diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_goodreads_import.py b/bookwyrm/tests/test_goodreads_import.py
index a62cfdd28..c06b49fc3 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_goodreads_import.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/test_goodreads_import.py
@@ -203,7 +203,8 @@ class GoodreadsImport(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(readthrough.finish_date.month, 10)
         self.assertEqual(readthrough.finish_date.day, 25)
 
-    def test_handle_imported_book_review(self):
+    @patch("bookwyrm.activitystreams.ActivityStream.add_status")
+    def test_handle_imported_book_review(self, _):
         """ goodreads review import """
         import_job = models.ImportJob.objects.create(user=self.user)
         datafile = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.joinpath("data/goodreads.csv")
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_librarything_import.py b/bookwyrm/tests/test_librarything_import.py
index a8e4cfe4f..54b8b4226 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_librarything_import.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/test_librarything_import.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 """ testing import """
-from collections import namedtuple
 import csv
 import pathlib
 from unittest.mock import patch
@@ -16,8 +15,8 @@ class LibrarythingImport(TestCase):
     """ importing from librarything tsv """
 
     def setUp(self):
-        self.importer = LibrarythingImporter()
         """ use a test tsv """
+        self.importer = LibrarythingImporter()
         datafile = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.joinpath("data/librarything.tsv")
 
         # Librarything generates latin encoded exports...
@@ -200,7 +199,8 @@ class LibrarythingImport(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(readthrough.finish_date.month, 5)
         self.assertEqual(readthrough.finish_date.day, 8)
 
-    def test_handle_imported_book_review(self):
+    @patch("bookwyrm.activitystreams.ActivityStream.add_status")
+    def test_handle_imported_book_review(self, _):
         """ librarything review import """
         import_job = models.ImportJob.objects.create(user=self.user)
         datafile = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.joinpath("data/librarything.tsv")
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_templatetags.py b/bookwyrm/tests/test_templatetags.py
index 6bdbd04c0..61136c2eb 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_templatetags.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/test_templatetags.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from bookwyrm import models
 from bookwyrm.templatetags import bookwyrm_tags
 
 
+@patch("bookwyrm.activitystreams.ActivityStream.add_status")
 class TemplateTags(TestCase):
     """ lotta different things here """
 
@@ -32,34 +33,34 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
             )
         self.book = models.Edition.objects.create(title="Test Book")
 
-    def test_dict_key(self):
+    def test_dict_key(self, _):
         """ just getting a value out of a dict """
         test_dict = {"a": 1, "b": 3}
         self.assertEqual(bookwyrm_tags.dict_key(test_dict, "a"), 1)
         self.assertEqual(bookwyrm_tags.dict_key(test_dict, "c"), 0)
 
-    def test_get_user_rating(self):
+    def test_get_user_rating(self, _):
         """ get a user's most recent rating of a book """
         with patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.delay"):
             models.Review.objects.create(user=self.user, book=self.book, rating=3)
         self.assertEqual(bookwyrm_tags.get_user_rating(self.book, self.user), 3)
 
-    def test_get_user_rating_doesnt_exist(self):
+    def test_get_user_rating_doesnt_exist(self, _):
         """ there is no rating available """
         self.assertEqual(bookwyrm_tags.get_user_rating(self.book, self.user), 0)
 
-    def test_get_user_identifer_local(self):
+    def test_get_user_identifer_local(self, _):
         """ fall back to the simplest uid available """
         self.assertNotEqual(self.user.username, self.user.localname)
         self.assertEqual(bookwyrm_tags.get_user_identifier(self.user), "mouse")
 
-    def test_get_user_identifer_remote(self):
+    def test_get_user_identifer_remote(self, _):
         """ for a remote user, should be their full username """
         self.assertEqual(
             bookwyrm_tags.get_user_identifier(self.remote_user), "rat@example.com"
         )
 
-    def test_get_notification_count(self):
+    def test_get_notification_count(self, _):
         """ just countin' """
         self.assertEqual(bookwyrm_tags.get_notification_count(self.user), 0)
 
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(bookwyrm_tags.get_notification_count(self.user), 2)
 
-    def test_get_replies(self):
+    def test_get_replies(self, _):
         """ direct replies to a status """
         with patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.delay"):
             parent = models.Review.objects.create(
@@ -84,12 +85,13 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
             second_child = models.Status.objects.create(
                 reply_parent=parent, user=self.user, content="hi"
             )
-            third_child = models.Status.objects.create(
-                reply_parent=parent,
-                user=self.user,
-                deleted=True,
-                deleted_date=timezone.now(),
-            )
+            with patch("bookwyrm.activitystreams.ActivityStream.remove_status"):
+                third_child = models.Status.objects.create(
+                    reply_parent=parent,
+                    user=self.user,
+                    deleted=True,
+                    deleted_date=timezone.now(),
+                )
 
         replies = bookwyrm_tags.get_replies(parent)
         self.assertEqual(len(replies), 2)
@@ -97,7 +99,7 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(second_child in replies)
         self.assertFalse(third_child in replies)
 
-    def test_get_parent(self):
+    def test_get_parent(self, _):
         """ get the reply parent of a status """
         with patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.delay"):
             parent = models.Review.objects.create(
@@ -111,7 +113,7 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(result, parent)
         self.assertIsInstance(result, models.Review)
 
-    def test_get_user_liked(self):
+    def test_get_user_liked(self, _):
         """ did a user like a status """
         status = models.Review.objects.create(user=self.remote_user, book=self.book)
 
@@ -120,7 +122,7 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
             models.Favorite.objects.create(user=self.user, status=status)
         self.assertTrue(bookwyrm_tags.get_user_liked(self.user, status))
 
-    def test_get_user_boosted(self):
+    def test_get_user_boosted(self, _):
         """ did a user boost a status """
         status = models.Review.objects.create(user=self.remote_user, book=self.book)
 
@@ -129,7 +131,7 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
             models.Boost.objects.create(user=self.user, boosted_status=status)
         self.assertTrue(bookwyrm_tags.get_user_boosted(self.user, status))
 
-    def test_follow_request_exists(self):
+    def test_follow_request_exists(self, _):
         """ does a user want to follow """
         self.assertFalse(
             bookwyrm_tags.follow_request_exists(self.user, self.remote_user)
@@ -147,7 +149,7 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
             bookwyrm_tags.follow_request_exists(self.remote_user, self.user)
         )
 
-    def test_get_boosted(self):
+    def test_get_boosted(self, _):
         """ load a boosted status """
         with patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.delay"):
             status = models.Review.objects.create(user=self.remote_user, book=self.book)
@@ -156,7 +158,7 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
         self.assertIsInstance(boosted, models.Review)
         self.assertEqual(boosted, status)
 
-    def test_get_book_description(self):
+    def test_get_book_description(self, _):
         """ grab it from the edition or the parent """
         work = models.Work.objects.create(title="Test Work")
         self.book.parent_work = work
@@ -172,12 +174,12 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
         self.book.save()
         self.assertEqual(bookwyrm_tags.get_book_description(self.book), "hello")
 
-    def test_get_uuid(self):
+    def test_get_uuid(self, _):
         """ uuid functionality """
         uuid = bookwyrm_tags.get_uuid("hi")
         self.assertTrue(re.match(r"hi[A-Za-z0-9\-]", uuid))
 
-    def test_time_since(self):
+    def test_time_since(self, _):
         """ ultraconcise timestamps """
         self.assertEqual(bookwyrm_tags.time_since("bleh"), "")
 
@@ -207,7 +209,7 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
             re.match(r"[A-Z][a-z]{2} \d?\d \d{4}", bookwyrm_tags.time_since(years_ago))
         )
 
-    def test_get_markdown(self):
+    def test_get_markdown(self, _):
         """ mardown format data """
         result = bookwyrm_tags.get_markdown("_hi_")
         self.assertEqual(result, "<p><em>hi</em></p>")
@@ -215,13 +217,13 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
         result = bookwyrm_tags.get_markdown("<marquee>_hi_</marquee>")
         self.assertEqual(result, "<p><em>hi</em></p>")
 
-    def test_get_mentions(self):
+    def test_get_mentions(self, _):
         """ list of people mentioned """
         status = models.Status.objects.create(content="hi", user=self.remote_user)
         result = bookwyrm_tags.get_mentions(status, self.user)
         self.assertEqual(result, "@rat@example.com ")
 
-    def test_get_status_preview_name(self):
+    def test_get_status_preview_name(self, _):
         """ status context string """
         with patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.delay"):
             status = models.Status.objects.create(content="hi", user=self.user)
@@ -246,7 +248,7 @@ class TemplateTags(TestCase):
         result = bookwyrm_tags.get_status_preview_name(status)
         self.assertEqual(result, "quotation from <em>Test Book</em>")
 
-    def test_related_status(self):
+    def test_related_status(self, _):
         """ gets the subclass model for a notification status """
         with patch("bookwyrm.models.activitypub_mixin.broadcast_task.delay"):
             status = models.Status.objects.create(content="hi", user=self.user)