diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/fields.py b/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
index f480ab899..fae3cb576 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from bookwyrm.connectors import get_image
 
 def validate_remote_id(value):
     ''' make sure the remote_id looks like a url '''
-    if not re.match(r'^http.?:\/\/[^\s]+$', value):
+    if not value or not re.match(r'^http.?:\/\/[^\s]+$', value):
         raise ValidationError(
             _('%(value)s is not a valid remote_id'),
             params={'value': value},
@@ -127,7 +127,6 @@ class ForeignKey(ActivitypubRelatedFieldMixin, models.ForeignKey):
         return value.remote_id
 
     def field_from_activity(self, value):
-        print(value)
         try:
             validate_remote_id(value)
         except ValidationError:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_quotation.py b/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_quotation.py
index b06995716..609208896 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_quotation.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/activitypub/test_quotation.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+''' quotation activty object serializer class '''
 import json
 import pathlib
 from unittest.mock import patch
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ from bookwyrm import activitypub, models
 class Quotation(TestCase):
     ''' we have hecka ways to create statuses '''
     def setUp(self):
+        ''' model objects we'll need '''
         with patch('bookwyrm.models.user.set_remote_server.delay'):
             self.user = models.User.objects.create_user(
                 'mouse', 'mouse@mouse.mouse', 'mouseword',
@@ -28,6 +30,7 @@ class Quotation(TestCase):
 
 
     def test_quotation_activity(self):
+        ''' create a Quoteation ap object from json '''
         quotation = activitypub.Quotation(**self.status_data)
 
         self.assertEqual(quotation.type, 'Quotation')
@@ -41,6 +44,7 @@ class Quotation(TestCase):
 
 
     def test_activity_to_model(self):
+        ''' create a model instance from an activity object '''
         activity = activitypub.Quotation(**self.status_data)
         quotation = activity.to_model(models.Quotation)