diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index dd7bec4f2..4c1c2eefe 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ REDIS_ACTIVITY_PORT=6379
 REDIS_ACTIVITY_PASSWORD=redispassword345
 # Optional, use a different redis database (defaults to 0)
 # REDIS_ACTIVITY_DB_INDEX=0
+# Alternatively specify the full redis url, i.e. if you need to use a unix:// socket
+# REDIS_ACTIVITY_URL=
 
 # Redis as celery broker
 REDIS_BROKER_HOST=redis_broker
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ REDIS_BROKER_PORT=6379
 REDIS_BROKER_PASSWORD=redispassword123
 # Optional, use a different redis database (defaults to 0)
 # REDIS_BROKER_DB_INDEX=0
+# Alternatively specify the full redis url, i.e. if you need to use a unix:// socket
+# REDIS_BROKER_URL=
 
 # Monitoring for celery
 FLOWER_PORT=8888
diff --git a/bookwyrm/management/commands/erase_streams.py b/bookwyrm/management/commands/erase_streams.py
index 9d971d699..ecd36006c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/management/commands/erase_streams.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/management/commands/erase_streams.py
@@ -4,12 +4,7 @@ import redis
 
 from bookwyrm import settings
 
-r = redis.Redis(
-    host=settings.REDIS_ACTIVITY_HOST,
-    port=settings.REDIS_ACTIVITY_PORT,
-    password=settings.REDIS_ACTIVITY_PASSWORD,
-    db=settings.REDIS_ACTIVITY_DB_INDEX,
-)
+r = redis.from_url(settings.REDIS_ACTIVITY_URL)
 
 
 def erase_streams():
diff --git a/bookwyrm/redis_store.py b/bookwyrm/redis_store.py
index ae50db2ee..f25829f5c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/redis_store.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/redis_store.py
@@ -4,12 +4,7 @@ import redis
 
 from bookwyrm import settings
 
-r = redis.Redis(
-    host=settings.REDIS_ACTIVITY_HOST,
-    port=settings.REDIS_ACTIVITY_PORT,
-    password=settings.REDIS_ACTIVITY_PASSWORD,
-    db=settings.REDIS_ACTIVITY_DB_INDEX,
-)
+r = redis.from_url(settings.REDIS_ACTIVITY_URL)
 
 
 class RedisStore(ABC):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/settings.py b/bookwyrm/settings.py
index 74ef7d313..99aae9694 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/settings.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/settings.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 env = Env()
 env.read_env()
 DOMAIN = env("DOMAIN")
-VERSION = "0.5.3"
+VERSION = "0.5.4"
 
 RELEASE_API = env(
     "RELEASE_API",
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ RELEASE_API = env(
 PAGE_LENGTH = env("PAGE_LENGTH", 15)
 DEFAULT_LANGUAGE = env("DEFAULT_LANGUAGE", "English")
 
-JS_CACHE = "ad848b97"
+JS_CACHE = "cd848b9a"
 
 # email
 EMAIL_BACKEND = env("EMAIL_BACKEND", "django.core.mail.backends.smtp.EmailBackend")
@@ -207,7 +207,10 @@ REDIS_ACTIVITY_HOST = env("REDIS_ACTIVITY_HOST", "localhost")
 REDIS_ACTIVITY_PORT = env("REDIS_ACTIVITY_PORT", 6379)
 REDIS_ACTIVITY_PASSWORD = env("REDIS_ACTIVITY_PASSWORD", None)
 REDIS_ACTIVITY_DB_INDEX = env("REDIS_ACTIVITY_DB_INDEX", 0)
-
+REDIS_ACTIVITY_URL = env(
+    "REDIS_ACTIVITY_URL",
+    f"redis://:{REDIS_ACTIVITY_PASSWORD}@{REDIS_ACTIVITY_HOST}:{REDIS_ACTIVITY_PORT}/{REDIS_ACTIVITY_DB_INDEX}",
+)
 MAX_STREAM_LENGTH = int(env("MAX_STREAM_LENGTH", 200))
 
 STREAMS = [
@@ -232,7 +235,7 @@ else:
     CACHES = {
         "default": {
             "BACKEND": "django_redis.cache.RedisCache",
-            "LOCATION": f"redis://:{REDIS_ACTIVITY_PASSWORD}@{REDIS_ACTIVITY_HOST}:{REDIS_ACTIVITY_PORT}/{REDIS_ACTIVITY_DB_INDEX}",
+            "LOCATION": REDIS_ACTIVITY_URL,
             "OPTIONS": {
                 "CLIENT_CLASS": "django_redis.client.DefaultClient",
             },
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_signing.py b/bookwyrm/tests/test_signing.py
index 26d5e99a9..961e45435 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_signing.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/test_signing.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ Sender = namedtuple("Sender", ("remote_id", "key_pair"))
 class Signature(TestCase):
     """signature test"""
 
+    # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     def setUp(self):
         """create users and test data"""
         with patch("bookwyrm.suggested_users.rerank_suggestions_task.delay"), patch(
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ class Signature(TestCase):
         data = json.dumps(get_follow_activity(sender, self.rat))
         digest = digest or make_digest(data)
         signature = make_signature(signer or sender, self.rat.inbox, now, digest)
-        with patch("bookwyrm.views.inbox.activity_task.delay"):
+        with patch("bookwyrm.views.inbox.activity_task.apply_async"):
             with patch("bookwyrm.models.user.set_remote_server.delay"):
                 return self.send(signature, now, send_data or data, digest)
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/books/test_edit_book.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/books/test_edit_book.py
index 9e3f84a1b..2dc25095f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/books/test_edit_book.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/books/test_edit_book.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """ test for app action functionality """
 from unittest.mock import patch
 import responses
+from responses import matchers
 
 from django.contrib.auth.models import Group, Permission
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
@@ -45,6 +46,44 @@ class EditBookViews(TestCase):
             remote_id="https://example.com/book/1",
             parent_work=self.work,
         )
+        # pylint: disable=line-too-long
+        self.authors_body = "<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8' ?><?xml-stylesheet type='text/xsl' href='http://isni.oclc.org/sru/DB=1.2/?xsl=searchRetrieveResponse' ?><srw:searchRetrieveResponse xmlns:srw='http://www.loc.gov/zing/srw/' xmlns:dc='http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/' xmlns:diag='http://www.loc.gov/zing/srw/diagnostic/' xmlns:xcql='http://www.loc.gov/zing/cql/xcql/'><srw:version>1.1</srw:version><srw:records><srw:record><isniUnformatted>0000000084510024</isniUnformatted></srw:record></srw:records></srw:searchRetrieveResponse>"
+
+        # pylint: disable=line-too-long
+        self.author_body = "<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8' ?><?xml-stylesheet type='text/xsl' href='http://isni.oclc.org/sru/DB=1.2/?xsl=searchRetrieveResponse' ?><srw:searchRetrieveResponse xmlns:srw='http://www.loc.gov/zing/srw/' xmlns:dc='http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/' xmlns:diag='http://www.loc.gov/zing/srw/diagnostic/' xmlns:xcql='http://www.loc.gov/zing/cql/xcql/'><srw:records><srw:record><srw:recordData><responseRecord><ISNIAssigned><isniUnformatted>0000000084510024</isniUnformatted><isniURI>https://isni.org/isni/0000000084510024</isniURI><dataConfidence>60</dataConfidence><ISNIMetadata><identity><personOrFiction><personalName><surname>Catherine Amy Dawson Scott</surname><nameTitle>poet and novelist</nameTitle><nameUse>public</nameUse><source>VIAF</source><source>WKP</source><subsourceIdentifier>Q544961</subsourceIdentifier></personalName><personalName><forename>C. A.</forename><surname>Dawson Scott</surname><marcDate>1865-1934</marcDate><nameUse>public</nameUse><source>VIAF</source><source>NLP</source><subsourceIdentifier>a28927850</subsourceIdentifier></personalName><sources><codeOfSource>VIAF</codeOfSource><sourceIdentifier>45886165</sourceIdentifier><reference><class>ALL</class><role>CRE</role><URI>http://viaf.org/viaf/45886165</URI></reference></sources><externalInformation><information>Wikipedia</information><URI>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Amy_Dawson_Scott</URI></externalInformation></ISNIMetadata></ISNIAssigned></responseRecord></srw:recordData></srw:record></srw:records></srw:searchRetrieveResponse>"
+
+        responses.get(
+            "http://isni.oclc.org/sru/",
+            content_type="text/xml",
+            match=[
+                matchers.query_param_matcher(
+                    {"query": 'pica.na="Sappho"'}, strict_match=False
+                )
+            ],
+            body=self.authors_body,
+        )
+
+        responses.get(
+            "http://isni.oclc.org/sru/",
+            content_type="text/xml",
+            match=[
+                matchers.query_param_matcher(
+                    {"query": 'pica.na="Some Guy"'}, strict_match=False
+                )
+            ],
+            body=self.authors_body,
+        )
+
+        responses.get(
+            "http://isni.oclc.org/sru/",
+            content_type="text/xml",
+            match=[
+                matchers.query_param_matcher(
+                    {"query": 'pica.isn="0000000084510024"'}, strict_match=False
+                )
+            ],
+            body=self.author_body,
+        )
 
         models.SiteSettings.objects.create()
 
@@ -97,6 +136,7 @@ class EditBookViews(TestCase):
             result.context_data["cover_url"], "http://local.host/cover.jpg"
         )
 
+    @responses.activate
     def test_edit_book_add_author(self):
         """lets a user edit a book with new authors"""
         view = views.EditBook.as_view()
@@ -227,6 +267,7 @@ class EditBookViews(TestCase):
         self.book.refresh_from_db()
         self.assertTrue(self.book.cover)
 
+    @responses.activate
     def test_add_authors_helper(self):
         """converts form input into author matches"""
         form = forms.EditionForm(instance=self.book)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/inbox/test_inbox.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/inbox/test_inbox.py
index e328b1ba4..61acde5d3 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/inbox/test_inbox.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/inbox/test_inbox.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from bookwyrm import models, views
 class Inbox(TestCase):
     """readthrough tests"""
 
+    # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     def setUp(self):
         """basic user and book data"""
         self.client = Client()
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ class Inbox(TestCase):
         with patch("bookwyrm.views.inbox.has_valid_signature") as mock_valid:
             mock_valid.return_value = True
 
-            with patch("bookwyrm.views.inbox.activity_task.delay"):
+            with patch("bookwyrm.views.inbox.activity_task.apply_async"):
                 result = self.client.post(
                     "/inbox", json.dumps(activity), content_type="application/json"
                 )
diff --git a/bookwyrm/utils/isni.py b/bookwyrm/utils/isni.py
index ea0364e55..318de30ef 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/utils/isni.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/utils/isni.py
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ def find_authors_by_name(name_string, description=False):
     # build list of possible authors
     possible_authors = []
     for element in root.iter("responseRecord"):
+
+        # TODO: we don't seem to do anything with the
+        # personal_name variable - is this code block needed?
         personal_name = element.find(".//forename/..")
         if not personal_name:
             continue
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/admin/celery_status.py b/bookwyrm/views/admin/celery_status.py
index 7da148a06..5221fd619 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/admin/celery_status.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/admin/celery_status.py
@@ -8,12 +8,7 @@ import redis
 from celerywyrm import settings
 from bookwyrm.tasks import app as celery
 
-r = redis.Redis(
-    host=settings.REDIS_BROKER_HOST,
-    port=settings.REDIS_BROKER_PORT,
-    password=settings.REDIS_BROKER_PASSWORD,
-    db=settings.REDIS_BROKER_DB_INDEX,
-)
+r = redis.from_url(settings.REDIS_BROKER_URL)
 
 # pylint: disable= no-self-use
 @method_decorator(login_required, name="dispatch")
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/inbox.py b/bookwyrm/views/inbox.py
index eec35f9d1..747b5eccd 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/inbox.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/inbox.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from django.views import View
 from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_exempt
 
 from bookwyrm import activitypub, models
-from bookwyrm.tasks import app, MEDIUM
+from bookwyrm.tasks import app, MEDIUM, HIGH
 from bookwyrm.signatures import Signature
 from bookwyrm.utils import regex
 
@@ -60,7 +60,11 @@ class Inbox(View):
                 return HttpResponse()
             return HttpResponse(status=401)
 
-        activity_task.delay(activity_json)
+        # Make activities relating to follow/unfollow a high priority
+        high = ["Follow", "Accept", "Reject", "Block", "Unblock", "Undo"]
+
+        priority = HIGH if activity_json["type"] in high else MEDIUM
+        activity_task.apply_async(args=(activity_json,), queue=priority)
         return HttpResponse()
 
 
diff --git a/celerywyrm/settings.py b/celerywyrm/settings.py
index 94e530221..7519ea6e3 100644
--- a/celerywyrm/settings.py
+++ b/celerywyrm/settings.py
@@ -8,9 +8,13 @@ REDIS_BROKER_PASSWORD = requests.utils.quote(env("REDIS_BROKER_PASSWORD", None))
 REDIS_BROKER_HOST = env("REDIS_BROKER_HOST", "redis_broker")
 REDIS_BROKER_PORT = env("REDIS_BROKER_PORT", 6379)
 REDIS_BROKER_DB_INDEX = env("REDIS_BROKER_DB_INDEX", 0)
+REDIS_BROKER_URL = env(
+    "REDIS_BROKER_URL",
+    f"redis://:{REDIS_BROKER_PASSWORD}@{REDIS_BROKER_HOST}:{REDIS_BROKER_PORT}/{REDIS_BROKER_DB_INDEX}",
+)
 
-CELERY_BROKER_URL = f"redis://:{REDIS_BROKER_PASSWORD}@{REDIS_BROKER_HOST}:{REDIS_BROKER_PORT}/{REDIS_BROKER_DB_INDEX}"
-CELERY_RESULT_BACKEND = f"redis://:{REDIS_BROKER_PASSWORD}@{REDIS_BROKER_HOST}:{REDIS_BROKER_PORT}/{REDIS_BROKER_DB_INDEX}"
+CELERY_BROKER_URL = REDIS_BROKER_URL.replace("unix:", "redis+socket:")
+CELERY_RESULT_BACKEND = REDIS_BROKER_URL.replace("unix:", "redis+socket:")
 
 CELERY_DEFAULT_QUEUE = "low_priority"
 CELERY_CREATE_MISSING_QUEUES = True