diff --git a/data.c b/data.c
index 79c7001..8bc35aa 100644
--- a/data.c
+++ b/data.c
@@ -1224,6 +1224,16 @@ int pending_add(snac *user, const char *actor, const xs_dict *msg)
 }
 
 
+int pending_check(snac *user, const char *actor)
+/* checks if there is a pending follow confirmation for the actor */
+{
+    xs *md5 = xs_md5_hex(actor, strlen(actor));
+    xs *fn = xs_fmt("%s/pending/%s.json", user->basedir, md5);
+
+    return mtime(fn) != 0;
+}
+
+
 xs_dict *pending_get(snac *user, const char *actor)
 /* returns the pending follow confirmation for the actor */
 {
@@ -1241,6 +1251,16 @@ xs_dict *pending_get(snac *user, const char *actor)
 }
 
 
+void pending_del(snac *user, const char *actor)
+/* deletes a pending follow confirmation for the actor */
+{
+    xs *md5 = xs_md5_hex(actor, strlen(actor));
+    xs *fn = xs_fmt("%s/pending/%s.json", user->basedir, md5);
+
+    unlink(fn);
+}
+
+
 xs_list *pending_list(snac *user)
 /* returns a list of pending follow confirmations */
 {
diff --git a/snac.h b/snac.h
index 25f7b74..b4cb525 100644
--- a/snac.h
+++ b/snac.h
@@ -142,7 +142,9 @@ int follower_check(snac *snac, const char *actor);
 xs_list *follower_list(snac *snac);
 
 int pending_add(snac *user, const char *actor, const xs_dict *msg);
+int pending_check(snac *user, const char *actor);
 xs_dict *pending_get(snac *user, const char *actor);
+void pending_del(snac *user, const char *actor);
 xs_list *pending_list(snac *user);
 
 double timeline_mtime(snac *snac);