diff --git a/data.c b/data.c
index b25ddf8..aa4be7c 100644
--- a/data.c
+++ b/data.c
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ int user_open_by_md5(snac *snac, const char *md5)
     return 0;
 }
 
-int user_persist(snac *snac)
+int user_persist(snac *snac, int publish)
 /* store user */
 {
     xs *fn  = xs_fmt("%s/user.json", snac->basedir);
@@ -321,10 +321,13 @@ int user_persist(snac *snac)
 
     history_del(snac, "timeline.html_");
 
-    xs *a_msg = msg_actor(snac);
-    xs *u_msg = msg_update(snac, a_msg);
+    if (publish) {
+        xs *a_msg = msg_actor(snac);
+        xs *u_msg = msg_update(snac, a_msg);
+
+        enqueue_message(snac, u_msg);
+    }
 
-    enqueue_message(snac, u_msg);
     enqueue_verify_links(snac);
 
     return 0;
diff --git a/html.c b/html.c
index ff12a95..84cbcc1 100644
--- a/html.c
+++ b/html.c
@@ -2633,7 +2633,7 @@ int html_get_handler(const xs_dict *req, const char *q_path,
             xs *timestamp = xs_number_new(ts);
             srv_log(xs_fmt("user dismissed announcements until %d", ts));
             snac.config = xs_dict_set(snac.config, "last_announcement", timestamp);
-            user_persist(&snac);
+            user_persist(&snac, 0);
         }
     }
 
@@ -3380,7 +3380,7 @@ int html_post_handler(const xs_dict *req, const char *q_path,
             snac.config = xs_dict_set(snac.config, "passwd", pw);
         }
 
-        user_persist(&snac);
+        user_persist(&snac, 1);
 
         status = HTTP_STATUS_SEE_OTHER;
     }
diff --git a/mastoapi.c b/mastoapi.c
index db45919..3b51906 100644
--- a/mastoapi.c
+++ b/mastoapi.c
@@ -3319,7 +3319,7 @@ int mastoapi_patch_handler(const xs_dict *req, const char *q_path,
             }
 
             /* Persist profile */
-            if (user_persist(&snac) == 0)
+            if (user_persist(&snac, 1) == 0)
                 credentials_get(body, ctype, &status, snac);
             else
                 status = HTTP_STATUS_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR;
diff --git a/snac.h b/snac.h
index 8193ca5..c39ea58 100644
--- a/snac.h
+++ b/snac.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ int user_open(snac *snac, const char *uid);
 void user_free(snac *snac);
 xs_list *user_list(void);
 int user_open_by_md5(snac *snac, const char *md5);
-int user_persist(snac *snac);
+int user_persist(snac *snac, int publish);
 
 int validate_uid(const char *uid);