diff --git a/app/actor.py b/app/actor.py
index 134f7e1..b906e2b 100644
--- a/app/actor.py
+++ b/app/actor.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import Union
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
+from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from sqlalchemy.orm import joinedload
 
@@ -151,9 +152,9 @@ def save_actor(db: Session, ap_actor: ap.RawObject) -> "ActorModel":
 def fetch_actor(db: Session, actor_id: str) -> "ActorModel":
     from app import models
 
-    existing_actor = (
-        db.query(models.Actor).filter(models.Actor.ap_id == actor_id).one_or_none()
-    )
+    existing_actor = db.execute(
+        select(models.Actor).where(models.Actor.ap_id == actor_id)
+    ).scalar_one_or_none()
     if existing_actor:
         return existing_actor
 
@@ -183,27 +184,30 @@ def get_actors_metadata(
     ap_actor_ids = [actor.ap_id for actor in actors]
     followers = {
         follower.ap_actor_id: follower.inbox_object.ap_id
-        for follower in db.query(models.Follower)
-        .filter(models.Follower.ap_actor_id.in_(ap_actor_ids))
-        .options(joinedload(models.Follower.inbox_object))
+        for follower in db.scalars(
+            select(models.Follower)
+            .where(models.Follower.ap_actor_id.in_(ap_actor_ids))
+            .options(joinedload(models.Follower.inbox_object))
+        )
+        .unique()
         .all()
     }
     following = {
         following.ap_actor_id
-        for following in db.query(models.Following.ap_actor_id)
-        .filter(models.Following.ap_actor_id.in_(ap_actor_ids))
-        .all()
+        for following in db.execute(
+            select(models.Following.ap_actor_id).where(
+                models.Following.ap_actor_id.in_(ap_actor_ids)
+            )
+        )
     }
     sent_follow_requests = {
         follow_req.ap_object["object"]: follow_req.ap_id
-        for follow_req in db.query(
-            models.OutboxObject.ap_object, models.OutboxObject.ap_id
+        for follow_req in db.execute(
+            select(models.OutboxObject.ap_object, models.OutboxObject.ap_id).where(
+                models.OutboxObject.ap_type == "Follow",
+                models.OutboxObject.undone_by_outbox_object_id.is_(None),
+            )
         )
-        .filter(
-            models.OutboxObject.ap_type == "Follow",
-            models.OutboxObject.undone_by_outbox_object_id.is_(None),
-        )
-        .all()
     }
     idx: ActorsMetadata = {}
     for actor in actors:
diff --git a/app/admin.py b/app/admin.py
index f1c0409..385c123 100644
--- a/app/admin.py
+++ b/app/admin.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ from fastapi import Request
 from fastapi import UploadFile
 from fastapi.exceptions import HTTPException
 from fastapi.responses import RedirectResponse
+from sqlalchemy import func
+from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from sqlalchemy.orm import joinedload
 
@@ -141,16 +143,20 @@ def admin_bookmarks(
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
 ) -> templates.TemplateResponse:
     stream = (
-        db.query(models.InboxObject)
-        .filter(
-            models.InboxObject.ap_type.in_(["Note", "Article", "Video", "Announce"]),
-            models.InboxObject.is_hidden_from_stream.is_(False),
-            models.InboxObject.undone_by_inbox_object_id.is_(None),
-            models.InboxObject.is_bookmarked.is_(True),
-        )
-        .order_by(models.InboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
-        .limit(20)
-        .all()
+        db.scalars(
+            select(models.InboxObject)
+            .where(
+                models.InboxObject.ap_type.in_(
+                    ["Note", "Article", "Video", "Announce"]
+                ),
+                models.InboxObject.is_hidden_from_stream.is_(False),
+                models.InboxObject.undone_by_inbox_object_id.is_(None),
+                models.InboxObject.is_bookmarked.is_(True),
+            )
+            .order_by(models.InboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
+            .limit(20)
+        ).all()
+        # TODO: joinedload + unique
     )
     return templates.render_template(
         db,
@@ -169,27 +175,28 @@ def admin_inbox(
     filter_by: str | None = None,
     cursor: str | None = None,
 ) -> templates.TemplateResponse:
-    q = db.query(models.InboxObject).filter(
-        models.InboxObject.ap_type.not_in(["Accept"])
-    )
-
+    where = [models.InboxObject.ap_type.not_in(["Accept"])]
     if filter_by:
-        q = q.filter(models.InboxObject.ap_type == filter_by)
+        where.append(models.InboxObject.ap_type == filter_by)
     if cursor:
-        q = q.filter(
+        where.append(
             models.InboxObject.ap_published_at < pagination.decode_cursor(cursor)
         )
 
     page_size = 20
-    remaining_count = q.count()
+    remaining_count = db.scalar(select(func.count(models.InboxObject.id)).where(*where))
+    q = select(models.InboxObject).where(*where)
 
     inbox = (
-        q.options(
-            joinedload(models.InboxObject.relates_to_inbox_object),
-            joinedload(models.InboxObject.relates_to_outbox_object),
+        db.scalars(
+            q.options(
+                joinedload(models.InboxObject.relates_to_inbox_object),
+                joinedload(models.InboxObject.relates_to_outbox_object),
+            )
+            .order_by(models.InboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
+            .limit(20)
         )
-        .order_by(models.InboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
-        .limit(20)
+        .unique()
         .all()
     )
 
@@ -227,27 +234,31 @@ def admin_outbox(
     filter_by: str | None = None,
     cursor: str | None = None,
 ) -> templates.TemplateResponse:
-    q = db.query(models.OutboxObject).filter(
-        models.OutboxObject.ap_type.not_in(["Accept"])
-    )
+    where = [models.OutboxObject.ap_type.not_in(["Accept"])]
     if filter_by:
-        q = q.filter(models.OutboxObject.ap_type == filter_by)
+        where.append(models.OutboxObject.ap_type == filter_by)
     if cursor:
-        q = q.filter(
+        where.append(
             models.OutboxObject.ap_published_at < pagination.decode_cursor(cursor)
         )
 
     page_size = 20
-    remaining_count = q.count()
+    remaining_count = db.scalar(
+        select(func.count(models.OutboxObject.id)).where(*where)
+    )
+    q = select(models.OutboxObject).where(*where)
 
     outbox = (
-        q.options(
-            joinedload(models.OutboxObject.relates_to_inbox_object),
-            joinedload(models.OutboxObject.relates_to_outbox_object),
-            joinedload(models.OutboxObject.relates_to_actor),
+        db.scalars(
+            q.options(
+                joinedload(models.OutboxObject.relates_to_inbox_object),
+                joinedload(models.OutboxObject.relates_to_outbox_object),
+                joinedload(models.OutboxObject.relates_to_actor),
+            )
+            .order_by(models.OutboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
+            .limit(page_size)
         )
-        .order_by(models.OutboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
-        .limit(page_size)
+        .unique()
         .all()
     )
 
@@ -283,13 +294,16 @@ def get_notifications(
     request: Request, db: Session = Depends(get_db)
 ) -> templates.TemplateResponse:
     notifications = (
-        db.query(models.Notification)
-        .options(
-            joinedload(models.Notification.actor),
-            joinedload(models.Notification.inbox_object),
-            joinedload(models.Notification.outbox_object),
+        db.scalars(
+            select(models.Notification)
+            .options(
+                joinedload(models.Notification.actor),
+                joinedload(models.Notification.inbox_object),
+                joinedload(models.Notification.outbox_object),
+            )
+            .order_by(models.Notification.created_at.desc())
         )
-        .order_by(models.Notification.created_at.desc())
+        .unique()
         .all()
     )
     actors_metadata = get_actors_metadata(
@@ -337,21 +351,22 @@ def admin_profile(
     actor_id: str,
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
 ) -> templates.TemplateResponse:
-    actor = db.query(models.Actor).filter(models.Actor.ap_id == actor_id).one_or_none()
+    actor = db.execute(
+        select(models.Actor).where(models.Actor.ap_id == actor_id)
+    ).scalar_one_or_none()
     if not actor:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404)
 
     actors_metadata = get_actors_metadata(db, [actor])
 
-    inbox_objects = (
-        db.query(models.InboxObject)
-        .filter(
+    inbox_objects = db.scalars(
+        select(models.InboxObject)
+        .where(
             models.InboxObject.actor_id == actor.id,
             models.InboxObject.ap_type.in_(["Note", "Article", "Video"]),
         )
         .order_by(models.InboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
-        .all()
-    )
+    ).all()
 
     return templates.render_template(
         db,
diff --git a/app/boxes.py b/app/boxes.py
index a89e24d..e8590d7 100644
--- a/app/boxes.py
+++ b/app/boxes.py
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ from urllib.parse import urlparse
 import httpx
 from dateutil.parser import isoparse
 from loguru import logger
+from sqlalchemy import delete
+from sqlalchemy import func
+from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy import update
 from sqlalchemy.exc import IntegrityError
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from sqlalchemy.orm import joinedload
@@ -189,9 +193,11 @@ def send_undo(db: Session, ap_object_id: str) -> None:
             outbox_object.id,
         )
         # Also remove the follow from the following collection
-        db.query(models.Following).filter(
-            models.Following.ap_actor_id == followed_actor.ap_id
-        ).delete()
+        db.execute(
+            delete(models.Following).where(
+                models.Following.ap_actor_id == followed_actor.ap_id
+            )
+        )
         db.commit()
     elif outbox_object_to_undo.ap_type == "Like":
         liked_object_ap_id = outbox_object_to_undo.activity_object_ap_id
@@ -249,9 +255,13 @@ def send_create(
         context = in_reply_to_object.ap_context
 
         if in_reply_to_object.is_from_outbox:
-            db.query(models.OutboxObject).filter(
-                models.OutboxObject.ap_id == in_reply_to,
-            ).update({"replies_count": models.OutboxObject.replies_count + 1})
+            db.execute(
+                update(models.OutboxObject)
+                .where(
+                    models.OutboxObject.ap_id == in_reply_to,
+                )
+                .values(replies_count=models.OutboxObject.replies_count + 1)
+            )
 
     for (upload, filename) in uploads:
         attachments.append(upload_to_attachment(upload, filename))
@@ -339,9 +349,9 @@ def _compute_recipients(db: Session, ap_object: ap.RawObject) -> set[str]:
             continue
 
         # Is it a known actor?
-        known_actor = (
-            db.query(models.Actor).filter(models.Actor.ap_id == r).one_or_none()
-        )
+        known_actor = db.execute(
+            select(models.Actor).where(models.Actor.ap_id == r)
+        ).scalar_one_or_none()
         if known_actor:
             recipients.add(known_actor.shared_inbox_url or known_actor.inbox_url)
             continue
@@ -361,19 +371,15 @@ def _compute_recipients(db: Session, ap_object: ap.RawObject) -> set[str]:
 
 
 def get_inbox_object_by_ap_id(db: Session, ap_id: str) -> models.InboxObject | None:
-    return (
-        db.query(models.InboxObject)
-        .filter(models.InboxObject.ap_id == ap_id)
-        .one_or_none()
-    )
+    return db.execute(
+        select(models.InboxObject).where(models.InboxObject.ap_id == ap_id)
+    ).scalar_one_or_none()
 
 
 def get_outbox_object_by_ap_id(db: Session, ap_id: str) -> models.OutboxObject | None:
-    return (
-        db.query(models.OutboxObject)
-        .filter(models.OutboxObject.ap_id == ap_id)
-        .one_or_none()
-    )
+    return db.execute(
+        select(models.OutboxObject).where(models.OutboxObject.ap_id == ap_id)
+    ).scalar_one_or_none()
 
 
 def get_anybox_object_by_ap_id(db: Session, ap_id: str) -> AnyboxObject | None:
@@ -456,9 +462,11 @@ def _handle_undo_activity(
 
     if ap_activity_to_undo.ap_type == "Follow":
         logger.info(f"Undo follow from {from_actor.ap_id}")
-        db.query(models.Follower).filter(
-            models.Follower.inbox_object_id == ap_activity_to_undo.id
-        ).delete()
+        db.execute(
+            delete(models.Follower).where(
+                models.Follower.inbox_object_id == ap_activity_to_undo.id
+            )
+        )
         notif = models.Notification(
             notification_type=models.NotificationType.UNFOLLOW,
             actor_id=from_actor.id,
@@ -536,9 +544,13 @@ def _handle_create_activity(
         return None
 
     if created_object.in_reply_to and created_object.in_reply_to.startswith(BASE_URL):
-        db.query(models.OutboxObject).filter(
-            models.OutboxObject.ap_id == created_object.in_reply_to,
-        ).update({"replies_count": models.OutboxObject.replies_count + 1})
+        db.execute(
+            update(models.OutboxObject)
+            .where(
+                models.OutboxObject.ap_id == created_object.in_reply_to,
+            )
+            .values(replies_count=models.OutboxObject.replies_count + 1)
+        )
 
     for tag in tags:
         if tag.get("name") == LOCAL_ACTOR.handle or tag.get("href") == LOCAL_ACTOR.url:
@@ -564,9 +576,11 @@ def save_to_inbox(db: Session, raw_object: ap.RawObject) -> None:
     ra = RemoteObject(ap.unwrap_activity(raw_object), actor=actor)
 
     if (
-        db.query(models.InboxObject)
-        .filter(models.InboxObject.ap_id == ra.ap_id)
-        .count()
+        db.scalar(
+            select(func.count(models.InboxObject.id)).where(
+                models.InboxObject.ap_id == ra.ap_id
+            )
+        )
         > 0
     ):
         logger.info(f"Received duplicate {ra.ap_type} activity: {ra.ap_id}")
@@ -759,21 +773,25 @@ def save_to_inbox(db: Session, raw_object: ap.RawObject) -> None:
 
 
 def public_outbox_objects_count(db: Session) -> int:
-    return (
-        db.query(models.OutboxObject)
-        .filter(
+    return db.scalar(
+        select(func.count(models.OutboxObject.id)).where(
             models.OutboxObject.visibility == ap.VisibilityEnum.PUBLIC,
             models.OutboxObject.is_deleted.is_(False),
         )
-        .count()
     )
 
 
 def fetch_actor_collection(db: Session, url: str) -> list[Actor]:
     if url.startswith(config.BASE_URL):
         if url == config.BASE_URL + "/followers":
-            q = db.query(models.Follower).options(joinedload(models.Follower.actor))
-            return [follower.actor for follower in q.all()]
+            followers = (
+                db.scalars(
+                    select(models.Follower).options(joinedload(models.Follower.actor))
+                )
+                .unique()
+                .all()
+            )
+            return [follower.actor for follower in followers]
         else:
             raise ValueError(f"internal collection for {url}) not supported")
 
@@ -795,19 +813,19 @@ def get_replies_tree(
     # TODO: handle visibility
     tree_nodes: list[AnyboxObject] = []
     tree_nodes.extend(
-        db.query(models.InboxObject)
-        .filter(
-            models.InboxObject.ap_context == requested_object.ap_context,
-        )
-        .all()
+        db.scalars(
+            select(models.InboxObject).where(
+                models.InboxObject.ap_context == requested_object.ap_context,
+            )
+        ).all()
     )
     tree_nodes.extend(
-        db.query(models.OutboxObject)
-        .filter(
-            models.OutboxObject.ap_context == requested_object.ap_context,
-            models.OutboxObject.is_deleted.is_(False),
-        )
-        .all()
+        db.scalars(
+            select(models.OutboxObject).where(
+                models.OutboxObject.ap_context == requested_object.ap_context,
+                models.OutboxObject.is_deleted.is_(False),
+            )
+        ).all()
     )
     nodes_by_in_reply_to = defaultdict(list)
     for node in tree_nodes:
diff --git a/app/main.py b/app/main.py
index c4cd531..8c260d9 100644
--- a/app/main.py
+++ b/app/main.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ from fastapi.staticfiles import StaticFiles
 from feedgen.feed import FeedGenerator  # type: ignore
 from loguru import logger
 from PIL import Image
+from sqlalchemy import func
+from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from sqlalchemy.orm import joinedload
 from starlette.background import BackgroundTask
@@ -147,24 +149,28 @@ def index(
         return ActivityPubResponse(LOCAL_ACTOR.ap_actor)
 
     page = page or 1
-    q = db.query(models.OutboxObject).filter(
+    where = (
         models.OutboxObject.visibility == ap.VisibilityEnum.PUBLIC,
         models.OutboxObject.is_deleted.is_(False),
         models.OutboxObject.is_hidden_from_homepage.is_(False),
     )
-    total_count = q.count()
+    q = select(models.OutboxObject).where(*where)
+    total_count = db.scalar(select(func.count(models.OutboxObject.id)).where(*where))
     page_size = 20
     page_offset = (page - 1) * page_size
 
     outbox_objects = (
-        q.options(
-            joinedload(models.OutboxObject.outbox_object_attachments).options(
-                joinedload(models.OutboxObjectAttachment.upload)
+        db.scalars(
+            q.options(
+                joinedload(models.OutboxObject.outbox_object_attachments).options(
+                    joinedload(models.OutboxObjectAttachment.upload)
+                )
             )
+            .order_by(models.OutboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
+            .offset(page_offset)
+            .limit(page_size)
         )
-        .order_by(models.OutboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
-        .offset(page_offset)
-        .limit(page_size)
+        .unique()
         .all()
     )
 
@@ -200,20 +206,22 @@ def _build_followx_collection(
             "totalItems": total_items,
         }
 
-    q = db.query(model_cls).order_by(model_cls.created_at.desc())  # type: ignore
+    q = select(model_cls).order_by(model_cls.created_at.desc())  # type: ignore
     if next_cursor:
-        q = q.filter(
+        q = q.where(
             model_cls.created_at < pagination.decode_cursor(next_cursor)  # type: ignore
         )
     q = q.limit(20)
 
-    items = [followx for followx in q.all()]
+    items = [followx for followx in db.scalars(q).all()]
     next_cursor = None
     if (
         items
-        and db.query(model_cls)
-        .filter(model_cls.created_at < items[-1].created_at)
-        .count()
+        and db.scalar(
+            select(func.count(model_cls.id)).where(
+                model_cls.created_at < items[-1].created_at
+            )
+        )
         > 0
     ):
         next_cursor = pagination.encode_cursor(items[-1].created_at)
@@ -257,10 +265,13 @@ def followers(
 
     # We only show the most recent 20 followers on the public website
     followers = (
-        db.query(models.Follower)
-        .options(joinedload(models.Follower.actor))
-        .order_by(models.Follower.created_at.desc())
-        .limit(20)
+        db.scalars(
+            select(models.Follower)
+            .options(joinedload(models.Follower.actor))
+            .order_by(models.Follower.created_at.desc())
+            .limit(20)
+        )
+        .unique()
         .all()
     )
 
@@ -303,13 +314,15 @@ def following(
         )
 
     # We only show the most recent 20 follows on the public website
-    q = (
-        db.query(models.Following)
-        .options(joinedload(models.Following.actor))
-        .order_by(models.Following.created_at.desc())
-        .limit(20)
+    following = (
+        db.scalars(
+            select(models.Following)
+            .options(joinedload(models.Following.actor))
+            .order_by(models.Following.created_at.desc())
+        )
+        .unique()
+        .all()
     )
-    following = q.all()
 
     # TODO: support next_cursor/prev_cursor
     actors_metadata = {}
@@ -336,16 +349,15 @@ def outbox(
     _: httpsig.HTTPSigInfo = Depends(httpsig.httpsig_checker),
 ) -> ActivityPubResponse:
     # By design, we only show the last 20 public activities in the oubox
-    outbox_objects = (
-        db.query(models.OutboxObject)
-        .filter(
+    outbox_objects = db.scalars(
+        select(models.OutboxObject)
+        .where(
             models.OutboxObject.visibility == ap.VisibilityEnum.PUBLIC,
             models.OutboxObject.is_deleted.is_(False),
         )
         .order_by(models.OutboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
         .limit(20)
-        .all()
-    )
+    ).all()
     return ActivityPubResponse(
         {
             "@context": ap.AS_EXTENDED_CTX,
@@ -365,8 +377,8 @@ def featured(
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
     _: httpsig.HTTPSigInfo = Depends(httpsig.httpsig_checker),
 ) -> ActivityPubResponse:
-    outbox_objects = (
-        db.query(models.OutboxObject)
+    outbox_objects = db.scalars(
+        select(models.OutboxObject)
         .filter(
             models.OutboxObject.visibility == ap.VisibilityEnum.PUBLIC,
             models.OutboxObject.is_deleted.is_(False),
@@ -374,8 +386,7 @@ def featured(
         )
         .order_by(models.OutboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
         .limit(5)
-        .all()
-    )
+    ).all()
     return ActivityPubResponse(
         {
             "@context": ap.AS_EXTENDED_CTX,
@@ -421,17 +432,20 @@ def outbox_by_public_id(
     httpsig_info: httpsig.HTTPSigInfo = Depends(httpsig.httpsig_checker),
 ) -> ActivityPubResponse | templates.TemplateResponse:
     maybe_object = (
-        db.query(models.OutboxObject)
-        .options(
-            joinedload(models.OutboxObject.outbox_object_attachments).options(
-                joinedload(models.OutboxObjectAttachment.upload)
+        db.execute(
+            select(models.OutboxObject)
+            .options(
+                joinedload(models.OutboxObject.outbox_object_attachments).options(
+                    joinedload(models.OutboxObjectAttachment.upload)
+                )
+            )
+            .where(
+                models.OutboxObject.public_id == public_id,
+                models.OutboxObject.is_deleted.is_(False),
             )
         )
-        .filter(
-            models.OutboxObject.public_id == public_id,
-            models.OutboxObject.is_deleted.is_(False),
-        )
-        .one_or_none()
+        .unique()
+        .scalar_one_or_none()
     )
     if not maybe_object:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404)
@@ -444,25 +458,33 @@ def outbox_by_public_id(
     replies_tree = boxes.get_replies_tree(db, maybe_object)
 
     likes = (
-        db.query(models.InboxObject)
-        .filter(
-            models.InboxObject.ap_type == "Like",
-            models.InboxObject.activity_object_ap_id == maybe_object.ap_id,
+        db.scalars(
+            select(models.InboxObject)
+            .where(
+                models.InboxObject.ap_type == "Like",
+                models.InboxObject.activity_object_ap_id == maybe_object.ap_id,
+            )
+            .options(joinedload(models.InboxObject.actor))
+            .order_by(models.InboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
+            .limit(10)
         )
-        .options(joinedload(models.InboxObject.actor))
-        .order_by(models.InboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
-        .limit(10)
+        .unique()
+        .all()
     )
 
     shares = (
-        db.query(models.InboxObject)
-        .filter(
-            models.InboxObject.ap_type == "Announce",
-            models.InboxObject.activity_object_ap_id == maybe_object.ap_id,
+        db.scalars(
+            select(models.InboxObject)
+            .filter(
+                models.InboxObject.ap_type == "Announce",
+                models.InboxObject.activity_object_ap_id == maybe_object.ap_id,
+            )
+            .options(joinedload(models.InboxObject.actor))
+            .order_by(models.InboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
+            .limit(10)
         )
-        .options(joinedload(models.InboxObject.actor))
-        .order_by(models.InboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
-        .limit(10)
+        .unique()
+        .all()
     )
 
     return templates.render_template(
@@ -485,14 +507,12 @@ def outbox_activity_by_public_id(
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
     httpsig_info: httpsig.HTTPSigInfo = Depends(httpsig.httpsig_checker),
 ) -> ActivityPubResponse:
-    maybe_object = (
-        db.query(models.OutboxObject)
-        .filter(
+    maybe_object = db.execute(
+        select(models.OutboxObject).where(
             models.OutboxObject.public_id == public_id,
             models.OutboxObject.is_deleted.is_(False),
         )
-        .one_or_none()
-    )
+    ).scalar_one_or_none()
     if not maybe_object:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404)
 
@@ -765,13 +785,11 @@ def serve_attachment(
     filename: str,
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
 ):
-    upload = (
-        db.query(models.Upload)
-        .filter(
+    upload = db.execute(
+        select(models.Upload).where(
             models.Upload.content_hash == content_hash,
         )
-        .one_or_none()
-    )
+    ).scalar_one_or_none()
     if not upload:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404)
 
@@ -787,13 +805,11 @@ def serve_attachment_thumbnail(
     filename: str,
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
 ):
-    upload = (
-        db.query(models.Upload)
-        .filter(
+    upload = db.execute(
+        select(models.Upload).where(
             models.Upload.content_hash == content_hash,
         )
-        .one_or_none()
-    )
+    ).scalar_one_or_none()
     if not upload or not upload.has_thumbnail:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404)
 
@@ -812,17 +828,16 @@ Disallow: /admin"""
 
 
 def _get_outbox_for_feed(db: Session) -> list[models.OutboxObject]:
-    return (
-        db.query(models.OutboxObject)
-        .filter(
+    return db.scalars(
+        select(models.OutboxObject)
+        .where(
             models.OutboxObject.visibility == ap.VisibilityEnum.PUBLIC,
             models.OutboxObject.is_deleted.is_(False),
             models.OutboxObject.ap_type.in_(["Note", "Article", "Video"]),
         )
         .order_by(models.OutboxObject.ap_published_at.desc())
         .limit(20)
-        .all()
-    )
+    ).all()
 
 
 @app.get("/feed.json")
diff --git a/app/outgoing_activities.py b/app/outgoing_activities.py
index 826d2aa..7b965e2 100644
--- a/app/outgoing_activities.py
+++ b/app/outgoing_activities.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ from datetime import timedelta
 
 import httpx
 from loguru import logger
+from sqlalchemy import func
+from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
 from app import activitypub as ap
@@ -67,22 +69,23 @@ def _set_next_try(
 
 
 def process_next_outgoing_activity(db: Session) -> bool:
-    q = (
-        db.query(models.OutgoingActivity)
-        .filter(
-            models.OutgoingActivity.next_try <= now(),
-            models.OutgoingActivity.is_errored.is_(False),
-            models.OutgoingActivity.is_sent.is_(False),
-        )
-        .order_by(models.OutgoingActivity.next_try)
-    )
-    q_count = q.count()
+    where = [
+        models.OutgoingActivity.next_try <= now(),
+        models.OutgoingActivity.is_errored.is_(False),
+        models.OutgoingActivity.is_sent.is_(False),
+    ]
+    q_count = db.scalar(select(func.count(models.OutgoingActivity.id)).where(*where))
     logger.info(f"{q_count} outgoing activities ready to process")
     if not q_count:
         logger.info("No activities to process")
         return False
 
-    next_activity = q.limit(1).one()
+    next_activity = db.execute(
+        select(models.OutgoingActivity)
+        .where(*where)
+        .limit(1)
+        .order_by(models.OutgoingActivity.next_try)
+    ).scalar_one()
 
     next_activity.tries = next_activity.tries + 1
     next_activity.last_try = now()
diff --git a/app/source.py b/app/source.py
index 053a16e..f8b366b 100644
--- a/app/source.py
+++ b/app/source.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import re
 
 from markdown import markdown
+from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
 from app import models
@@ -43,9 +44,9 @@ def _mentionify(
     mentioned_actors = []
     for mention in re.findall(_MENTION_REGEX, content):
         _, username, domain = mention.split("@")
-        actor = (
-            db.query(models.Actor).filter(models.Actor.handle == mention).one_or_none()
-        )
+        actor = db.execute(
+            select(models.Actor).where(models.Actor.handle == mention)
+        ).scalar_one_or_none()
         if not actor:
             actor_url = webfinger.get_actor_url(mention)
             if not actor_url:
diff --git a/app/templates.py b/app/templates.py
index 6739ade..695ab74 100644
--- a/app/templates.py
+++ b/app/templates.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ from bs4 import BeautifulSoup  # type: ignore
 from fastapi import Request
 from fastapi.templating import Jinja2Templates
 from loguru import logger
+from sqlalchemy import func
+from sqlalchemy import select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 from starlette.templating import _TemplateResponse as TemplateResponse
 
@@ -94,14 +96,16 @@ def render_template(
             "csrf_token": generate_csrf_token() if is_admin else None,
             "highlight_css": HIGHLIGHT_CSS,
             "visibility_enum": ap.VisibilityEnum,
-            "notifications_count": db.query(models.Notification)
-            .filter(models.Notification.is_new.is_(True))
-            .count()
+            "notifications_count": db.scalar(
+                select(func.count(models.Notification.id)).where(
+                    models.Notification.is_new.is_(True)
+                )
+            )
             if is_admin
             else 0,
             "local_actor": LOCAL_ACTOR,
-            "followers_count": db.query(models.Follower).count(),
-            "following_count": db.query(models.Following).count(),
+            "followers_count": db.scalar(select(func.count(models.Follower.id))),
+            "following_count": db.scalar(select(func.count(models.Following.id))),
             **template_args,
         },
     )
diff --git a/app/uploads.py b/app/uploads.py
index 19a33c1..f1b241c 100644
--- a/app/uploads.py
+++ b/app/uploads.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import blurhash  # type: ignore
 from fastapi import UploadFile
 from loguru import logger
 from PIL import Image
+from sqlalchemy import select
 
 from app import activitypub as ap
 from app import models
@@ -27,11 +28,9 @@ def save_upload(db: Session, f: UploadFile) -> models.Upload:
     content_hash = h.hexdigest()
     f.file.seek(0)
 
-    existing_upload = (
-        db.query(models.Upload)
-        .filter(models.Upload.content_hash == content_hash)
-        .one_or_none()
-    )
+    existing_upload = db.execute(
+        select(models.Upload).where(models.Upload.content_hash == content_hash)
+    ).scalar_one_or_none()
     if existing_upload:
         logger.info(f"Upload with {content_hash=} already exists")
         return existing_upload