diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/relay.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/relay.ex
index d30853d62..107c57866 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/relay.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/relay.ex
@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.Relay do
          %User{} = target_user <- User.get_or_fetch_by_ap_id(target_instance),
          {:ok, activity} <- ActivityPub.follow(local_user, target_user) do
       Logger.info("relay: followed instance: #{target_instance}; id=#{activity.data["id"]}")
+      :ok
     else
-      e -> Logger.error("error: #{inspect(e)}")
+      e ->
+        Logger.error("error: #{inspect(e)}")
+        :error
     end
-
-    :ok
   end
 
   def unfollow(target_instance) do
@@ -24,11 +25,12 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.Relay do
          %User{} = target_user <- User.get_or_fetch_by_ap_id(target_instance),
          {:ok, activity} <- ActivityPub.unfollow(local_user, target_user) do
       Logger.info("relay: unfollowed instance: #{target_instance}: id=#{activity.data["id"]}")
+      :ok
     else
-      e -> Logger.error("error: #{inspect(e)}")
+      e ->
+        Logger.error("error: #{inspect(e)}")
+        :error
     end
-
-    :ok
   end
 
   def publish(%Activity{data: %{"type" => "Create"}} = activity) do