diff --git a/cleanup.py b/cleanup.py
index c4a5d6f..8e5177d 100644
--- a/cleanup.py
+++ b/cleanup.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # ----- imports ----- #
 
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
-from mastodon import Mastodon
+from mastodon import Mastodon, MastodonRatelimitError
 from os import getenv
 
 def cleanup(limit: int = 40, id: int | None = None):
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ def cleanup(limit: int = 40, id: int | None = None):
     # initialize mastodon
     mastodon = Mastodon(
         access_token = getenv("MASTODON_USER_SECRET"),
-        api_base_url = getenv("MASTODON_URL")
+        api_base_url = getenv("MASTODON_URL"),
+        ratelimit_method="throw"
     )
 
     # ----- go 200 posts into the past, if manual id is not set ----- #
@@ -58,7 +59,13 @@ def cleanup(limit: int = 40, id: int | None = None):
             # if post has no favorites, boosts or replies, delete it
             if submission["favourites_count"] == 0 and submission["reblogs_count"] == 0 and submission["replies_count"] == 0:
                 print("Trying to delete post:", submission["url"])
-                mastodon.status_delete(submission["id"])
+                try:
+                    mastodon.status_delete(submission["id"])
+                except MastodonRatelimitError:
+                    print("Hit rate limit while trying to delete post:", submission["url"])
+                    return
+            else:
+                print("Ignoring post:", submission["url"])
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     cleanup(limit=40, id=None)