diff --git a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/user.ex b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/user.ex
index da140ac86..93ecb4631 100644
--- a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/user.ex
+++ b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/user.ex
@@ -150,22 +150,12 @@ defmodule Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.User do
     with %User{} = user <- User.get_cached_by_nickname(nickname) do
       shell_info("Deactivating #{user.nickname}")
       User.deactivate(user)
-
-      user
-      |> User.get_friends()
-      |> Enum.each(fn friend ->
-        user = User.get_cached_by_id(user.id)
-
-        shell_info("Unsubscribing #{friend.nickname} from #{user.nickname}")
-        User.unfollow(user, friend)
-      end)
-
       :timer.sleep(500)
 
       user = User.get_cached_by_id(user.id)
 
-      if Enum.empty?(User.get_friends(user)) do
-        shell_info("Successfully unsubscribed all followers from #{user.nickname}")
+      if Enum.empty?(Enum.filter(User.get_friends(user), & &1.local)) do
+        shell_info("Successfully unsubscribed all local followers from #{user.nickname}")
       end
     else
       _ ->
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/user.ex b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
index a86cc3202..1c456b27c 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/user.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
@@ -750,7 +750,19 @@ defmodule Pleroma.User do
     {:error, "Not subscribed!"}
   end
 
+  @spec unfollow(User.t(), User.t()) :: {:ok, User.t(), Activity.t()} | {:error, String.t()}
   def unfollow(%User{} = follower, %User{} = followed) do
+    case do_unfollow(follower, followed) do
+      {:ok, follower, followed} ->
+        {:ok, follower, Utils.fetch_latest_follow(follower, followed)}
+
+      error ->
+        error
+    end
+  end
+
+  @spec do_unfollow(User.t(), User.t()) :: {:ok, User.t(), User.t()} | {:error, String.t()}
+  defp do_unfollow(%User{} = follower, %User{} = followed) do
     case get_follow_state(follower, followed) do
       state when state in [:follow_pending, :follow_accept] ->
         FollowingRelationship.unfollow(follower, followed)
@@ -761,7 +773,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.User do
           |> update_following_count()
           |> set_cache()
 
-        {:ok, follower, Utils.fetch_latest_follow(follower, followed)}
+        {:ok, follower, followed}
 
       nil ->
         {:error, "Not subscribed!"}
@@ -1401,15 +1413,13 @@ defmodule Pleroma.User do
       user
       |> get_followers()
       |> Enum.filter(& &1.local)
-      |> Enum.each(fn follower ->
-        follower |> update_following_count() |> set_cache()
-      end)
+      |> Enum.each(&set_cache(update_following_count(&1)))
 
       # Only update local user counts, remote will be update during the next pull.
       user
       |> get_friends()
       |> Enum.filter(& &1.local)
-      |> Enum.each(&update_follower_count/1)
+      |> Enum.each(&do_unfollow(user, &1))
 
       {:ok, user}
     end
diff --git a/test/tasks/user_test.exs b/test/tasks/user_test.exs
index b4f68d494..4b3ab5a87 100644
--- a/test/tasks/user_test.exs
+++ b/test/tasks/user_test.exs
@@ -172,23 +172,23 @@ defmodule Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.UserTest do
   describe "running unsubscribe" do
     test "user is unsubscribed" do
       followed = insert(:user)
+      remote_followed = insert(:user, local: false)
       user = insert(:user)
+
       User.follow(user, followed, :follow_accept)
+      User.follow(user, remote_followed, :follow_accept)
 
       Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.User.run(["unsubscribe", user.nickname])
 
       assert_received {:mix_shell, :info, [message]}
       assert message =~ "Deactivating"
 
-      assert_received {:mix_shell, :info, [message]}
-      assert message =~ "Unsubscribing"
-
       # Note that the task has delay :timer.sleep(500)
       assert_received {:mix_shell, :info, [message]}
       assert message =~ "Successfully unsubscribed"
 
       user = User.get_cached_by_nickname(user.nickname)
-      assert Enum.empty?(User.get_friends(user))
+      assert Enum.empty?(Enum.filter(User.get_friends(user), & &1.local))
       assert user.deactivated
     end