diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/fields.py b/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
index 87d22085..6dd3b496 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
@@ -11,11 +11,10 @@ from django.core.files.base import ContentFile
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils import timezone
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
-from markdown import markdown
 from bookwyrm import activitypub
+from bookwyrm.connectors import get_image
 from bookwyrm.sanitize_html import InputHtmlParser
 from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
-from bookwyrm.connectors import get_image
 
 
 def validate_remote_id(value):
@@ -401,16 +400,6 @@ class HtmlField(ActivitypubFieldMixin, models.TextField):
         sanitizer.feed(value)
         return sanitizer.get_output()
 
-    def to_python(self, value):# pylint: disable=no-self-use
-        ''' process markdown before save '''
-        if not value:
-            return value
-        content = markdown(value)
-        # sanitize resulting html
-        sanitizer = InputHtmlParser()
-        sanitizer.feed(content)
-        return sanitizer.get_output()
-
 class ArrayField(ActivitypubFieldMixin, DjangoArrayField):
     ''' activitypub-aware array field '''
     def field_to_activity(self, value):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/outgoing.py b/bookwyrm/outgoing.py
index 7ac2d0d6..7daa74de 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/outgoing.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/outgoing.py
@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@ import re
 from django.db import IntegrityError, transaction
 from django.http import HttpResponseNotFound, JsonResponse
 from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_exempt
+from markdown import markdown
 from requests import HTTPError
 
 from bookwyrm import activitypub
 from bookwyrm import models
 from bookwyrm.connectors import get_data, ConnectorException
 from bookwyrm.broadcast import broadcast
+from bookwyrm.sanitize_html import InputHtmlParser
 from bookwyrm.status import create_notification
 from bookwyrm.status import create_generated_note
 from bookwyrm.status import delete_status
@@ -241,20 +243,17 @@ def handle_status(user, form):
                 related_user=user,
                 related_status=status
             )
-    # add links
+    # add mentions
     content = status.content
-    content = re.sub(
-        r'([^(href=")])(https?:\/\/([A-Za-z\.\-_\/]+' \
-            r'\.[A-Za-z]{2,}[A-Za-z\.\-_\/]+))',
-        r'\g<1><a href="\g<2>">\g<3></a>',
-        content)
     for (username, url) in matches:
         content = re.sub(
             r'%s([^@])' % username,
             r'<a href="%s">%s</a>\g<1>' % (url, username),
             content)
-
-    status.content = content
+    if not isinstance(status, models.GeneratedNote):
+        status.content = to_markown(content)
+    if hasattr(status, 'quote'):
+        status.quote = to_markown(status.quote)
     status.save()
 
     # notify reply parent or tagged users
@@ -273,6 +272,20 @@ def handle_status(user, form):
     broadcast(user, remote_activity, software='other')
 
 
+def to_markown(content):
+    ''' catch links and convert to markdown '''
+    content = re.sub(
+        r'([^(href=")])(https?:\/\/([A-Za-z\.\-_\/]+' \
+            r'\.[A-Za-z]{2,}[A-Za-z\.\-_\/]+))',
+        r'\g<1><a href="\g<2>">\g<3></a>',
+        content)
+    content = markdown(content)
+    # sanitize resulting html
+    sanitizer = InputHtmlParser()
+    sanitizer.feed(content)
+    return sanitizer.get_output()
+
+
 def handle_tag(user, tag):
     ''' tag a book '''
     broadcast(user, tag.to_add_activity(user))
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_incoming.py b/bookwyrm/tests/test_incoming.py
index e0c37648..2cc4c1f4 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_incoming.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/test_incoming.py
@@ -262,8 +262,8 @@ class Incoming(TestCase):
         status = models.Quotation.objects.get()
         self.assertEqual(
             status.remote_id, 'https://example.com/user/mouse/quotation/13')
-        self.assertEqual(status.quote, '<p>quote body</p>')
-        self.assertEqual(status.content, '<p>commentary</p>')
+        self.assertEqual(status.quote, 'quote body')
+        self.assertEqual(status.content, 'commentary')
         self.assertEqual(status.user, self.local_user)
         self.assertEqual(models.Status.objects.count(), 2)
 
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ class Incoming(TestCase):
 
         incoming.handle_create(activity)
         status = models.Status.objects.last()
-        self.assertEqual(status.content, '<p>test content in note</p>')
+        self.assertEqual(status.content, 'test content in note')
         self.assertEqual(status.mention_users.first(), self.local_user)
         self.assertTrue(
             models.Notification.objects.filter(user=self.local_user).exists())
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ class Incoming(TestCase):
 
         incoming.handle_create(activity)
         status = models.Status.objects.last()
-        self.assertEqual(status.content, '<p>test content in note</p>')
+        self.assertEqual(status.content, 'test content in note')
         self.assertEqual(status.reply_parent, self.status)
         self.assertTrue(
             models.Notification.objects.filter(user=self.local_user))