diff --git a/activitypub.c b/activitypub.c
index df4877b..9893470 100644
--- a/activitypub.c
+++ b/activitypub.c
@@ -593,6 +593,30 @@ int is_msg_public(const xs_dict *msg)
 }
 
 
+int is_msg_from_private_user(const xs_dict *msg)
+/* checks if a message is from a local, private user */
+{
+    int ret = 0;
+
+    /* is this message from a local user? */
+    if (xs_startswith(xs_dict_get(msg, "id"), srv_baseurl)) {
+        const char *atto = get_atto(msg);
+        xs *l = xs_split(atto, "/");
+        const char *uid = xs_list_get(l, -1);
+        snac user;
+
+        if (uid && user_open(&user, uid)) {
+            if (xs_type(xs_dict_get(user.config, "private")) == XSTYPE_TRUE)
+                ret = 1;
+
+            user_free(&user);
+        }
+    }
+
+    return ret;
+}
+
+
 int is_msg_for_me(snac *snac, const xs_dict *c_msg)
 /* checks if this message is for me */
 {
diff --git a/html.c b/html.c
index 5f3dead..a340a96 100644
--- a/html.c
+++ b/html.c
@@ -1911,24 +1911,9 @@ xs_str *html_timeline(snac *user, const xs_list *list, int local,
         if (!valid_status(status))
             continue;
 
-        /* if it's an instance page, discard private users */
-        if (user == NULL && xs_startswith(xs_dict_get(msg, "id"), srv_baseurl)) {
-            const char *atto = get_atto(msg);
-            xs *l = xs_split(atto, "/");
-            const char *uid = xs_list_get(l, -1);
-            snac user;
-            int skip = 1;
-
-            if (uid && user_open(&user, uid)) {
-                if (xs_type(xs_dict_get(user.config, "private")) != XSTYPE_TRUE)
-                    skip = 0;
-
-                user_free(&user);
-            }
-
-            if (skip)
-                continue;
-        }
+        /* if it's an instance page, discard messages from private users */
+        if (user == NULL && is_msg_from_private_user(msg))
+            continue;
 
         xs_html *entry = html_entry(user, msg, local, 0, v, user ? 0 : 1);
 
diff --git a/mastoapi.c b/mastoapi.c
index 000bdea..e2b7bba 100644
--- a/mastoapi.c
+++ b/mastoapi.c
@@ -1500,24 +1500,9 @@ int mastoapi_get_handler(const xs_dict *req, const char *q_path,
             if (strcmp(type, "Note") != 0 && strcmp(type, "Question") != 0)
                 continue;
 
-            /* discard private users */
-            {
-                const char *atto = get_atto(msg);
-                xs *l = xs_split(atto, "/");
-                const char *uid = xs_list_get(l, -1);
-                snac p_user;
-                int skip = 1;
-
-                if (uid && user_open(&p_user, uid)) {
-                    if (xs_type(xs_dict_get(p_user.config, "private")) != XSTYPE_TRUE)
-                        skip = 0;
-
-                    user_free(&p_user);
-                }
-
-                if (skip)
-                    continue;
-            }
+            /* discard messages from private users */
+            if (is_msg_from_private_user(msg))
+                continue;
 
             /* convert the Note into a Mastodon status */
             xs *st = mastoapi_status(user, msg);
@@ -1564,6 +1549,10 @@ int mastoapi_get_handler(const xs_dict *req, const char *q_path,
             if (!is_msg_public(msg))
                 continue;
 
+            /* discard messages from private users */
+            if (is_msg_from_private_user(msg))
+                continue;
+
             /* convert the Note into a Mastodon status */
             xs *st = mastoapi_status(NULL, msg);
 
diff --git a/snac.h b/snac.h
index cf2cf38..fd79a9d 100644
--- a/snac.h
+++ b/snac.h
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ xs_str *get_actor_inbox(const char *actor);
 int send_to_actor(snac *snac, const char *actor, const xs_dict *msg,
                   xs_val **payload, int *p_size, int timeout);
 int is_msg_public(const xs_dict *msg);
+int is_msg_from_private_user(const xs_dict *msg);
 int is_msg_for_me(snac *snac, const xs_dict *msg);
 
 int process_user_queue(snac *snac);