diff --git a/.github/workflows/django-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/django-tests.yml
index e734d18e..3ce368ec 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/django-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/django-tests.yml
@@ -65,4 +65,4 @@ jobs:
         EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD: ""
         EMAIL_USE_TLS: true
       run: |
-        python manage.py test -v 3
+        python manage.py test
diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
index c1f81bb0..768eb208 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ def resolve_remote_id(
     if model:  # a bonus check we can do if we already know the model
         result = model.find_existing_by_remote_id(remote_id)
         if result and not refresh:
-            return result
+            return result if not get_activity else result.to_activity_dataclass()
 
     # load the data and create the object
     try:
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ def resolve_remote_id(
     # check for existing items with shared unique identifiers
     result = model.find_existing(data)
     if result and not refresh:
-        return result
+        return result if not get_activity else result.to_activity_dataclass()
 
     item = model.activity_serializer(**data)
     if get_activity: