diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/activity_pub.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/activity_pub.ex
index 5c436941a..408f6c966 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/activity_pub.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/activity_pub.ex
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 # Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
-# Copyright © 2017-2019 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
+# Copyright © 2017-2020 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
 
 defmodule Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.ActivityPub do
   alias Pleroma.Activity
   alias Pleroma.Activity.Ir.Topics
+  alias Pleroma.ActivityExpiration
   alias Pleroma.Config
   alias Pleroma.Conversation
   alias Pleroma.Conversation.Participation
@@ -135,12 +136,14 @@ def insert(map, local \\ true, fake \\ false, bypass_actor_check \\ false) when
          {:containment, :ok} <- {:containment, Containment.contain_child(map)},
          {:ok, map, object} <- insert_full_object(map) do
       {:ok, activity} =
-        Repo.insert(%Activity{
+        %Activity{
           data: map,
           local: local,
           actor: map["actor"],
           recipients: recipients
-        })
+        }
+        |> Repo.insert()
+        |> maybe_create_activity_expiration()
 
       # Splice in the child object if we have one.
       activity =
@@ -180,6 +183,14 @@ def insert(map, local \\ true, fake \\ false, bypass_actor_check \\ false) when
     end
   end
 
+  defp maybe_create_activity_expiration({:ok, %{data: %{"expires_at" => expires_at}} = activity}) do
+    with {:ok, _} <- ActivityExpiration.create(activity, expires_at) do
+      {:ok, activity}
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp maybe_create_activity_expiration(result), do: result
+
   defp create_or_bump_conversation(activity, actor) do
     with {:ok, conversation} <- Conversation.create_or_bump_for(activity),
          %User{} = user <- User.get_cached_by_ap_id(actor),
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/activity_draft.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/activity_draft.ex
index f7da81b34..7a83cad9c 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/activity_draft.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/activity_draft.ex
@@ -193,6 +193,13 @@ defp preview?(draft) do
 
   defp changes(draft) do
     direct? = draft.visibility == "direct"
+    additional = %{"cc" => draft.cc, "directMessage" => direct?}
+
+    additional =
+      case draft.expires_at do
+        %NaiveDateTime{} = expires_at -> Map.put(additional, "expires_at", expires_at)
+        _ -> additional
+      end
 
     changes =
       %{
@@ -200,7 +207,7 @@ defp changes(draft) do
         actor: draft.user,
         context: draft.context,
         object: draft.object,
-        additional: %{"cc" => draft.cc, "directMessage" => direct?}
+        additional: additional
       }
       |> Utils.maybe_add_list_data(draft.user, draft.visibility)
 
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/common_api.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/common_api.ex
index 2a348dcf6..03921de27 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/common_api.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/common_api.ex
@@ -277,20 +277,10 @@ def listen(user, %{"title" => _} = data) do
 
   def post(user, %{"status" => _} = data) do
     with {:ok, draft} <- Pleroma.Web.CommonAPI.ActivityDraft.create(user, data) do
-      draft.changes
-      |> ActivityPub.create(draft.preview?)
-      |> maybe_create_activity_expiration(draft.expires_at)
+      ActivityPub.create(draft.changes, draft.preview?)
     end
   end
 
-  defp maybe_create_activity_expiration({:ok, activity}, %NaiveDateTime{} = expires_at) do
-    with {:ok, _} <- ActivityExpiration.create(activity, expires_at) do
-      {:ok, activity}
-    end
-  end
-
-  defp maybe_create_activity_expiration(result, _), do: result
-
   # Updates the emojis for a user based on their profile
   def update(user) do
     emoji = emoji_from_profile(user)