diff --git a/src/db/events.ts b/src/db/events.ts
index 50f1379..96f4277 100644
--- a/src/db/events.ts
+++ b/src/db/events.ts
@@ -90,7 +90,8 @@ function getFilter<K extends number = number>(filter: Filter<K>): Promise<Signed
   return getFilters<K>([filter]);
 }
 
-async function isFollowed({ pubkey }: SignedEvent): Promise<boolean> {
+/** Returns whether the pubkey is followed by a local user. */
+async function isLocallyFollowed(pubkey: string): Promise<boolean> {
   const event = await getFilterQuery({ kinds: [3], '#p': [pubkey], limit: 1 })
     .innerJoin('users', 'users.pubkey', 'events.pubkey')
     .executeTakeFirst();
@@ -98,4 +99,4 @@ async function isFollowed({ pubkey }: SignedEvent): Promise<boolean> {
   return !!event;
 }
 
-export { getFilter, getFilters, insertEvent, isFollowed };
+export { getFilter, getFilters, insertEvent, isLocallyFollowed };
diff --git a/src/loopback.ts b/src/loopback.ts
index 7cd8fa2..4cb45e1 100644
--- a/src/loopback.ts
+++ b/src/loopback.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { Conf } from '@/config.ts';
-import { insertEvent } from '@/db/events.ts';
+import { insertEvent, isLocallyFollowed } from '@/db/events.ts';
 import { RelayPool } from '@/deps.ts';
 import { trends } from '@/trends.ts';
 import { nostrDate, nostrNow } from '@/utils.ts';
@@ -20,10 +20,14 @@ relay.subscribe(
 );
 
 /** Handle events through the loopback pipeline. */
-function handleEvent(event: SignedEvent): void {
+async function handleEvent(event: SignedEvent): Promise<void> {
   console.info('loopback event:', event.id);
-  insertEvent(event).catch(console.warn);
+
   trackHashtags(event);
+
+  if (await isLocallyFollowed(event.pubkey)) {
+    insertEvent(event).catch(console.warn);
+  }
 }
 
 /** Track whenever a hashtag is used, for processing trending tags. */