diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
index 315ff58c8..170bdfb9f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
@@ -258,10 +258,9 @@ def resolve_remote_id(remote_id, model=None, refresh=False, save=True):
     # load the data and create the object
     try:
         data = get_data(remote_id)
-    except (ConnectorException, ConnectionError):
+    except ConnectorException:
         raise ActivitySerializerError(
-            "Could not connect to host for remote_id in %s model: %s"
-            % (model.__name__, remote_id)
+            "Could not connect to host for remote_id in: %s" % (remote_id)
         )
     # determine the model implicitly, if not provided
     if not model:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
index 9f31b337d..3ebedf658 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ def get_data(url):
                 "User-Agent": settings.USER_AGENT,
             },
         )
-    except (RequestError, SSLError) as e:
+    except (RequestError, SSLError, ConnectionError) as e:
         logger.exception(e)
         raise ConnectorException()
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/status.py b/bookwyrm/models/status.py
index 80f2b593a..c5e69936f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/status.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/status.py
@@ -115,13 +115,18 @@ class Status(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, BookWyrmModel):
     def ignore_activity(cls, activity):
         """ keep notes if they are replies to existing statuses """
         if activity.type == "Announce":
-            # keep it if the booster or the boosted are local
-            boosted = activitypub.resolve_remote_id(activity.object, save=False)
+            try:
+                boosted = activitypub.resolve_remote_id(activity.object, save=False)
+            except activitypub.ActivitySerializerError:
+                # if we can't load the status, definitely ignore it
+                return True
+            # keep the boost if we would keep the status
             return cls.ignore_activity(boosted.to_activity_dataclass())
 
         # keep if it if it's a custom type
         if activity.type != "Note":
             return False
+        # keep it if it's a reply to an existing status
         if cls.objects.filter(remote_id=activity.inReplyTo).exists():
             return False
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_status_model.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_status_model.py
index ddc92d364..b2ee69b87 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_status_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_status_model.py
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@ from django.core.files.base import ContentFile
 from django.db import IntegrityError
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.utils import timezone
+import responses
 
-from bookwyrm import models, settings
+from bookwyrm import activitypub, models, settings
 
 
 # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
@@ -385,3 +386,16 @@ class Status(TestCase):
         status.mention_users.set([self.remote_user])
 
         self.assertEqual(status.recipients, [self.remote_user])
+
+    @responses.activate
+    def test_ignore_activity_boost(self, _):
+        """ don't bother with most remote statuses """
+        activity = activitypub.Announce(
+            id="http://www.faraway.com/boost/12",
+            actor=self.remote_user.remote_id,
+            object="http://fish.com/nothing",
+        )
+
+        responses.add(responses.GET, "http://fish.com/nothing", status=404)
+
+        self.assertTrue(models.Status.ignore_activity(activity))