diff --git a/src/Protocol/OStatus.php b/src/Protocol/OStatus.php
index a443f65cef..02b9664d5a 100644
--- a/src/Protocol/OStatus.php
+++ b/src/Protocol/OStatus.php
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ class OStatus
 	 * @param string $hub      Called by reference, returns the fetched hub data
 	 * @return void
 	 */
-	public static function import($xml, array $importer, array &$contact, &$hub)
+	public static function import($xml, array $importer, array &$contact = null, &$hub)
 	{
 		self::process($xml, $importer, $contact, $hub);
 	}
@@ -1704,6 +1704,10 @@ class OStatus
 
 		$parent = Item::selectFirst([], ['uri' => $item["thr-parent"], 'uid' => $item["uid"]]);
 
+		if (!$parent) {
+			$parent = [];
+		}
+
 		XML::addElement($doc, $as_object, "activity:object-type", self::constructObjecttype($parent));
 
 		self::entryContent($doc, $as_object, $parent, $owner, "New entry");