diff --git a/changelog.d/mastodon_directory.fix b/changelog.d/mastodon_directory.fix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..937c8f864
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/mastodon_directory.fix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Mastodon API /api/v1/directory: Fix listing directory contents when not authenticated
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/directory_controller.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/directory_controller.ex
index 253f06cfb..f89425966 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/directory_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/controllers/directory_controller.ex
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.DirectoryController do
 
   plug(Pleroma.Web.ApiSpec.CastAndValidate)
 
-  plug(:skip_auth when action == "index")
+  plug(:skip_auth when action == :index)
 
   defdelegate open_api_operation(action), to: Pleroma.Web.ApiSpec.DirectoryOperation