diff --git a/plugins/OStatus/OStatusPlugin.php b/plugins/OStatus/OStatusPlugin.php
index 90abe034de..5feb53b260 100644
--- a/plugins/OStatus/OStatusPlugin.php
+++ b/plugins/OStatus/OStatusPlugin.php
@@ -221,9 +221,17 @@ class OStatusPlugin extends Plugin
 
             $webfinger = $wmatch[0];
 
+            $this->log(LOG_INFO, "Checking Webfinger for address '$webfinger'");
+
             $oprofile = Ostatus_profile::ensureWebfinger($webfinger);
 
-            if (!empty($oprofile)) {
+            if (empty($oprofile)) {
+
+                $this->log(LOG_INFO, "No Ostatus_profile found for address '$webfinger'");
+
+            } else {
+
+                $this->log(LOG_INFO, "Ostatus_profile found for address '$webfinger'");
 
                 $profile = $oprofile->localProfile();
 
diff --git a/plugins/OStatus/classes/Ostatus_profile.php b/plugins/OStatus/classes/Ostatus_profile.php
index 61505206ec..5e38a523ea 100644
--- a/plugins/OStatus/classes/Ostatus_profile.php
+++ b/plugins/OStatus/classes/Ostatus_profile.php
@@ -299,18 +299,9 @@ class Ostatus_profile extends Memcached_DataObject
             throw new ServerException("Remote groups can't subscribe to local users");
         }
 
-        // @fixme use regular channels for subbing, once they accept remote profiles
-        $sub = new Subscription();
-        $sub->subscriber = $this->profile_id;
-        $sub->subscribed = $user->id;
-        $sub->created = common_sql_now(); // current time
+        Subscription::start($this->localProfile(), $user->getProfile());
 
-        if ($sub->insert()) {
-            // @fixme use subs_notify() if refactored to take profiles?
-            mail_subscribe_notify_profile($user, $this->localProfile());
-            return true;
-        }
-        return false;
+        return true;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -1163,7 +1154,6 @@ class Ostatus_profile extends Memcached_DataObject
         }
     }
 
-
     protected static function getActivityObjectNickname($object, $hints=array())
     {
         if ($object->poco) {