diff --git a/bookwyrm/forms/forms.py b/bookwyrm/forms/forms.py
index 8af8fb812..9d8f9f392 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/forms/forms.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/forms/forms.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class ReportForm(CustomForm):
 
 class ReadThroughForm(CustomForm):
     def clean(self):
-        """make sure the email isn't in use by a registered user"""
+        """don't let readthroughs end before they start"""
         cleaned_data = super().clean()
         start_date = cleaned_data.get("start_date")
         finish_date = cleaned_data.get("finish_date")
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/readthrough/readthrough_modal.html b/bookwyrm/templates/readthrough/readthrough_modal.html
index 0f03d9386..e7fffb192 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/readthrough/readthrough_modal.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/readthrough/readthrough_modal.html
@@ -17,7 +17,14 @@
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block modal-form-open %}
-<form name="add-readthrough-{{ readthrough.id }}" action="/create-readthrough" method="post">
+<form
+    name="add-readthrough-{{ readthrough.id }}"
+    {% if readthrough.id %}
+    action="{% url 'edit-readthrough' %}"
+    {% else %}
+    action="{% url 'create-readthrough' %}"
+    {% endif %}
+    method="POST">
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block modal-body %}