diff --git a/internal/cache/gts.go b/internal/cache/gts.go
index de49ad127..c19d96444 100644
--- a/internal/cache/gts.go
+++ b/internal/cache/gts.go
@@ -306,6 +306,20 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initAccount() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(a1 *gtsmodel.Account) *gtsmodel.Account {
+		a2 := new(gtsmodel.Account)
+		*a2 = *a1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/account.go.
+		a2.AvatarMediaAttachment = nil
+		a2.HeaderMediaAttachment = nil
+		a2.Emojis = nil
+
+		return a2
+	}
+
 	c.account = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "URI"},
@@ -316,11 +330,7 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initAccount() {
 		{Name: "OutboxURI"},
 		{Name: "FollowersURI"},
 		{Name: "FollowingURI"},
-	}, func(a1 *gtsmodel.Account) *gtsmodel.Account {
-		a2 := new(gtsmodel.Account)
-		*a2 = *a1
-		return a2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.account.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -334,14 +344,23 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initAccountNote() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(n1 *gtsmodel.AccountNote) *gtsmodel.AccountNote {
+		n2 := new(gtsmodel.AccountNote)
+		*n2 = *n1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/relationship_note.go.
+		n2.Account = nil
+		n2.TargetAccount = nil
+
+		return n2
+	}
+
 	c.accountNote = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "AccountID.TargetAccountID"},
-	}, func(n1 *gtsmodel.AccountNote) *gtsmodel.AccountNote {
-		n2 := new(gtsmodel.AccountNote)
-		*n2 = *n1
-		return n2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.accountNote.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -376,17 +395,26 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initBlock() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(b1 *gtsmodel.Block) *gtsmodel.Block {
+		b2 := new(gtsmodel.Block)
+		*b2 = *b1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/relationship_block.go.
+		b2.Account = nil
+		b2.TargetAccount = nil
+
+		return b2
+	}
+
 	c.block = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "URI"},
 		{Name: "AccountID.TargetAccountID"},
 		{Name: "AccountID", Multi: true},
 		{Name: "TargetAccountID", Multi: true},
-	}, func(b1 *gtsmodel.Block) *gtsmodel.Block {
-		b2 := new(gtsmodel.Block)
-		*b2 = *b1
-		return b2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.block.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -436,17 +464,25 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initEmoji() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(e1 *gtsmodel.Emoji) *gtsmodel.Emoji {
+		e2 := new(gtsmodel.Emoji)
+		*e2 = *e1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/emoji.go.
+		e2.Category = nil
+
+		return e2
+	}
+
 	c.emoji = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "URI"},
 		{Name: "Shortcode.Domain", AllowZero: true /* domain can be zero i.e. "" */},
 		{Name: "ImageStaticURL"},
 		{Name: "CategoryID", Multi: true},
-	}, func(e1 *gtsmodel.Emoji) *gtsmodel.Emoji {
-		e2 := new(gtsmodel.Emoji)
-		*e2 = *e1
-		return e2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.emoji.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -481,17 +517,26 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initFollow() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(f1 *gtsmodel.Follow) *gtsmodel.Follow {
+		f2 := new(gtsmodel.Follow)
+		*f2 = *f1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/relationship_follow.go.
+		f2.Account = nil
+		f2.TargetAccount = nil
+
+		return f2
+	}
+
 	c.follow = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "URI"},
 		{Name: "AccountID.TargetAccountID"},
 		{Name: "AccountID", Multi: true},
 		{Name: "TargetAccountID", Multi: true},
-	}, func(f1 *gtsmodel.Follow) *gtsmodel.Follow {
-		f2 := new(gtsmodel.Follow)
-		*f2 = *f1
-		return f2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.follow.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -519,17 +564,26 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initFollowRequest() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(f1 *gtsmodel.FollowRequest) *gtsmodel.FollowRequest {
+		f2 := new(gtsmodel.FollowRequest)
+		*f2 = *f1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/relationship_follow_req.go.
+		f2.Account = nil
+		f2.TargetAccount = nil
+
+		return f2
+	}
+
 	c.followRequest = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "URI"},
 		{Name: "AccountID.TargetAccountID"},
 		{Name: "AccountID", Multi: true},
 		{Name: "TargetAccountID", Multi: true},
-	}, func(f1 *gtsmodel.FollowRequest) *gtsmodel.FollowRequest {
-		f2 := new(gtsmodel.FollowRequest)
-		*f2 = *f1
-		return f2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.followRequest.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -571,14 +625,23 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initInstance() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(i1 *gtsmodel.Instance) *gtsmodel.Instance {
+		i2 := new(gtsmodel.Instance)
+		*i2 = *i1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/instance.go.
+		i2.DomainBlock = nil
+		i2.ContactAccount = nil
+
+		return i1
+	}
+
 	c.instance = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "Domain"},
-	}, func(i1 *gtsmodel.Instance) *gtsmodel.Instance {
-		i2 := new(gtsmodel.Instance)
-		*i2 = *i1
-		return i1
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.instance.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -592,13 +655,22 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initList() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
-	c.list = result.New([]result.Lookup{
-		{Name: "ID"},
-	}, func(l1 *gtsmodel.List) *gtsmodel.List {
+	copyF := func(l1 *gtsmodel.List) *gtsmodel.List {
 		l2 := new(gtsmodel.List)
 		*l2 = *l1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/list.go.
+		l2.Account = nil
+		l2.ListEntries = nil
+
 		return l2
-	}, cap)
+	}
+
+	c.list = result.New([]result.Lookup{
+		{Name: "ID"},
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.list.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -612,15 +684,23 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initListEntry() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(l1 *gtsmodel.ListEntry) *gtsmodel.ListEntry {
+		l2 := new(gtsmodel.ListEntry)
+		*l2 = *l1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/list.go.
+		l2.Follow = nil
+
+		return l2
+	}
+
 	c.listEntry = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "ListID", Multi: true},
 		{Name: "FollowID", Multi: true},
-	}, func(l1 *gtsmodel.ListEntry) *gtsmodel.ListEntry {
-		l2 := new(gtsmodel.ListEntry)
-		*l2 = *l1
-		return l2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.listEntry.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -674,13 +754,23 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initMention() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
-	c.mention = result.New([]result.Lookup{
-		{Name: "ID"},
-	}, func(m1 *gtsmodel.Mention) *gtsmodel.Mention {
+	copyF := func(m1 *gtsmodel.Mention) *gtsmodel.Mention {
 		m2 := new(gtsmodel.Mention)
 		*m2 = *m1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/mention.go.
+		m2.Status = nil
+		m2.OriginAccount = nil
+		m2.TargetAccount = nil
+
 		return m2
-	}, cap)
+	}
+
+	c.mention = result.New([]result.Lookup{
+		{Name: "ID"},
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.mention.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -694,14 +784,24 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initNotification() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(n1 *gtsmodel.Notification) *gtsmodel.Notification {
+		n2 := new(gtsmodel.Notification)
+		*n2 = *n1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/notification.go.
+		n2.Status = nil
+		n2.OriginAccount = nil
+		n2.TargetAccount = nil
+
+		return n2
+	}
+
 	c.notification = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "NotificationType.TargetAccountID.OriginAccountID.StatusID"},
-	}, func(n1 *gtsmodel.Notification) *gtsmodel.Notification {
-		n2 := new(gtsmodel.Notification)
-		*n2 = *n1
-		return n2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.notification.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -715,14 +815,22 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initPoll() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(p1 *gtsmodel.Poll) *gtsmodel.Poll {
+		p2 := new(gtsmodel.Poll)
+		*p2 = *p1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/poll.go.
+		p2.Status = nil
+
+		return p2
+	}
+
 	c.poll = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "StatusID"},
-	}, func(p1 *gtsmodel.Poll) *gtsmodel.Poll {
-		p2 := new(gtsmodel.Poll)
-		*p2 = *p1
-		return p2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.poll.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -736,15 +844,24 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initPollVote() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(v1 *gtsmodel.PollVote) *gtsmodel.PollVote {
+		v2 := new(gtsmodel.PollVote)
+		*v2 = *v1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/poll.go.
+		v2.Account = nil
+		v2.Poll = nil
+
+		return v2
+	}
+
 	c.pollVote = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "PollID.AccountID"},
 		{Name: "PollID", Multi: true},
-	}, func(v1 *gtsmodel.PollVote) *gtsmodel.PollVote {
-		v2 := new(gtsmodel.PollVote)
-		*v2 = *v1
-		return v2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.pollVote.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -772,13 +889,25 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initReport() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
-	c.report = result.New([]result.Lookup{
-		{Name: "ID"},
-	}, func(r1 *gtsmodel.Report) *gtsmodel.Report {
+	copyF := func(r1 *gtsmodel.Report) *gtsmodel.Report {
 		r2 := new(gtsmodel.Report)
 		*r2 = *r1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/report.go.
+		r2.Account = nil
+		r2.TargetAccount = nil
+		r2.Statuses = nil
+		r2.Rules = nil
+		r2.ActionTakenByAccount = nil
+
 		return r2
-	}, cap)
+	}
+
+	c.report = result.New([]result.Lookup{
+		{Name: "ID"},
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.report.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -792,17 +921,35 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initStatus() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(s1 *gtsmodel.Status) *gtsmodel.Status {
+		s2 := new(gtsmodel.Status)
+		*s2 = *s1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/status.go.
+		s2.Account = nil
+		s2.InReplyTo = nil
+		s2.InReplyToAccount = nil
+		s2.BoostOf = nil
+		s2.BoostOfAccount = nil
+		s2.Poll = nil
+		s2.Attachments = nil
+		s2.Tags = nil
+		s2.Mentions = nil
+		s2.Emojis = nil
+		s2.CreatedWithApplication = nil
+
+		return s2
+	}
+
 	c.status = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "URI"},
 		{Name: "URL"},
 		{Name: "BoostOfID.AccountID"},
 		{Name: "ThreadID", Multi: true},
-	}, func(s1 *gtsmodel.Status) *gtsmodel.Status {
-		s2 := new(gtsmodel.Status)
-		*s2 = *s1
-		return s2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.status.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -816,15 +963,25 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initStatusFave() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(f1 *gtsmodel.StatusFave) *gtsmodel.StatusFave {
+		f2 := new(gtsmodel.StatusFave)
+		*f2 = *f1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/statusfave.go.
+		f2.Account = nil
+		f2.TargetAccount = nil
+		f2.Status = nil
+
+		return f2
+	}
+
 	c.statusFave = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "AccountID.StatusID"},
 		{Name: "StatusID", Multi: true},
-	}, func(f1 *gtsmodel.StatusFave) *gtsmodel.StatusFave {
-		f2 := new(gtsmodel.StatusFave)
-		*f2 = *f1
-		return f2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.statusFave.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
@@ -916,17 +1073,25 @@ func (c *GTSCaches) initUser() {
 
 	log.Infof(nil, "cache size = %d", cap)
 
+	copyF := func(u1 *gtsmodel.User) *gtsmodel.User {
+		u2 := new(gtsmodel.User)
+		*u2 = *u1
+
+		// Don't include ptr fields that
+		// will be populated separately.
+		// See internal/db/bundb/user.go.
+		u2.Account = nil
+
+		return u2
+	}
+
 	c.user = result.New([]result.Lookup{
 		{Name: "ID"},
 		{Name: "AccountID"},
 		{Name: "Email"},
 		{Name: "ConfirmationToken"},
 		{Name: "ExternalID"},
-	}, func(u1 *gtsmodel.User) *gtsmodel.User {
-		u2 := new(gtsmodel.User)
-		*u2 = *u1
-		return u2
-	}, cap)
+	}, copyF, cap)
 
 	c.user.IgnoreErrors(ignoreErrors)
 }
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/emoji.go b/internal/db/bundb/emoji.go
index a3a19485d..34a08b694 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/emoji.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/emoji.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtscontext"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtserror"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/log"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/state"
@@ -548,6 +549,25 @@ func (e *emojiDB) getEmoji(ctx context.Context, lookup string, dbQuery func(*gts
 	return emoji, nil
 }
 
+func (e *emojiDB) PopulateEmoji(ctx context.Context, emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji) error {
+	var (
+		errs = gtserror.NewMultiError(1)
+		err  error
+	)
+
+	if emoji.CategoryID != "" && emoji.Category == nil {
+		emoji.Category, err = e.GetEmojiCategory(
+			ctx, // these are already barebones
+			emoji.CategoryID,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			errs.Appendf("error populating emoji category: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return errs.Combine()
+}
+
 func (e *emojiDB) GetEmojisByIDs(ctx context.Context, emojiIDs []string) ([]*gtsmodel.Emoji, error) {
 	if len(emojiIDs) == 0 {
 		return nil, db.ErrNoEntries
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/instance.go b/internal/db/bundb/instance.go
index 6fec3f2fe..567a44ee2 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/instance.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/instance.go
@@ -173,14 +173,14 @@ func (i *instanceDB) getInstance(ctx context.Context, lookup string, dbQuery fun
 	}
 
 	// Further populate the instance fields where applicable.
-	if err := i.populateInstance(ctx, instance); err != nil {
+	if err := i.PopulateInstance(ctx, instance); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	return instance, nil
 }
 
-func (i *instanceDB) populateInstance(ctx context.Context, instance *gtsmodel.Instance) error {
+func (i *instanceDB) PopulateInstance(ctx context.Context, instance *gtsmodel.Instance) error {
 	var (
 		err  error
 		errs = gtserror.NewMultiError(2)
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/notification.go b/internal/db/bundb/notification.go
index 423fd0be1..7532b9993 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/notification.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/notification.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtscontext"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtserror"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/id"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/log"
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ func (n *notificationDB) GetNotification(
 	originAccountID string,
 	statusID string,
 ) (*gtsmodel.Notification, error) {
-	return n.state.Caches.GTS.Notification().Load("NotificationType.TargetAccountID.OriginAccountID.StatusID", func() (*gtsmodel.Notification, error) {
+	notif, err := n.state.Caches.GTS.Notification().Load("NotificationType.TargetAccountID.OriginAccountID.StatusID", func() (*gtsmodel.Notification, error) {
 		var notif gtsmodel.Notification
 
 		q := n.db.NewSelect().
@@ -73,6 +74,60 @@ func (n *notificationDB) GetNotification(
 
 		return &notif, nil
 	}, notificationType, targetAccountID, originAccountID, statusID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if gtscontext.Barebones(ctx) {
+		// no need to fully populate.
+		return notif, nil
+	}
+
+	// Further populate the notif fields where applicable.
+	if err := n.PopulateNotification(ctx, notif); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return notif, nil
+}
+
+func (n *notificationDB) PopulateNotification(ctx context.Context, notif *gtsmodel.Notification) error {
+	var (
+		errs = gtserror.NewMultiError(2)
+		err  error
+	)
+
+	if notif.TargetAccount == nil {
+		notif.TargetAccount, err = n.state.DB.GetAccountByID(
+			gtscontext.SetBarebones(ctx),
+			notif.TargetAccountID,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			errs.Appendf("error populating notif target account: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if notif.OriginAccount == nil {
+		notif.OriginAccount, err = n.state.DB.GetAccountByID(
+			gtscontext.SetBarebones(ctx),
+			notif.OriginAccountID,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			errs.Appendf("error populating notif origin account: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if notif.StatusID != "" && notif.Status == nil {
+		notif.Status, err = n.state.DB.GetStatusByID(
+			gtscontext.SetBarebones(ctx),
+			notif.StatusID,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			errs.Appendf("error populating notif status: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return errs.Combine()
 }
 
 func (n *notificationDB) GetAccountNotifications(
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/relationship_note.go b/internal/db/bundb/relationship_note.go
index 84f0ebeab..f7d15f8b7 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/relationship_note.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/relationship_note.go
@@ -19,10 +19,10 @@
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtscontext"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtserror"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
 	"github.com/uptrace/bun"
 )
@@ -64,27 +64,45 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) getNote(ctx context.Context, lookup string, dbQuery fun
 		return note, nil
 	}
 
-	// Set the note source account
-	note.Account, err = r.state.DB.GetAccountByID(
-		gtscontext.SetBarebones(ctx),
-		note.AccountID,
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error getting note source account: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	// Set the note target account
-	note.TargetAccount, err = r.state.DB.GetAccountByID(
-		gtscontext.SetBarebones(ctx),
-		note.TargetAccountID,
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error getting note target account: %w", err)
+	// Further populate the account fields where applicable.
+	if err := r.PopulateNote(ctx, note); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	return note, nil
 }
 
+func (r *relationshipDB) PopulateNote(ctx context.Context, note *gtsmodel.AccountNote) error {
+	var (
+		errs = gtserror.NewMultiError(2)
+		err  error
+	)
+
+	// Ensure note source account set.
+	if note.Account == nil {
+		note.Account, err = r.state.DB.GetAccountByID(
+			gtscontext.SetBarebones(ctx),
+			note.AccountID,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			errs.Appendf("error populating note source account: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Ensure note target account set.
+	if note.TargetAccount == nil {
+		note.TargetAccount, err = r.state.DB.GetAccountByID(
+			gtscontext.SetBarebones(ctx),
+			note.TargetAccountID,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			errs.Appendf("error populating note target account: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return errs.Combine()
+}
+
 func (r *relationshipDB) PutNote(ctx context.Context, note *gtsmodel.AccountNote) error {
 	note.UpdatedAt = time.Now()
 	return r.state.Caches.GTS.AccountNote().Store(note, func() error {
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/status_test.go b/internal/db/bundb/status_test.go
index c0ff6c0da..2129aa0e8 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/status_test.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/status_test.go
@@ -224,6 +224,51 @@ func (suite *StatusTestSuite) TestUpdateStatus() {
 	suite.True(updated.PinnedAt.IsZero())
 }
 
+func (suite *StatusTestSuite) TestPutPopulatedStatus() {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	targetStatus := &gtsmodel.Status{}
+	*targetStatus = *suite.testStatuses["admin_account_status_1"]
+
+	// Populate fields on the target status.
+	if err := suite.db.PopulateStatus(ctx, targetStatus); err != nil {
+		suite.FailNow(err.Error())
+	}
+
+	// Delete it from the database.
+	if err := suite.db.DeleteStatusByID(ctx, targetStatus.ID); err != nil {
+		suite.FailNow(err.Error())
+	}
+
+	// Reinsert the populated version
+	// so that it becomes cached.
+	if err := suite.db.PutStatus(ctx, targetStatus); err != nil {
+		suite.FailNow(err.Error())
+	}
+
+	// Update the status owner's
+	// account with a new bio.
+	account := &gtsmodel.Account{}
+	*account = *targetStatus.Account
+	account.Note = "new note for this test"
+	if err := suite.db.UpdateAccount(ctx, account, "note"); err != nil {
+		suite.FailNow(err.Error())
+	}
+
+	dbStatus, err := suite.db.GetStatusByID(ctx, targetStatus.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		suite.FailNow(err.Error())
+	}
+
+	// Account note should be updated,
+	// even though we stored this
+	// status with the old note.
+	suite.Equal(
+		"new note for this test",
+		dbStatus.Account.Note,
+	)
+}
+
 func TestStatusTestSuite(t *testing.T) {
 	suite.Run(t, new(StatusTestSuite))
 }
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/user.go b/internal/db/bundb/user.go
index eaa1d8e3d..46b3c568f 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/user.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/user.go
@@ -130,18 +130,39 @@ func (u *userDB) getUser(ctx context.Context, lookup string, dbQuery func(*gtsmo
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// Fetch the related account model for this user.
-	user.Account, err = u.state.DB.GetAccountByID(
-		gtscontext.SetBarebones(ctx),
-		user.AccountID,
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, gtserror.Newf("error populating user account: %w", err)
+	if gtscontext.Barebones(ctx) {
+		// Return without populating.
+		return user, nil
+	}
+
+	if err := u.PopulateUser(ctx, user); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	return user, nil
 }
 
+// PopulateUser ensures that the user's struct fields are populated.
+func (u *userDB) PopulateUser(ctx context.Context, user *gtsmodel.User) error {
+	var (
+		errs = gtserror.NewMultiError(1)
+		err  error
+	)
+
+	if user.Account == nil {
+		// Fetch the related account model for this user.
+		user.Account, err = u.state.DB.GetAccountByID(
+			gtscontext.SetBarebones(ctx),
+			user.AccountID,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			errs.Appendf("error populating user account: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return errs.Combine()
+}
+
 func (u *userDB) GetAllUsers(ctx context.Context) ([]*gtsmodel.User, error) {
 	var userIDs []string
 
diff --git a/internal/db/emoji.go b/internal/db/emoji.go
index c4dabd1aa..fed956933 100644
--- a/internal/db/emoji.go
+++ b/internal/db/emoji.go
@@ -32,13 +32,17 @@
 type Emoji interface {
 	// PutEmoji puts one emoji in the database.
 	PutEmoji(ctx context.Context, emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji) error
+
 	// UpdateEmoji updates the given columns of one emoji.
 	// If no columns are specified, every column is updated.
 	UpdateEmoji(ctx context.Context, emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji, columns ...string) error
+
 	// DeleteEmojiByID deletes one emoji by its database ID.
 	DeleteEmojiByID(ctx context.Context, id string) error
+
 	// GetEmojisByIDs gets emojis for the given IDs.
 	GetEmojisByIDs(ctx context.Context, ids []string) ([]*gtsmodel.Emoji, error)
+
 	// GetUseableEmojis gets all emojis which are useable by accounts on this instance.
 	GetUseableEmojis(ctx context.Context) ([]*gtsmodel.Emoji, error)
 
@@ -53,23 +57,35 @@ type Emoji interface {
 
 	// GetEmojisBy gets emojis based on given parameters. Useful for admin actions.
 	GetEmojisBy(ctx context.Context, domain string, includeDisabled bool, includeEnabled bool, shortcode string, maxShortcodeDomain string, minShortcodeDomain string, limit int) ([]*gtsmodel.Emoji, error)
+
 	// GetEmojiByID gets a specific emoji by its database ID.
 	GetEmojiByID(ctx context.Context, id string) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, error)
+
+	// PopulateEmoji populates the struct pointers on the given emoji.
+	PopulateEmoji(ctx context.Context, emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji) error
+
 	// GetEmojiByShortcodeDomain gets an emoji based on its shortcode and domain.
 	// For local emoji, domain should be an empty string.
 	GetEmojiByShortcodeDomain(ctx context.Context, shortcode string, domain string) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, error)
+
 	// GetEmojiByURI returns one emoji based on its ActivityPub URI.
 	GetEmojiByURI(ctx context.Context, uri string) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, error)
+
 	// GetEmojiByStaticURL gets an emoji using the URL of the static version of the emoji image.
 	GetEmojiByStaticURL(ctx context.Context, imageStaticURL string) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, error)
+
 	// PutEmojiCategory puts one new emoji category in the database.
 	PutEmojiCategory(ctx context.Context, emojiCategory *gtsmodel.EmojiCategory) error
+
 	// GetEmojiCategoriesByIDs gets emoji categories for given IDs.
 	GetEmojiCategoriesByIDs(ctx context.Context, ids []string) ([]*gtsmodel.EmojiCategory, error)
+
 	// GetEmojiCategories gets a slice of the names of all existing emoji categories.
 	GetEmojiCategories(ctx context.Context) ([]*gtsmodel.EmojiCategory, error)
+
 	// GetEmojiCategory gets one emoji category by its id.
 	GetEmojiCategory(ctx context.Context, id string) (*gtsmodel.EmojiCategory, error)
+
 	// GetEmojiCategoryByName gets one emoji category by its name.
 	GetEmojiCategoryByName(ctx context.Context, name string) (*gtsmodel.EmojiCategory, error)
 }
diff --git a/internal/db/instance.go b/internal/db/instance.go
index 408522b65..3b9588fef 100644
--- a/internal/db/instance.go
+++ b/internal/db/instance.go
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ type Instance interface {
 	// GetInstanceByID returns the instance entry corresponding to the given id, if it exists.
 	GetInstanceByID(ctx context.Context, id string) (*gtsmodel.Instance, error)
 
+	// PopulateInstance populates the struct pointers on the given instance.
+	PopulateInstance(ctx context.Context, instance *gtsmodel.Instance) error
+
 	// PutInstance inserts the given instance into the database.
 	PutInstance(ctx context.Context, instance *gtsmodel.Instance) error
 
diff --git a/internal/db/notification.go b/internal/db/notification.go
index 5f8766252..ab8b5cc6d 100644
--- a/internal/db/notification.go
+++ b/internal/db/notification.go
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ type Notification interface {
 	// Since not all notifications are about a status, statusID can be an empty string.
 	GetNotification(ctx context.Context, notificationType gtsmodel.NotificationType, targetAccountID string, originAccountID string, statusID string) (*gtsmodel.Notification, error)
 
+	// PopulateNotification ensures that the notification's struct fields are populated.
+	PopulateNotification(ctx context.Context, notif *gtsmodel.Notification) error
+
 	// PutNotification will insert the given notification into the database.
 	PutNotification(ctx context.Context, notif *gtsmodel.Notification) error
 
diff --git a/internal/db/relationship.go b/internal/db/relationship.go
index b3b45551b..5191701bb 100644
--- a/internal/db/relationship.go
+++ b/internal/db/relationship.go
@@ -184,4 +184,7 @@ type Relationship interface {
 
 	// PutNote creates or updates a private note.
 	PutNote(ctx context.Context, note *gtsmodel.AccountNote) error
+
+	// PopulateNote populates the struct pointers on the given note.
+	PopulateNote(ctx context.Context, note *gtsmodel.AccountNote) error
 }
diff --git a/internal/db/user.go b/internal/db/user.go
index 9df672837..c762ef2b3 100644
--- a/internal/db/user.go
+++ b/internal/db/user.go
@@ -27,20 +27,31 @@
 type User interface {
 	// GetAllUsers returns all local user accounts, or an error if something goes wrong.
 	GetAllUsers(ctx context.Context) ([]*gtsmodel.User, error)
+
 	// GetUserByID returns one user with the given ID, or an error if something goes wrong.
 	GetUserByID(ctx context.Context, id string) (*gtsmodel.User, error)
+
 	// GetUserByAccountID returns one user by its account ID, or an error if something goes wrong.
 	GetUserByAccountID(ctx context.Context, accountID string) (*gtsmodel.User, error)
+
 	// GetUserByID returns one user with the given email address, or an error if something goes wrong.
 	GetUserByEmailAddress(ctx context.Context, emailAddress string) (*gtsmodel.User, error)
+
 	// GetUserByExternalID returns one user with the given external id, or an error if something goes wrong.
 	GetUserByExternalID(ctx context.Context, id string) (*gtsmodel.User, error)
+
 	// GetUserByConfirmationToken returns one user by its confirmation token, or an error if something goes wrong.
 	GetUserByConfirmationToken(ctx context.Context, confirmationToken string) (*gtsmodel.User, error)
+
+	// PopulateUser populates the struct pointers on the given user.
+	PopulateUser(ctx context.Context, user *gtsmodel.User) error
+
 	// PutUser will attempt to place user in the database
 	PutUser(ctx context.Context, user *gtsmodel.User) error
+
 	// UpdateUser updates one user by its primary key, updating either only the specified columns, or all of them.
 	UpdateUser(ctx context.Context, user *gtsmodel.User, columns ...string) error
+
 	// DeleteUserByID deletes one user by its ID.
 	DeleteUserByID(ctx context.Context, userID string) error
 }