diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py b/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
index 90404f1c3..f8312f063 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
@@ -111,8 +111,15 @@ class ActivityStream(RedisStore):
             Q(id__in=status.user.blocks.all()) | Q(blocks=status.user)  # not blocked
         )
 
+        # only visible to the poster and mentioned users
+        if status.privacy == "direct":
+            audience = audience.filter(
+                Q(id=status.user.id)  # if the user is the post's author
+                | Q(id__in=status.mention_users.all())  # if the user is mentioned
+            )
+
         # don't show replies to statuses the user can't see
-        if status.reply_parent and status.reply_parent.privacy == "followers":
+        elif status.reply_parent and status.reply_parent.privacy == "followers":
             audience = audience.filter(
                 Q(id=status.user.id)  # if the user is the post's author
                 | Q(id=status.reply_parent.user.id)  # if the user is the OG author
@@ -121,12 +128,6 @@ class ActivityStream(RedisStore):
                 )  # if the user is following both authors
             ).distinct()
 
-        # only visible to the poster and mentioned users
-        elif status.privacy == "direct":
-            audience = audience.filter(
-                Q(id=status.user.id)  # if the user is the post's author
-                | Q(id__in=status.mention_users.all())  # if the user is mentioned
-            )
         # only visible to the poster's followers and tagged users
         elif status.privacy == "followers":
             audience = audience.filter(