diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Api/ApiV1Controller.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Api/ApiV1Controller.php
index 791a7ef31..9151107c4 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Api/ApiV1Controller.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Api/ApiV1Controller.php
@@ -3525,13 +3525,19 @@ class ApiV1Controller extends Controller
             'in_reply_to_id' => 'nullable',
             'media_ids' => 'sometimes|array|max:'.(int) config_cache('pixelfed.max_album_length'),
             'sensitive' => 'nullable',
-            'visibility' => 'string|in:private,unlisted,public',
+            'visibility' => 'string|in:private,unlisted,public,direct',
             'spoiler_text' => 'sometimes|max:140',
             'place_id' => 'sometimes|integer|min:1|max:128769',
             'collection_ids' => 'sometimes|array|max:3',
             'comments_disabled' => 'sometimes|boolean',
         ]);
 
+        if ($request->filled('visibility') && $request->input('visibility') === 'direct') {
+            return $this->json([
+                'error' => 'Direct visibility is not available.',
+            ], 400);
+        }
+
         if ($request->hasHeader('idempotency-key')) {
             $key = 'pf:api:v1:status:idempotency-key:'.$request->user()->id.':'.hash('sha1', $request->header('idempotency-key'));
             $exists = Cache::has($key);