diff --git a/src/services/entity_normalizer/entity_normalizer.service.js b/src/services/entity_normalizer/entity_normalizer.service.js
index a199ebd040..d6d84d9aae 100644
--- a/src/services/entity_normalizer/entity_normalizer.service.js
+++ b/src/services/entity_normalizer/entity_normalizer.service.js
@@ -188,9 +188,12 @@ export const parseUser = (data) => {
     output.follow_request_count = data.pleroma.follow_request_count
 
     output.tags = data.pleroma.tags
+
     // deactivated was changed to is_active in Pleroma 2.3.0
-    // backwards compatability kept for now
-    output.deactivated = data.pleroma.deactivated ? !data.pleroma.is_active : data.pleroma.deactivated
+    // so check if is_active is present
+    output.deactivated = typeof data.pleroma.is_active !== undefined
+      ? !data.pleroma.is_active // new backend
+      : data.pleroma.deactivated // old backend
 
     output.notification_settings = data.pleroma.notification_settings
     output.unread_chat_count = data.pleroma.unread_chat_count