diff --git a/upub/core/src/model/actor.rs b/upub/core/src/model/actor.rs
index 4628b7b2..36df4da8 100644
--- a/upub/core/src/model/actor.rs
+++ b/upub/core/src/model/actor.rs
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ impl Model {
 					.set_url(apb::Node::link(i.clone()))
 			)))
 			.set_published(Some(self.published))
+			.set_updated(if self.updated != self.published { Some(self.updated) } else { None })
 			.set_preferred_username(Some(&self.preferred_username))
 			.set_statuses_count(Some(self.statuses_count as u64))
 			.set_followers_count(Some(self.followers_count as u64))
diff --git a/upub/core/src/model/object.rs b/upub/core/src/model/object.rs
index d44f4674..e26b9ee7 100644
--- a/upub/core/src/model/object.rs
+++ b/upub/core/src/model/object.rs
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ impl Model {
 			.set_conversation(apb::Node::maybe_link(self.context.clone())) // duplicate context for mastodon
 			.set_in_reply_to(apb::Node::maybe_link(self.in_reply_to.clone()))
 			.set_published(Some(self.published))
-			.set_updated(Some(self.updated))
+			.set_updated(if self.updated != self.published { Some(self.updated) } else { None })
 			.set_audience(apb::Node::maybe_link(self.audience))
 			.set_to(apb::Node::links(self.to.0.clone()))
 			.set_bto(apb::Node::Empty)