profile() {
+        let db_client = &mut create_test_database().await;
+        let source_data = ProfileCreateData {
+            username: "follower".to_string(),
+            hostname: Some("example.org".to_string()),
+            actor_json: Some(Actor::default()),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let source = create_profile(db_client, source_data).await.unwrap();
+        let target_data = UserCreateData {
+            username: "test".to_string(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let target = create_user(db_client, target_data).await.unwrap();
+        // Create follow request
+        let activity_id = "https://example.org/objects/123";
+        let _follow_request = create_remote_follow_request_opt(
+            db_client, &source.id, &target.id, activity_id,
+        ).await.unwrap();
+        // Repeat
+        let follow_request = create_remote_follow_request_opt(
+            db_client, &source.id, &target.id, activity_id,
+        ).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(follow_request.source_id, source.id);
+        assert_eq!(follow_request.target_id, target.id);
+        assert_eq!(follow_request.activity_id, Some(activity_id.to_string()));
+        assert_eq!(follow_request.request_status, FollowRequestStatus::Pending);
+        // Accept follow request
+        follow_request_accepted(db_client, &follow_request.id).await.unwrap();
+        let follow_request = get_follow_request_by_id(db_client, &follow_request.id)
+            .await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(follow_request.request_status, FollowRequestStatus::Accepted);
+    }
 }