diff --git a/pages.py b/pages.py
index d3c880c..3bb31d9 100644
--- a/pages.py
+++ b/pages.py
@@ -60,17 +60,16 @@ def load_user(protocol, id):
       :class:`werkzeug.exceptions.HTTPException` on error or redirect
     """
     assert id
-    if protocol == 'ap' and not id.startswith('@'):
-        id = '@' + id
 
     cls = PROTOCOLS[protocol]
+
+    if cls.ABBREV == 'ap' and not id.startswith('@'):
+        id = '@' + id
     user = cls.get_by_id(id)
 
-    if protocol != 'web':
+    if cls.ABBREV != 'web':
         if not user:
-            user = cls.query(OR(cls.handle == id,
-                                  cls.readable_id == id),
-                               ).get()
+            user = cls.query(OR(cls.handle == id, cls.handle == id)).get()
             if user and user.use_instead:
                 user = user.use_instead.get()
 
@@ -80,7 +79,7 @@ def load_user(protocol, id):
     elif user and id != user.key.id():  # use_instead redirect
         error('', status=302, location=user.user_page_path())
 
-    if user and (user.direct or protocol == 'web'):
+    if user and (user.direct or cls.ABBREV != 'ap'):
         assert not user.use_instead
         return user
 
diff --git a/tests/test_pages.py b/tests/test_pages.py
index 2202992..0596ef0 100644
--- a/tests/test_pages.py
+++ b/tests/test_pages.py
@@ -99,11 +99,12 @@ class PagesTest(TestCase):
         self.assert_equals(404, got.status_code)
 
     def test_user_not_direct(self):
-        fake = self.make_user('fake:foo', cls=Fake)
-        fake.direct = False
-        fake.put()
-
+        fake = self.make_user('fake:foo', cls=Fake, direct=False)
         got = self.client.get('/fake/fake:foo')
+        self.assert_equals(200, got.status_code)
+
+        fake = self.make_user('http://fo/o', cls=ActivityPub, direct=False)
+        got = self.client.get('/ap/@o@fo')
         self.assert_equals(404, got.status_code)
 
     def test_user_opted_out(self):
diff --git a/tests/testutil.py b/tests/testutil.py
index d28450b..0cc3e71 100644
--- a/tests/testutil.py
+++ b/tests/testutil.py
@@ -303,8 +303,8 @@ class TestCase(unittest.TestCase, testutil.Asserts):
                                            mf2=obj_mf2, source_protocol=cls.LABEL
                                            ).key
 
+        kwargs.setdefault('direct', True)
         user = cls(id=id,
-                   direct=True,
                    mod=global_user.mod,
                    public_exponent=global_user.public_exponent,
                    private_exponent=global_user.private_exponent,