diff --git a/activities/management/commands/pruneposts.py b/activities/management/commands/pruneposts.py
index 8c3667c..7ae34ba 100644
--- a/activities/management/commands/pruneposts.py
+++ b/activities/management/commands/pruneposts.py
@@ -51,13 +51,12 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 del post_ids_and_uris[reply]
 
         # Delete them
-        print(f"  down to {len(post_ids_and_uris)} to delete")
+        print(f"  narrowed down to {len(post_ids_and_uris)}")
+        if not post_ids_and_uris:
+            sys.exit(1)
+
         print("Deleting...")
-        number_deleted, deleted = Post.objects.filter(
-            id__in=post_ids_and_uris.values()
-        ).delete()
+        _, deleted = Post.objects.filter(id__in=post_ids_and_uris.values()).delete()
         print("Deleted:")
         for model, model_deleted in deleted.items():
             print(f"  {model}: {model_deleted}")
-        if number_deleted == 0:
-            sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/users/management/commands/pruneidentities.py b/users/management/commands/pruneidentities.py
index 7bf0a55..2e69ca8 100644
--- a/users/management/commands/pruneidentities.py
+++ b/users/management/commands/pruneidentities.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         ).exclude(
             Q(interactions__post__local=True)
             | Q(posts__isnull=False)
+            | Q(posts_mentioning__isnull=False)
             | Q(outbound_follows__isnull=False)
             | Q(inbound_follows__isnull=False)
             | Q(outbound_blocks__isnull=False)
@@ -41,6 +42,8 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         ]
         identity_ids = identities.values_list("id", flat=True)
         print(f"  found {len(identity_ids)}")
+        if not identity_ids:
+            sys.exit(1)
 
         # Delete them
         print("Deleting...")
@@ -48,5 +51,3 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         print("Deleted:")
         for model, model_deleted in deleted.items():
             print(f"  {model}: {model_deleted}")
-        if number_deleted == 0:
-            sys.exit(1)