diff --git a/protocol.py b/protocol.py
index 914940f7..73910c69 100644
--- a/protocol.py
+++ b/protocol.py
@@ -676,8 +676,8 @@ class Protocol:
         logger.info(f'Returning {ret}')
         return ret
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def _targets(obj):
+    @classmethod
+    def _targets(cls, obj):
         """Collects the targets to send an :class:`models.Object` to.
 
         Args:
@@ -740,12 +740,17 @@ class Protocol:
                 add(obj.users, user_key)
                 add(obj.labels, 'notification')
 
+        user = as1.get_owner(obj.as1) or as1.get_owner(inner_obj_as1)
+        user_key = cls.key_for(user) if user else g.user.key if g.user else None
+        if not user_key:
+            logger.info("Can't tell who this is from! Skipping followers.")
+            return targets
+
         # deliver to followers?
         if (obj.type in ('post', 'update', 'delete', 'share')
-            and not (obj.type == 'comment' or inner_obj_as1.get('inReplyTo'))):
-            # TODO: use obj's actor/author instead of g.user?
-            logger.info(f'Delivering to followers of {g.user.key}')
-            followers = Follower.query(Follower.to == g.user.key,
+                and not (obj.type == 'comment' or inner_obj_as1.get('inReplyTo'))):
+            logger.info(f'Delivering to followers of {user_key}')
+            followers = Follower.query(Follower.to == user_key,
                                        Follower.status == 'active'
                                        ).fetch()
             users = [u for u in ndb.get_multi(f.from_ for f in followers) if u]
diff --git a/tests/test_protocol.py b/tests/test_protocol.py
index a70d2160..417f8bbf 100644
--- a/tests/test_protocol.py
+++ b/tests/test_protocol.py
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ class ProtocolReceiveTest(TestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
-        g.user = self.make_user('fake:user', cls=Fake, obj_id='fake:user')
+        g.user = self.user = self.make_user('fake:user', cls=Fake, obj_id='fake:user')
         self.alice = self.make_user('fake:alice', cls=Fake, obj_id='fake:alice')
         self.bob = self.make_user('fake:bob', cls=Fake, obj_id='fake:bob')
 
@@ -269,9 +269,9 @@ class ProtocolReceiveTest(TestCase):
         return super().assert_object(id, ignore=ignore, **props)
 
     def make_followers(self):
-        Follower.get_or_create(to=g.user, from_=self.alice)
-        Follower.get_or_create(to=g.user, from_=self.bob)
-        Follower.get_or_create(to=g.user, from_=Fake(id='fake:eve'),
+        Follower.get_or_create(to=self.user, from_=self.alice)
+        Follower.get_or_create(to=self.user, from_=self.bob)
+        Follower.get_or_create(to=self.user, from_=Fake(id='fake:eve'),
                                status='inactive')
 
     def test_create_post(self):
@@ -655,6 +655,7 @@ class ProtocolReceiveTest(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual([(like_obj, 'fake:post:target')], Fake.sent)
 
     def test_delete(self):
+        g.user = None  # should use activity's actor
         self.make_followers()
 
         post_as1 = {
@@ -668,6 +669,7 @@ class ProtocolReceiveTest(TestCase):
             'id': 'fake:delete',
             'objectType': 'activity',
             'verb': 'delete',
+            'actor': 'fake:user',
             'object': 'fake:post',
         }
         self.assertEqual('OK', Fake.receive(delete_as1))
@@ -684,15 +686,17 @@ class ProtocolReceiveTest(TestCase):
                                  delivered=['shared:target'],
                                  type='delete',
                                  labels=['user', 'activity', 'feed'],
-                                 users=[g.user.key, self.alice.key, self.bob.key],
+                                 users=[self.user.key, self.alice.key, self.bob.key],
                                  )
         self.assertEqual([(obj, 'shared:target')], Fake.sent)
 
     def test_delete_no_followers_no_stored_object(self):
+        g.user = None  # should use activity's actor
         delete_as1 = {
             'id': 'fake:delete',
             'objectType': 'activity',
             'verb': 'delete',
+            'actor': 'fake:user',
             'object': 'fake:post',
         }
         with self.assertRaises(NoContent):
@@ -709,22 +713,25 @@ class ProtocolReceiveTest(TestCase):
                            delivered=[],
                            type='delete',
                            labels=['user', 'activity', 'feed'],
-                           users=[g.user.key],
+                           users=[self.user.key],
                            )
         self.assertEqual([], Fake.sent)
 
     def test_delete_actor(self):
-        follower = Follower.get_or_create(to=g.user, from_=self.alice)
+        g.user = None
+
+        follower = Follower.get_or_create(to=self.user, from_=self.alice)
         followee = Follower.get_or_create(to=self.alice, from_=self.bob)
-        other = Follower.get_or_create(to=g.user, from_=self.bob)
+        other = Follower.get_or_create(to=self.user, from_=self.bob)
         self.assertEqual(3, Follower.query().count())
 
-        self.assertEqual('OK', Fake.receive({
-            'objectType': 'activity',
-            'verb': 'delete',
-            'id': 'fake:delete',
-            'object': 'fake:alice',
-        }))
+        with self.assertRaises(NoContent):
+            Fake.receive({
+                'objectType': 'activity',
+                'verb': 'delete',
+                'id': 'fake:delete',
+                'object': 'fake:alice',
+            })
 
         self.assertEqual(3, Follower.query().count())
         self.assertEqual('inactive', follower.key.get().status)
@@ -735,6 +742,7 @@ class ProtocolReceiveTest(TestCase):
                            deleted=True,
                            source_protocol=None,
                            )
+
     @patch.object(Fake, 'send')
     @patch.object(Fake, 'target_for')
     def test_send_error(self, mock_target_for, mock_send):