diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/headers/read.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/headers/read.html
index f942c0f0a..bc6147dfe 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/headers/read.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/headers/read.html
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 {% spaceless %}
-{% load i18n %}{% load utilities %}
+{% load i18n %}
+{% load utilities %}
+{% load status_display %}
 
-{% with book=status.mention_books.first %}
+{% load_book status as book %}
 {% blocktrans with book_path=book.remote_id book=book|book_title %}finished reading <a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book }}</a>{% endblocktrans %}
-{% endwith %}
 {% endspaceless %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/headers/reading.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/headers/reading.html
index 460c4cae7..e8b51f7ba 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/headers/reading.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/headers/reading.html
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 {% spaceless %}
 {% load i18n %}
 {% load utilities %}
+{% load status_display %}
 
-{% with book=status.mention_books.first %}
+{% load_book status as book %}
 {% blocktrans with book_path=book.remote_id book=book|book_title %}started reading <a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book }}</a>{% endblocktrans %}
-{% endwith %}
-
 {% endspaceless %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/headers/to_read.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/headers/to_read.html
index 7b89a775b..c252e71d6 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/headers/to_read.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/headers/to_read.html
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {% spaceless %}
 {% load i18n %}
 {% load utilities %}
+{% load status_display %}
 
-{% with book=status.mention_books.first %}
+{% load_book status as book %}
 {% blocktrans with book_path=book.remote_id book=book|book_title %}<a href="{{ user_path }}">{{ username }}</a> wants to read <a href="{{ book_path }}">{{ book }}</a>{% endblocktrans %}
-{% endwith %}
 {% endspaceless %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templatetags/status_display.py b/bookwyrm/templatetags/status_display.py
index d0390e381..e43c0f944 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templatetags/status_display.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/templatetags/status_display.py
@@ -70,7 +70,12 @@ def get_header_template(status):
     """get the path for the status template"""
     if isinstance(status, models.Boost):
         status = status.boosted_status
-    header_type = status.reading_status or status.status_type.lower()
+    try:
+        header_type = status.reading_status
+        if not header_type:
+            raise AttributeError()
+    except AttributeError:
+        header_type = status.status_type.lower()
     filename = f"snippets/status/headers/{header_type}.html"
     header_template = select_template([filename, "snippets/status/headers/note.html"])
     return header_template.render({"status": status})