diff --git a/osf/external/messages/celery_publishers.py b/osf/external/messages/celery_publishers.py
index 6b3323cb6c1..05db32d6f07 100644
--- a/osf/external/messages/celery_publishers.py
+++ b/osf/external/messages/celery_publishers.py
@@ -1,44 +1,42 @@
+import waffle
 from kombu import Exchange
 from framework.celery_tasks import app as celery_app
-from framework.celery_tasks.handlers import enqueue_task
+from website import settings
+from osf import features
 
 
 def publish_deactivated_user(user):
-    enqueue_task(
-        _publish_user_status_change.s(
+    if settings.USE_CELERY and waffle.switch_is_active(features.ENABLE_GV):
+        _publish_user_status_change(
             body={
                 'action': 'deactivate',
                 'user_uri': user.get_semantic_iri(),
-            },
+            }
         )
-    )
 
 
 def publish_reactivate_user(user):
-    enqueue_task(
-        _publish_user_status_change.s(
+    if settings.USE_CELERY and waffle.switch_is_active(features.ENABLE_GV):
+        _publish_user_status_change(
             body={
                 'action': 'reactivate',
                 'user_uri': user.get_semantic_iri(),
             },
         )
-    )
 
 
 def publish_merged_user(user):
     assert user.merged_by, 'User received merge signal, but has no `merged_by` reference.'
-    enqueue_task(
-        _publish_user_status_change.s(
+    if settings.USE_CELERY and waffle.switch_is_active(features.ENABLE_GV):
+        _publish_user_status_change(
             body={
                 'action': 'merge',
                 'into_user_uri': user.merged_by.get_semantic_iri(),
                 'from_user_uri': user.get_semantic_iri(),
             },
         )
-    )
 
 
-@celery_app.task()
 def _publish_user_status_change(body: dict):
     with celery_app.producer_pool.acquire() as producer:
         producer.publish(
diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
index 60528d2176e..239319995d1 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@
 
 from tests.base import OsfTestCase, DbTestCase
 from osf_tests.factories import RegistrationFactory, UserFactory, fake_email
+from framework.auth.signals import (
+    user_account_deactivated,
+    user_account_reactivated,
+    user_account_merged
+)
 
 from framework.auth.utils import generate_csl_given_name
 from framework.routing import Rule, json_renderer
@@ -453,3 +458,64 @@ def test_build_create_user_time_conflict(self):
         user_one_create = UserFactory()
         user_two_create = UserFactory()
         assert user_one_create.username != user_two_create.username
+
+
+# Add this import at the top of your file
+from django.dispatch import receiver
+
+
+@pytest.mark.django_db
+class TestUserSignals:
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def user(self, db):
+        return UserFactory()
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def old_user(self, db):
+        return UserFactory()
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def deactivated_user(self, db):
+        user = UserFactory()
+        user.deactivate_account()
+        return user
+
+    @mock.patch('osf.external.messages.celery_publishers.publish_deactivated_user')
+    def test_user_account_deactivated_signal(self, mock_publish_deactivated_user, user):
+        # Connect a mock receiver to the signal for testing
+        @receiver(user_account_deactivated)
+        def mock_receiver(user, **kwargs):
+            return mock_publish_deactivated_user(user)
+
+        # Trigger the signal
+        user.deactivate_account()
+
+        # Verify that the mock receiver was called
+        mock_publish_deactivated_user.assert_called_once_with(user)
+
+    @mock.patch('osf.external.messages.celery_publishers.publish_merged_user')
+    def test_user_account_merged_signal(self, mock_publish_merged_user, user, old_user):
+        # Connect a mock receiver to the signal for testing
+        @receiver(user_account_merged)
+        def mock_receiver(user, **kwargs):
+            return mock_publish_merged_user(user)
+
+        # Trigger the signal
+        user.merge_user(old_user)
+
+        # Verify that the mock receiver was called
+        mock_publish_merged_user.assert_called_once_with(old_user)
+
+    @mock.patch('osf.external.messages.celery_publishers.publish_reactivate_user')
+    def test_user_account_deactivate_signal(self, mock_publish_reactivate_user, deactivated_user):
+        # Connect a mock receiver to the signal for testing
+        @receiver(user_account_reactivated)
+        def mock_receiver(user, **kwargs):
+            return mock_publish_reactivate_user(user)
+
+        # Trigger the signal
+        deactivated_user.reactivate_account()
+
+        # Verify that the mock receiver was called
+        mock_publish_reactivate_user.assert_called_once_with(deactivated_user)