diff --git a/utils.js b/utils.js
index 21f087d..03be4c2 100644
--- a/utils.js
+++ b/utils.js
@@ -84,31 +84,32 @@ export async function getMastodonPost(feedUrl) {
 	// find the first item that isn't a reply (doesn't start with @)
 	for (const item of items) {
 		const description = item.querySelector('description')?.textContent || ''
-		const title = item.querySelector('title')?.textContent || ''
 
 		// skip if it's a reply (starts with @ mention)
-		if (description.trim().startsWith('@') || title.trim().startsWith('@')) {
+		if (description.trim().startsWith('@')) {
 			continue
 		}
 
 		const link = item.querySelector('link')?.textContent.trim()
-		const cleanTitle = sanitizeHtml(title, {
+
+		// use description as the text, stripping HTML
+		const cleanText = sanitizeHtml(description, {
 			allowedTags: [],
 			allowedAttributes: {},
 		})?.trim()
 
-		return { text: cleanTitle, url: link }
+		return { text: cleanText, url: link }
 	}
 
 	// fallback to first item if no non-reply found
 	const firstItem = items[0]
-	const title = firstItem.querySelector('title').textContent
-	const link = firstItem.querySelector('link').textContent.trim()
-	const cleanTitle = sanitizeHtml(title, {
+	const description = firstItem.querySelector('description')?.textContent || ''
+	const link = firstItem.querySelector('link')?.textContent.trim()
+	const cleanText = sanitizeHtml(description, {
 		allowedTags: [],
 		allowedAttributes: {},
 	})?.trim()
-	return { text: cleanTitle, url: link }
+	return { text: cleanText, url: link }
 }
 
 export async function getJsonFeedItemTitle(feedUrl, showImage = true) {