diff --git a/src/controllers/frontend.ts b/src/controllers/frontend.ts
index f287f851..2b5f0152 100644
--- a/src/controllers/frontend.ts
+++ b/src/controllers/frontend.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ async function buildTemplateOpts(params: PathParams, url: string): Promise<OpenG
   };
   try {
     if (params.acct && !params.statusId) {
-      const profile = await fetchProfile({ handle: params.acct });
+      const key = /[a-z0-9]/.test(params.acct) ? 'pubkey' : 'handle';
+      const profile = await fetchProfile({ [key]: params.acct });
       const handle = await getHandle(params.acct, profile);
       res.type = 'profile';
       res.title = `View @${handle}'s profile on Ditto`;