diff --git a/bookwyrm/static/js/status_cache.js b/bookwyrm/static/js/status_cache.js
index f179aa7d9..1ec72b3cb 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/static/js/status_cache.js
+++ b/bookwyrm/static/js/status_cache.js
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ let StatusCache = new class {
 
         // This allows the form to submit in the old fashioned way if there's a problem
 
-        if (!trigger || !form) {
+        if (!trigger || !form || response.headers.get("forceReload")) {
             return;
         }
 
@@ -90,12 +90,6 @@ let StatusCache = new class {
             trigger.removeAttribute('disabled');
         })
         .then(response => {
-            if (response.headers.get("forceReload")) {
-                BookWyrm.addRemoveClass(form, 'is-processing', true);
-                trigger.setAttribute('disabled', null);
-
-                return location.reload();
-            }
 
             if (!response.ok) {
                 throw new Error();
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/reading.py b/bookwyrm/views/reading.py
index 75a45f245..a91fa8e7a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/reading.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/reading.py
@@ -102,8 +102,6 @@ class ReadingStatus(View):
                 != desired_shelf.identifier
             ):
                 return unshelve(request, referer=referer, book_id=book_id)
-            # don't try to unshelve a read status shelf: it has already been deleted.
-            return HttpResponse(headers={"forceReload": "true"})
 
         if is_api_request(request):
             return HttpResponse()
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/shelf/shelf_actions.py b/bookwyrm/views/shelf/shelf_actions.py
index 77053f534..3fff92a6a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/shelf/shelf_actions.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/shelf/shelf_actions.py
@@ -101,6 +101,4 @@ def unshelve(request, referer=None, book_id=False):
     )
     shelf_book.raise_not_deletable(request.user)
     shelf_book.delete()
-    if bool(referer):
-        return HttpResponse(headers={"forceReload": "true"})
     return redirect(request.headers.get("Referer", "/"))
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/status.py b/bookwyrm/views/status.py
index 144408b50..bb69d30c0 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/status.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/status.py
@@ -125,10 +125,6 @@ class CreateStatus(View):
             except Http404:
                 pass
 
-        # force page reload if this was triggered from 'move' button
-        if bool(request.POST.get("shelf")):
-            return HttpResponse(headers={"forceReload": "true"})
-
         if is_api_request(request):
             return HttpResponse()
         return redirect("/")