diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/books/test_edit_book.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/books/test_edit_book.py
index 1ac8336d8..9e3f84a1b 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/books/test_edit_book.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/books/test_edit_book.py
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ class EditBookViews(TestCase):
         form = forms.EditionForm(instance=self.book)
         form.data["title"] = ""
         form.data["last_edited_by"] = self.local_user.id
+        form.data["cover-url"] = "http://local.host/cover.jpg"
         request = self.factory.post("", form.data)
         request.user = self.local_user
 
@@ -91,6 +92,10 @@ class EditBookViews(TestCase):
         # Title is unchanged
         self.book.refresh_from_db()
         self.assertEqual(self.book.title, "Example Edition")
+        # transient field values are set correctly
+        self.assertEqual(
+            result.context_data["cover_url"], "http://local.host/cover.jpg"
+        )
 
     def test_edit_book_add_author(self):
         """lets a user edit a book with new authors"""
@@ -280,9 +285,14 @@ class EditBookViews(TestCase):
         form = forms.EditionForm(instance=self.book)
         form.data["title"] = ""
         form.data["last_edited_by"] = self.local_user.id
+        form.data["cover-url"] = "http://local.host/cover.jpg"
         request = self.factory.post("", form.data)
         request.user = self.local_user
 
         result = view(request)
         validate_html(result.render())
         self.assertEqual(result.status_code, 200)
+        # transient field values are set correctly
+        self.assertEqual(
+            result.context_data["cover_url"], "http://local.host/cover.jpg"
+        )
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/books/edit_book.py b/bookwyrm/views/books/edit_book.py
index 47b03b0cb..167bd4b46 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/books/edit_book.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/books/edit_book.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ class EditBook(View):
         form = forms.EditionForm(request.POST, request.FILES, instance=book)
 
         data = {"book": book, "form": form}
+        ensure_transient_values_persist(request, data)
         if not form.is_valid():
             return TemplateResponse(request, "book/edit/edit_book.html", data)
 
@@ -101,6 +102,8 @@ class CreateBook(View):
                 "authors": authors,
             }
 
+        ensure_transient_values_persist(request, data)
+
         if not form.is_valid():
             return TemplateResponse(request, "book/edit/edit_book.html", data)
 
@@ -136,6 +139,11 @@ class CreateBook(View):
         return redirect(f"/book/{book.id}")
 
 
+def ensure_transient_values_persist(request, data):
+    """ensure that values of transient form fields persist when re-rendering the form"""
+    data["cover_url"] = request.POST.get("cover-url")
+
+
 def add_authors(request, data):
     """helper for adding authors"""
     add_author = [author for author in request.POST.getlist("add_author") if author]
@@ -150,7 +158,6 @@ def add_authors(request, data):
     data["confirm_mode"] = True
     # this isn't preserved because it isn't part of the form obj
     data["remove_authors"] = request.POST.getlist("remove_authors")
-    data["cover_url"] = request.POST.get("cover-url")
 
     for author in add_author:
         # filter out empty author fields