diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
index ebc06045d..59e345d17 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ class ActivityObject:
 
             # add many to many fields, which have to be set post-save
             for field in instance.many_to_many_fields:
-                # mention books/users, for example
+                # mention books/users/hashtags, for example
                 field.set_field_from_activity(
                     instance,
                     self,
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/fields.py b/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
index f78f883f8..6cfe4c10c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
@@ -389,13 +389,22 @@ class TagField(ManyToManyField):
             if tag_type != self.related_model.activity_serializer.type:
                 # tags can contain multiple types
                 continue
-            items.append(
-                activitypub.resolve_remote_id(
-                    link.href,
-                    model=self.related_model,
-                    allow_external_connections=allow_external_connections,
+
+            if tag_type == "Hashtag":
+                # we already have all data to create hashtags,
+                # no need to fetch from remote
+                item = self.related_model.activity_serializer(**link_json)
+                hashtag = item.to_model(model=self.related_model, save=True)
+                items.append(hashtag)
+            else:
+                # for other tag types we fetch them remotely
+                items.append(
+                    activitypub.resolve_remote_id(
+                        link.href,
+                        model=self.related_model,
+                        allow_external_connections=allow_external_connections,
+                    )
                 )
-            )
         return items
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_base_activity.py b/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_base_activity.py
index 120cd2c91..df243d0db 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_base_activity.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_base_activity.py
@@ -183,12 +183,21 @@ class BaseActivity(TestCase):
                     "name": "gerald j. books",
                     "href": "http://book.com/book",
                 },
+                {
+                    "type": "Hashtag",
+                    "name": "#BookClub",
+                    "href": "http://example.com/tags/BookClub",
+                },
             ],
         )
         update_data.to_model(model=models.Status, instance=status)
         self.assertEqual(status.mention_users.first(), self.user)
         self.assertEqual(status.mention_books.first(), book)
 
+        hashtag = models.Hashtag.objects.filter(name="#BookClub").first()
+        self.assertIsNotNone(hashtag)
+        self.assertEqual(status.mention_hashtags.first(), hashtag)
+
     @responses.activate
     def test_to_model_one_to_many(self, *_):
         """these are reversed relationships, where the secondary object