diff --git a/html.c b/html.c
index 5d379e8..12efea5 100644
--- a/html.c
+++ b/html.c
@@ -2198,7 +2198,7 @@ xs_str *html_timeline(snac *user, const xs_list *list, int read_only,
xs_list *p = (xs_list *)list;
const char *v;
double t = ftime();
- int hide_children = xs_is_true(xs_dict_get(srv_config, "strict_public_timelines"));
+ int hide_children = xs_is_true(xs_dict_get(srv_config, "strict_public_timelines")) && read_only;
xs *desc = NULL;
xs *alternate = NULL;