diff --git a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/user.ex b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/user.ex
index f6cca0d06e..10a0f68501 100644
--- a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/user.ex
+++ b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/user.ex
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ defmodule Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.User do
   def run(["unsubscribe", nickname]) do
     Common.start_pleroma()
 
-    with %User{} = user <- User.get_by_nickname(nickname) do
+    with %User{local: true} = user <- User.get_by_nickname(nickname) do
       Mix.shell().info("Deactivating #{user.nickname}")
       User.deactivate(user)
 
diff --git a/test/tasks/user_test.exs b/test/tasks/user_test.exs
index 7b814d171d..8c58a998e1 100644
--- a/test/tasks/user_test.exs
+++ b/test/tasks/user_test.exs
@@ -161,6 +161,17 @@ defmodule Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.UserTest do
       assert_received {:mix_shell, :error, [message]}
       assert message =~ "No user"
     end
+
+    test "remote user cannot be unsubscribed" do
+      user = insert(:user, %{local: false})
+
+      Mix.Tasks.Pleroma.User.run(["unsubscribe", user.nickname])
+
+      assert_received {:mix_shell, :error, [message]}
+      assert message =~ "No user #{user.nickname}"
+
+      refute user.info.deactivated
+    end
   end
 
   describe "running set" do