diff --git a/bookwyrm/incoming.py b/bookwyrm/incoming.py
index bbce14c1..dca5d12f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/incoming.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/incoming.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def shared_inbox(request):
             'Like': handle_unfavorite,
         },
         'Update': {
-            'Person': None,# TODO: handle_update_user
+            'Person': handle_update_user,
             'Document': handle_update_book,
         },
     }
@@ -293,6 +293,20 @@ def handle_tag(activity):
         status_builder.create_tag(user, book, activity['object']['name'])
 
 
+@app.task
+def handle_update_user(activity):
+    ''' receive an updated user Person activity object '''
+    try:
+        user = models.User.objects.get(remote_id=activity['object']['id'])
+    except models.User.DoesNotExist:
+        # who is this person? who cares
+        return
+    activitypub.Person(
+        **activity['object']
+    ).to_model(models.User, instance=user)
+    # model save() happens in the to_model function
+
+
 @app.task
 def handle_update_book(activity):
     ''' a remote instance changed a book (Document) '''
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/incoming/test_update_user.py b/bookwyrm/tests/incoming/test_update_user.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..703078f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/incoming/test_update_user.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import json
+import pathlib
+from django.test import TestCase
+
+from bookwyrm import models, incoming
+
+
+class UpdateUser(TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.user = models.User.objects.create_user(
+            'mouse', 'mouse@mouse.com', 'mouseword',
+            remote_id='https://example.com/user/mouse',
+            local=False,
+            localname='mouse'
+        )
+
+        datafile = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.joinpath(
+            '../data/ap_user.json'
+        )
+        self.user_data = json.loads(datafile.read_bytes())
+
+    def test_handle_update_user(self):
+        self.assertIsNone(self.user.name)
+        self.assertEqual(self.user.localname, 'mouse')
+
+        incoming.handle_update_user({'object': self.user_data})
+        self.user = models.User.objects.get(id=self.user.id)
+
+        self.assertEqual(self.user.name, 'MOUSE?? MOUSE!!')
+        self.assertEqual(self.user.localname, 'mouse')