diff --git a/crates/adapters/activitypub-base/src/service.rs b/crates/adapters/activitypub-base/src/service.rs
index 9de878b..857d942 100644
--- a/crates/adapters/activitypub-base/src/service.rs
+++ b/crates/adapters/activitypub-base/src/service.rs
@@ -1337,12 +1337,12 @@ impl domain::ports::FederationActionPort for ActivityPubService {
         handle: &str,
     ) -> Result<domain::models::remote_actor::RemoteActor, domain::errors::DomainError> {
         let data = self.federation_config.to_request_data();
-        let actor: crate::actors::DbActor =
-            webfinger_resolve_actor(handle, &data)
-                .await
-                .map_err(|e: crate::error::Error| {
-                    domain::errors::DomainError::ExternalService(e.to_string())
-                })?;
+        let normalized = handle.trim_start_matches('@');
+        let actor: crate::actors::DbActor = webfinger_resolve_actor(normalized, &data)
+            .await
+            .map_err(|e: crate::error::Error| {
+                domain::errors::DomainError::ExternalService(e.to_string())
+            })?;
         Ok(domain::models::remote_actor::RemoteActor {
             url: actor.ap_id.to_string(),
             handle: actor.username.clone(),