diff --git a/resolvers/author.py b/resolvers/author.py
index 95cf2f69..3c0292d9 100644
--- a/resolvers/author.py
+++ b/resolvers/author.py
@@ -146,11 +146,9 @@ def load_authors_by(_, _info, by, limit, offset):
 async def get_author_follows(_, _info, slug='', user=None, author_id=None):
     with (local_session() as session):
         if user or slug:
-            (author_id, ) = (
-                session.query(Author.id)
-                .filter(or_(Author.user == user, Author.slug == slug))
-                .first()
-            )
+             author = session.query(Author).filter(or_(Author.user == user, Author.slug == slug)).first()
+             if author:
+                author_id = author.id
         if author_id:
             rkey = f'author:{author_id}:follows-authors'
             logger.debug(f'getting {author_id} follows authors')
diff --git a/resolvers/follower.py b/resolvers/follower.py
index 6f902e8c..429b06bd 100644
--- a/resolvers/follower.py
+++ b/resolvers/follower.py
@@ -40,10 +40,7 @@ async def follow(_, info, what, slug):
         if follower:
             if what == 'AUTHOR':
                 if author_follow(follower.id, slug):
-                    author_query = (
-                        select(Author).select_from(Author).where(Author.slug == slug)
-                    )
-                    [author] = get_with_stat(author_query)
+                    [author] = get_with_stat(select(Author).select_from(Author).where(Author.slug == slug))
                     if author:
                         follows = await update_follows_for_author(
                             follower, 'author', author, True