diff --git a/api_tests/src/private_community.spec.ts b/api_tests/src/private_community.spec.ts
index 1b2405dbe..e467344c3 100644
--- a/api_tests/src/private_community.spec.ts
+++ b/api_tests/src/private_community.spec.ts
@@ -152,16 +152,7 @@ test("Only followers can view and interact with private community content", asyn
     follow: true,
   };
   await user.followCommunity(follow_form);
-  const pendingFollows1 = await waitUntil(
-    () => listCommunityPendingFollows(alpha),
-    f => f.items.length == 1,
-  );
-  const approve = await approveCommunityPendingFollow(
-    alpha,
-    alphaCommunityId,
-    pendingFollows1.items[0].person.id,
-  );
-  expect(approve.success).toBe(true);
+  approveFollower(alpha, alphaCommunityId);
 
   // now user can fetch posts and comments in community (using signed fetch), and create posts
   await waitUntil(
@@ -283,7 +274,7 @@ test("Follow a private community and receive activities", async () => {
   );
 });
 
-test("Fetch remote content in private community", async () => {
+test.only("Fetch remote content in private community", async () => {
   // create private community
   const community = await createCommunity(alpha, randomString(10), "Private");
   expect(community.community_view.community.visibility).toBe("Private");
@@ -297,6 +288,7 @@ test("Fetch remote content in private community", async () => {
     follow: true,
   };
   await beta.followCommunity(follow_form_beta);
+  await approveFollower(alpha, alphaCommunityId);
 
   // beta creates post and comment
   const post = await createPost(beta, betaCommunityId);
@@ -306,40 +298,35 @@ test("Fetch remote content in private community", async () => {
   const comment_id = comment.comment_view.comment.id;
   expect(comment_id).toBeDefined();
 
-  // gamma is not following the community and cannot view nor create posts
-  const user = await registerUser(gamma, betaUrl);
+  // create gamma user and follow community
   const gammaCommunityId = (
-    await resolveCommunity(user, community.community_view.community.actor_id)
+    await resolveCommunity(gamma, community.community_view.community.actor_id)
   ).community!.community.id;
-
-  // follow the community and approve
   const follow_form: FollowCommunity = {
     community_id: gammaCommunityId,
     follow: true,
   };
-  await user.followCommunity(follow_form);
-  const pendingFollows1 = await waitUntil(
-    () => listCommunityPendingFollows(alpha),
-    f => f.items.length == 1,
-  );
-  const approve = await approveCommunityPendingFollow(
-    alpha,
-    alphaCommunityId,
-    pendingFollows1.items[0].person.id,
-  );
-  expect(approve.success).toBe(true);
+  await gamma.followCommunity(follow_form);
+  await approveFollower(alpha, alphaCommunityId);
 
   // now user can fetch posts and comments in community (using signed fetch), and create posts
-  console.log(1);
-  await waitUntil(
-    () => resolvePost(user, post.post_view.post),
+  let resolvedPost = await waitUntil(
+    () => resolvePost(gamma, post.post_view.post),
     p => p?.post?.post.id != undefined,
   );
-  console.log(2);
+  console.log(post.post_view.post);
+  console.log(resolvedPost.post?.post);
+  expect(resolvedPost.post?.post.ap_id).toBe(post.post_view.post.ap_id);
   const resolvedComment = (
-    await resolveComment(user, comment.comment_view.comment)
+    await resolveComment(gamma, comment.comment_view.comment)
   ).comment;
-  expect(resolvedComment?.comment.id).toBeDefined();
+  expect(resolvedComment?.comment.ap_id).toBe(
+    comment.comment_view.comment.ap_id,
+  );
+
+  // TODO: this test should fail as check_has_followers_from_instance() on beta returns errors
+  //       because it doesnt know the community follower. yet for some reason the test passes???
+  fail();
 });
 
 async function approveFollower(user: LemmyHttp, community_id: number) {
diff --git a/crates/api_common/src/build_response.rs b/crates/api_common/src/build_response.rs
index d40f4c23d..b73c0e482 100644
--- a/crates/api_common/src/build_response.rs
+++ b/crates/api_common/src/build_response.rs
@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@ use lemmy_db_schema::{
     actor_language::CommunityLanguage,
     comment::Comment,
     comment_reply::{CommentReply, CommentReplyInsertForm},
+    community::Community,
     person::Person,
     person_mention::{PersonMention, PersonMentionInsertForm},
+    post::Post,
   },
   traits::Crud,
 };
@@ -101,17 +103,28 @@ pub async fn send_local_notifs(
   let mut recipient_ids = Vec::new();
   let inbox_link = format!("{}/inbox", context.settings().get_protocol_and_hostname());
 
-  // let person = my_local_user.person;
-  // Read the comment view to get extra info
-  let comment_view = CommentView::read(
-    &mut context.pool(),
-    comment_id,
-    local_user_view.map(|view| &view.local_user),
-  )
-  .await?;
-  let comment = comment_view.comment;
-  let post = comment_view.post;
-  let community = comment_view.community;
+  // When called from api code, we have local user view and can read with CommentView
+  // to reduce db queries. But when receiving a federated comment the user view is None,
+  // which means that comments inside private communities cant be read. As a workaround
+  // we need to read the items manually to bypass this check.
+  let (comment, post, community) = if let Some(local_user_view) = local_user_view {
+    let comment_view = CommentView::read(
+      &mut context.pool(),
+      comment_id,
+      Some(&local_user_view.local_user),
+    )
+    .await?;
+    (
+      comment_view.comment,
+      comment_view.post,
+      comment_view.community,
+    )
+  } else {
+    let comment = Comment::read(&mut context.pool(), comment_id).await?;
+    let post = Post::read(&mut context.pool(), comment.post_id).await?;
+    let community = Community::read(&mut context.pool(), post.community_id).await?;
+    (comment, post, community)
+  };
 
   // Send the local mentions
   for mention in mentions
diff --git a/crates/apub/src/activities/create_or_update/comment.rs b/crates/apub/src/activities/create_or_update/comment.rs
index cec56199d..9f64e805b 100644
--- a/crates/apub/src/activities/create_or_update/comment.rs
+++ b/crates/apub/src/activities/create_or_update/comment.rs
@@ -174,9 +174,7 @@ impl ActivityHandler for CreateOrUpdateNote {
 
     // TODO: this fails in local community comment as CommentView::read() returns nothing
     //       without passing LocalUser
-    send_local_notifs(mentions, comment.id, &actor, do_send_email, context, None)
-      .await
-      .ok();
+    send_local_notifs(mentions, comment.id, &actor, do_send_email, context, None).await?;
     Ok(())
   }
 }