diff --git a/app/models/instance_moderation.rb b/app/models/instance_moderation.rb
index 17b38fb7..735ec387 100644
--- a/app/models/instance_moderation.rb
+++ b/app/models/instance_moderation.rb
@@ -13,15 +13,27 @@ class InstanceModeration < ApplicationRecord
     state :blocked
 
     event :pause do
-      transitions from: %i[allowed blocked], to: :paused, guard: :pause_remotely!
+      transitions from: %i[allowed blocked], to: :paused
+
+      before do
+        pause_remotely!
+      end
     end
 
     event :allow do
-      transitions from: %i[paused blocked], to: :allowed, guard: :allow_remotely!
+      transitions from: %i[paused blocked], to: :allowed
+
+      before do
+        allow_remotely!
+      end
     end
 
     event :block do
-      transitions from: %i[paused allowed], to: :blocked, guard: :block_remotely!
+      transitions from: %i[paused allowed], to: :blocked
+
+      before do
+        block_remotely!
+      end
     end
   end
 
@@ -29,7 +41,8 @@ class InstanceModeration < ApplicationRecord
   #
   # @return [Boolean]
   def pause_remotely!
-    site.social_inbox.blocklist.delete(list: [instance.list_name]).ok? &&
+    raise AASM::InvalidTransition unless
+      site.social_inbox.blocklist.delete(list: [instance.list_name]).ok? &&
       site.social_inbox.allowlist.delete(list: [instance.list_name]).ok?
   end
 
@@ -37,7 +50,8 @@ class InstanceModeration < ApplicationRecord
   #
   # @return [Boolean]
   def block_remotely!
-    site.social_inbox.allowlist.delete(list: [instance.list_name]).ok? &&
+    raise AASM::InvalidTransition unless
+      site.social_inbox.allowlist.delete(list: [instance.list_name]).ok? &&
       site.social_inbox.blocklist.post(list: [instance.list_name]).ok?
   end
 
@@ -45,7 +59,8 @@ class InstanceModeration < ApplicationRecord
   #
   # @return [Boolean]
   def allow_remotely!
-    site.social_inbox.blocklist.delete(list: [instance.list_name]).ok? &&
+    raise AASM::InvalidTransition unless
+      site.social_inbox.blocklist.delete(list: [instance.list_name]).ok? &&
       site.social_inbox.allowlist.post(list: [instance.list_name]).ok?
   end
 end