diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py b/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
index 94ba23bc9..279079c81 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitystreams.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class ActivityStream(ABC):
             # add the status to the feed
             pipeline.zadd(self.stream_id(user), value)
             pipeline.zremrangebyrank(
-                self.stream_id(user), settings.MAX_STREAM_LENGTH, -1
+                self.stream_id(user), 0, -1 * settings.MAX_STREAM_LENGTH
             )
             # add to the unread status count
             pipeline.incr(self.unread_id(user))
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class ActivityStream(ABC):
             pipeline.zadd(self.stream_id(viewer), self.get_value(status))
         if statuses:
             pipeline.zremrangebyrank(
-                self.stream_id(user), settings.MAX_STREAM_LENGTH, -1
+                self.stream_id(user), 0, -1 * settings.MAX_STREAM_LENGTH
             )
         pipeline.execute()
 
@@ -96,7 +96,9 @@ class ActivityStream(ABC):
 
         # only trim the stream if statuses were added
         if statuses.exists():
-            pipeline.zremrangebyrank(stream_id, settings.MAX_STREAM_LENGTH, -1)
+            pipeline.zremrangebyrank(
+                self.stream_id(user), 0, -1 * settings.MAX_STREAM_LENGTH
+            )
         pipeline.execute()
 
     def stream_users(self, status):  # pylint: disable=no-self-use
diff --git a/bookwyrm/settings.py b/bookwyrm/settings.py
index 845f81c46..9d1d0b858 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/settings.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/settings.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ WSGI_APPLICATION = "bookwyrm.wsgi.application"
 REDIS_ACTIVITY_HOST = env("REDIS_ACTIVITY_HOST", "localhost")
 REDIS_ACTIVITY_PORT = env("REDIS_ACTIVITY_PORT", 6379)
 
-MAX_STREAM_LENGTH = int(env("MAX_STREAM_LENGTH", 200))
+MAX_STREAM_LENGTH = 3  # int(env("MAX_STREAM_LENGTH", 200))
 STREAMS = ["home", "local", "federated"]
 
 # Database