diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
index 448d55637..58c59e5b0 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """ basics for an activitypub serializer """
 from dataclasses import dataclass, fields, MISSING
 from json import JSONEncoder
+import logging
 
 from django.apps import apps
 from django.db import IntegrityError, transaction
@@ -8,6 +9,8 @@ from django.db import IntegrityError, transaction
 from bookwyrm.connectors import ConnectorException, get_data
 from bookwyrm.tasks import app
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 class ActivitySerializerError(ValueError):
     """routine problems serializing activitypub json"""
@@ -268,9 +271,11 @@ def resolve_remote_id(
     try:
         data = get_data(remote_id)
     except ConnectorException:
-        raise ActivitySerializerError(
-            f"Could not connect to host for remote_id: {remote_id}"
+        logger.exception(
+            "Could not connect to host for remote_id: %s", remote_id
         )
+        return None
+
     # determine the model implicitly, if not provided
     # or if it's a model with subclasses like Status, check again
     if not model or hasattr(model.objects, "select_subclasses"):