diff --git a/fedireads/templates/user.html b/fedireads/templates/user.html
index 9f095e462..c58ae2539 100644
--- a/fedireads/templates/user.html
+++ b/fedireads/templates/user.html
@@ -12,13 +12,15 @@
         {% endif %}
         {% if not is_self %}
         {% if not request.user in user.followers.all %}
-        <form action="/follow/{{ user.username }}" method="post">
+        <form action="/follow/" method="post">
             {% csrf_token %}
+            <input type="hidden" name="user" value="{{ user.username }}"></input>
             <input type="submit" value="Follow"></input>
         </form>
         {% else %}
-        <form action="/unfollow/{{ user.username }}" method="post">
+        <form action="/unfollow/" method="post">
             {% csrf_token %}
+            <input type="hidden" name="user" value="{{ user.username }}"></input>
             <input type="submit" value="Unfollow"></input>
         </form>
         {% endif %}
@@ -38,13 +40,13 @@
             {% if not request.user in follower.followers.all %}
             <form action="/follow/" method="post">
                 {% csrf_token %}
-                <input type="hidden" name="user" value="{{ follower.id }}"></input>
+                <input type="hidden" name="user" value="{{ follower.username }}"></input>
                 <input type="submit" value="Follow"></input>
             </form>
             {% else %}
             <form action="/unfollow/" method="post">
                 {% csrf_token %}
-                <input type="hidden" name="user" value="{{ follower.id }}"></input>
+                <input type="hidden" name="user" value="{{ follower.username }}"></input>
                 <input type="submit" value="Unfollow"></input>
             </form>
             {% endif %}
diff --git a/fedireads/urls.py b/fedireads/urls.py
index d01b62a40..b064137ed 100644
--- a/fedireads/urls.py
+++ b/fedireads/urls.py
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ urlpatterns = [
     re_path(r'^comment/?$', views.comment),
     re_path(r'^favorite/(?P<status_id>\d+)/?$', views.favorite),
     re_path(r'^shelve/?$', views.shelve),
-    re_path(r'^follow/(?P<username>[\w@\.-]+)/?$', views.follow),
-    re_path(r'^unfollow/(?P<username>[\w@\.-]+)/?$', views.unfollow),
+    re_path(r'^follow/?$', views.follow),
+    re_path(r'^unfollow/?$', views.unfollow),
     re_path(r'^search/?$', views.search),
     re_path(r'^edit_profile/?$', views.edit_profile),
 
diff --git a/fedireads/views.py b/fedireads/views.py
index 4aa128cf7..90401e757 100644
--- a/fedireads/views.py
+++ b/fedireads/views.py
@@ -362,8 +362,9 @@ def favorite(request, status_id):
 
 
 @login_required
-def follow(request, username):
+def follow(request):
     ''' follow another user, here or abroad '''
+    username = request.POST['user']
     # should this be an actor rather than an id? idk
     to_follow = models.User.objects.get(username=username)
 
@@ -374,8 +375,9 @@ def follow(request, username):
 
 
 @login_required
-def unfollow(request, username):
+def unfollow(request):
     ''' unfollow a user '''
+    username = request.POST['user']
     to_unfollow = models.User.objects.get(username=username)
 
     outgoing.handle_outgoing_unfollow(request.user, to_unfollow)