diff --git a/crates/federate/src/worker.rs b/crates/federate/src/worker.rs
index edf530fb3..c282e482a 100644
--- a/crates/federate/src/worker.rs
+++ b/crates/federate/src/worker.rs
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ impl InstanceWorker {
   /// this worker only returns if (a) there is an internal error or (b) the cancellation token is cancelled (graceful exit)
   async fn loop_until_stopped(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
     self.initial_fail_sleep().await?;
-    let mut latest_id = self.get_latest_id().await?;
+    let (mut last_sent_id, mut newest_id) = self.get_latest_ids().await?;
 
     // activities that have been successfully sent but
     // that are not the lowest number and thus can't be written to the database yet
@@ -106,19 +106,30 @@ impl InstanceWorker {
       } else {
         // send a new activity if there is one
         self.inbox_collector.update_communities().await?;
-        let next_id = {
-          // calculate next id to send based on the last id and the in flight requests
+        let next_id_to_send = ActivityId(last_sent_id.0 + 1);
+        {
+          // sanity check: calculate next id to send based on the last id and the in flight requests
           let last_successful_id = self
             .state
             .last_successful_id
             .map(|e| e.0)
             .expect("set above");
-          ActivityId(last_successful_id + (successfuls.len() as i64) + in_flight + 1)
-        };
-        if next_id > latest_id {
+          let expected_next_id = last_successful_id + (successfuls.len() as i64) + in_flight + 1;
+          // compare to next id based on incrementing
+          if expected_next_id != next_id_to_send.0 {
+            anyhow::bail!(
+              "{}: next id to send is not as expected: {:?} != {:?}",
+              self.instance.domain,
+              expected_next_id,
+              next_id_to_send
+            )
+          }
+        }
+
+        if next_id_to_send > newest_id {
           // lazily fetch latest id only if we have cought up
-          latest_id = self.get_latest_id().await?;
-          if next_id > latest_id {
+          newest_id = self.get_latest_ids().await?.1;
+          if next_id_to_send > newest_id {
             // no more work to be done, wait before rechecking
             tokio::select! {
               () = sleep(*WORK_FINISHED_RECHECK_DELAY) => {},
@@ -128,8 +139,9 @@ impl InstanceWorker {
           }
         }
         in_flight += 1;
+        last_sent_id = next_id_to_send;
         self
-          .spawn_send_if_needed(next_id, report_send_result.clone())
+          .spawn_send_if_needed(next_id_to_send, report_send_result.clone())
           .await?;
       }
     }
@@ -164,17 +176,20 @@ impl InstanceWorker {
     Ok(())
   }
 
-  /// get newest activity id and set it as last_successful_id if it's the first time this instance is seen
-  async fn get_latest_id(&mut self) -> Result<ActivityId> {
+  /// return the last successfully sent id and the newest activity id in the database
+  /// sets last_successful_id in database if it's the first time this instance is seen
+  async fn get_latest_ids(&mut self) -> Result<(ActivityId, ActivityId)> {
     let latest_id = get_latest_activity_id(&mut self.pool()).await?;
-    if self.state.last_successful_id.is_none() {
+    if let Some(last) = self.state.last_successful_id {
+      Ok((last, latest_id))
+    } else {
       // this is the initial creation (instance first seen) of the federation queue for this instance
       // skip all past activities:
       self.state.last_successful_id = Some(latest_id);
       // save here to ensure it's not read as 0 again later if no activities have happened
       self.save_and_send_state().await?;
+      Ok((latest_id, latest_id))
     }
-    Ok(latest_id)
   }
 
   async fn handle_send_results(
@@ -234,11 +249,12 @@ impl InstanceWorker {
     force_write: bool,
   ) -> Result<()> {
     let Some(mut last_id) = self.state.last_successful_id else {
-      tracing::warn!("should be impossible: last successful id is None");
+      tracing::warn!("{} should be impossible: last successful id is None", self.instance.domain);
       return Ok(());
     };
     tracing::debug!(
-      "last: {:?}, next: {:?}, currently in successfuls: {:?}",
+      "{} last: {:?}, next: {:?}, currently in successfuls: {:?}",
+      self.instance.domain,
       last_id,
       successfuls.peek(),
       successfuls.iter()