diff --git a/include/conversation.php b/include/conversation.php
index ae12cf4827..b52a8873df 100644
--- a/include/conversation.php
+++ b/include/conversation.php
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ function visible_activity($item) {
 	}
 
 	if (activity_match($item['verb'], ACTIVITY_FOLLOW) && $item['object-type'] === ACTIVITY_OBJ_NOTE) {
-		if (!($item['self'] && ($item['uid'] == local_user()))) {
+		if (!(x($item, 'self') && ($item['uid'] == local_user()))) {
 			return false;
 		}
 	}