diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller.ex
index e0a090659..c051d0d7b 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller.ex
@@ -815,13 +815,17 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.MastodonAPIController do
   end
 
   def follow(%{assigns: %{user: follower}} = conn, %{"id" => id}) do
-    with %User{} = followed <- User.get_by_id(id),
+    with {_, %User{} = followed} <- {:followed, User.get_by_id(id)},
+         {_, true} <- {:followed, follower.id != followed.id},
          false <- User.following?(follower, followed),
          {:ok, follower, followed, _} <- CommonAPI.follow(follower, followed) do
       conn
       |> put_view(AccountView)
       |> render("relationship.json", %{user: follower, target: followed})
     else
+      {:followed, _} ->
+        {:error, :not_found}
+
       true ->
         followed = User.get_cached_by_id(id)
 
@@ -843,12 +847,16 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.MastodonAPIController do
   end
 
   def follow(%{assigns: %{user: follower}} = conn, %{"uri" => uri}) do
-    with %User{} = followed <- User.get_by_nickname(uri),
+    with {_, %User{} = followed} <- {:followed, User.get_by_nickname(uri)},
+         {_, true} <- {:followed, follower.id != followed.id},
          {:ok, follower, followed, _} <- CommonAPI.follow(follower, followed) do
       conn
       |> put_view(AccountView)
       |> render("account.json", %{user: followed, for: follower})
     else
+      {:followed, _} ->
+        {:error, :not_found}
+
       {:error, message} ->
         conn
         |> put_resp_content_type("application/json")
@@ -857,11 +865,18 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.MastodonAPIController do
   end
 
   def unfollow(%{assigns: %{user: follower}} = conn, %{"id" => id}) do
-    with %User{} = followed <- User.get_by_id(id),
+    with {_, %User{} = followed} <- {:followed, User.get_by_id(id)},
+         {_, true} <- {:followed, follower.id != followed.id},
          {:ok, follower} <- CommonAPI.unfollow(follower, followed) do
       conn
       |> put_view(AccountView)
       |> render("relationship.json", %{user: follower, target: followed})
+    else
+      {:followed, _} ->
+        {:error, :not_found}
+
+      error ->
+        error
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/test/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller_test.exs b/test/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller_test.exs
index 292cd46b8..ad1828ee7 100644
--- a/test/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller_test.exs
@@ -1587,6 +1587,40 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.MastodonAPIControllerTest do
     assert id == to_string(other_user.id)
   end
 
+  test "following / unfollowing errors" do
+    user = insert(:user)
+
+    conn =
+      build_conn()
+      |> assign(:user, user)
+
+    # self follow
+    conn_res = post(conn, "/api/v1/accounts/#{user.id}/follow")
+    assert %{"error" => "Record not found"} = json_response(conn_res, 404)
+
+    # self unfollow
+    user = User.get_by_id(user.id)
+    conn_res = post(conn, "/api/v1/accounts/#{user.id}/unfollow")
+    assert %{"error" => "Record not found"} = json_response(conn_res, 404)
+
+    # self follow via uri
+    user = User.get_by_id(user.id)
+    conn_res = post(conn, "/api/v1/follows", %{"uri" => user.nickname})
+    assert %{"error" => "Record not found"} = json_response(conn_res, 404)
+
+    # follow non existing user
+    conn_res = post(conn, "/api/v1/accounts/doesntexist/follow")
+    assert %{"error" => "Record not found"} = json_response(conn_res, 404)
+
+    # follow non existing user via uri
+    conn_res = post(conn, "/api/v1/follows", %{"uri" => "doesntexist"})
+    assert %{"error" => "Record not found"} = json_response(conn_res, 404)
+
+    # unfollow non existing user
+    conn_res = post(conn, "/api/v1/accounts/doesntexist/unfollow")
+    assert %{"error" => "Record not found"} = json_response(conn_res, 404)
+  end
+
   test "muting / unmuting a user", %{conn: conn} do
     user = insert(:user)
     other_user = insert(:user)