diff --git a/lemmy_apub/src/lib.rs b/lemmy_apub/src/lib.rs
index 1f6e75e4c..555bdccc7 100644
--- a/lemmy_apub/src/lib.rs
+++ b/lemmy_apub/src/lib.rs
@@ -102,8 +102,9 @@ fn check_is_apub_id_valid(apub_id: &Url) -> Result<(), LemmyError> {
 
   let mut allowed_instances = Settings::get().get_allowed_instances();
   let blocked_instances = Settings::get().get_blocked_instances();
-
-  if !allowed_instances.is_empty() {
+  if allowed_instances.is_empty() && blocked_instances.is_empty() {
+    Ok(())
+  } else if !allowed_instances.is_empty() {
     // need to allow this explicitly because apub activities might contain objects from our local
     // instance. split is needed to remove the port in our federation test setup.
     allowed_instances.push(local_instance);
diff --git a/lemmy_db/src/activity.rs b/lemmy_db/src/activity.rs
index c3f0ab679..af2a1ec8d 100644
--- a/lemmy_db/src/activity.rs
+++ b/lemmy_db/src/activity.rs
@@ -62,7 +62,11 @@ pub fn do_insert_activity<T>(
 where
   T: Serialize + Debug,
 {
-  debug!("inserting activity for user {}, data {:?}", user_id, &data);
+  debug!(
+    "inserting activity for user {}, data {:?}",
+    user_id,
+    serde_json::to_string_pretty(&data).unwrap()
+  );
   let activity_form = ActivityForm {
     user_id,
     data: serde_json::to_value(&data)?,