diff --git a/tasks.py b/tasks.py
index 15c27a7..d1c3356 100644
--- a/tasks.py
+++ b/tasks.py
@@ -320,10 +320,7 @@ def finish_post_to_inbox(self, iri: str) -> None:
     try:
         activity = ap.fetch_remote_activity(iri)
         log.info(f"activity={activity!r}")
-    except (ActivityGoneError, ActivityNotFoundError):
-        log.exception(f"no retry")
 
-    try:
         if activity.has_type(ap.ActivityType.DELETE):
             back.inbox_delete(MY_PERSON, activity)
         elif activity.has_type(ap.ActivityType.UPDATE):
@@ -346,6 +343,8 @@ def finish_post_to_inbox(self, iri: str) -> None:
                 back.inbox_undo_announce(MY_PERSON, obj)
             elif obj.has_type(ap.ActivityType.FOLLOW):
                 back.undo_new_follower(MY_PERSON, obj)
+    except (ActivityGoneError, ActivityNotFoundError):
+        log.exception(f"no retry")
     except Exception as err:
         log.exception(f"failed to cache attachments for {iri}")
         self.retry(exc=err, countdown=int(random.uniform(2, 4) ** self.request.retries))
@@ -370,10 +369,7 @@ def finish_post_to_outbox(self, iri: str) -> None:
     try:
         activity = ap.fetch_remote_activity(iri)
         log.info(f"activity={activity!r}")
-    except (ActivityGoneError, ActivityNotFoundError):
-        log.exception(f"no retry")
 
-    try:
         recipients = activity.recipients()
 
         if activity.has_type(ap.ActivityType.DELETE):
@@ -402,6 +398,8 @@ def finish_post_to_outbox(self, iri: str) -> None:
         for recp in recipients:
             log.debug(f"posting to {recp}")
             post_to_remote_inbox.delay(payload, recp)
+    except (ActivityGoneError, ActivityNotFoundError):
+        log.exception(f"no retry")
     except Exception as err:
         log.exception(f"failed to post to remote inbox for {iri}")
         self.retry(exc=err, countdown=int(random.uniform(2, 4) ** self.request.retries))