diff --git a/kepi/sombrero_sendpub/fetch.py b/kepi/sombrero_sendpub/fetch.py
index 58131f1..9511a2a 100644
--- a/kepi/sombrero_sendpub/fetch.py
+++ b/kepi/sombrero_sendpub/fetch.py
@@ -175,11 +175,6 @@ def fetch_user(username):
                 result.url,
                 ve,
                 )
-
-        if result.status==0:
-            result.status = 404
-            result.save()
-
         # but don't re-raise the exception
 
     return result
diff --git a/kepi/sombrero_sendpub/tests/test_fetch.py b/kepi/sombrero_sendpub/tests/test_fetch.py
index 557a4a4..ccbb4ad 100644
--- a/kepi/sombrero_sendpub/tests/test_fetch.py
+++ b/kepi/sombrero_sendpub/tests/test_fetch.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from unittest import skip
 from django.test import TestCase
 from kepi.sombrero_sendpub.fetch import fetch_user
 from kepi.trilby_api.models import RemotePerson
+from . import suppress_thread_exceptions
 import httpretty
 import logging
 import requests
@@ -173,7 +174,8 @@ class TestFetchUser(TestCase):
                 body = timeout,
                 )
 
-        user = fetch_user(EXAMPLE_USER_URL)
+        with suppress_thread_exceptions():
+            user = fetch_user(EXAMPLE_USER_URL)
 
         self.assertEqual(
                 user.status,
@@ -196,7 +198,8 @@ class TestFetchUser(TestCase):
                 body = no_such_host,
                 )
 
-        user = fetch_user(EXAMPLE_USER_URL)
+        with suppress_thread_exceptions():
+            user = fetch_user(EXAMPLE_USER_URL)
 
         self.assertEqual(
                 user.status,
@@ -377,7 +380,7 @@ class TestFetchUser(TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(
                 user.status,
-                404,
+                0,
                 )
 
 class TestFetchStatus(TestCase):