diff --git a/activitypub.c b/activitypub.c
index e871c8d..c9cf066 100644
--- a/activitypub.c
+++ b/activitypub.c
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ xs_str *get_actor_inbox(snac *snac, const char *actor)
 }
 
 
-int send_to_actor(snac *snac, const char *actor, const char *msg,
+int send_to_actor(snac *snac, const char *actor, const xs_dict *msg,
                   xs_val **payload, int *p_size, int timeout)
 /* sends a message to an actor */
 {
@@ -330,6 +330,21 @@ int send_to_actor(snac *snac, const char *actor, const char *msg,
 }
 
 
+void post_message(snac *snac, const char *actor, const xs_dict *msg)
+/* posts a message immediately (bypassing the output queues) */
+{
+    xs *payload = NULL;
+    int p_size;
+    int status;
+
+    if (valid_status(status = send_to_actor(snac, actor, msg, &payload, &p_size, 3)))
+        srv_log(xs_fmt("post_message to actor %s %d", actor, status));
+    else
+        /* cannot send right now, enqueue */
+        enqueue_message(snac, msg);
+}
+
+
 xs_list *recipient_list(snac *snac, const xs_dict *msg, int expand_public)
 /* returns the list of recipients for a message */
 {
@@ -1411,7 +1426,7 @@ int process_input_message(snac *snac, xs_dict *msg, xs_dict *req)
             xs *f_msg = xs_dup(msg);
             xs *reply = msg_accept(snac, f_msg, actor);
 
-            enqueue_message(snac, reply);
+            post_message(snac, actor, reply);
 
             if (xs_is_null(xs_dict_get(f_msg, "published"))) {
                 /* add a date if it doesn't include one (Mastodon) */
diff --git a/data.c b/data.c
index 2c2ff8b..24a0bc8 100644
--- a/data.c
+++ b/data.c
@@ -2092,7 +2092,7 @@ void enqueue_telegram(const xs_str *msg, const char *bot, const char *chat_id)
 }
 
 
-void enqueue_message(snac *snac, xs_dict *msg)
+void enqueue_message(snac *snac, const xs_dict *msg)
 /* enqueues an output message */
 {
     xs *qmsg   = _new_qmsg("message", msg, 0);
diff --git a/snac.h b/snac.h
index cee6470..e36a60b 100644
--- a/snac.h
+++ b/snac.h
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ void enqueue_output(snac *snac, xs_dict *msg, xs_str *inbox, int retries);
 void enqueue_output_by_actor(snac *snac, xs_dict *msg, const xs_str *actor, int retries);
 void enqueue_email(xs_str *msg, int retries);
 void enqueue_telegram(const xs_str *msg, const char *bot, const char *chat_id);
-void enqueue_message(snac *snac, char *msg);
+void enqueue_message(snac *snac, const xs_dict *msg);
 void enqueue_close_question(snac *user, const char *id, int end_secs);
 void enqueue_request_replies(snac *user, const char *id);
 int was_question_voted(snac *user, const char *id);
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ int send_to_inbox_raw(const char *keyid, const char *seckey,
 int send_to_inbox(snac *snac, const xs_str *inbox, const xs_dict *msg,
                   xs_val **payload, int *p_size, int timeout);
 xs_str *get_actor_inbox(snac *snac, const char *actor);
-int send_to_actor(snac *snac, const char *actor, const char *msg,
+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(snac *snac, const xs_dict *msg);
 int is_msg_for_me(snac *snac, const xs_dict *msg);