diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/notification.py b/bookwyrm/models/notification.py
index 330bd5b72..59ba59d6c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/notification.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/notification.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from django.db import models, transaction
 from django.dispatch import receiver
 from .base_model import BookWyrmModel
 from . import Boost, Favorite, GroupMemberInvitation, ImportJob, ListItem, Report
-from . import Status, User
+from . import Status, User, UserFollowRequest
 
 
 class Notification(BookWyrmModel):
@@ -257,3 +257,34 @@ def notify_user_on_list_item_add(sender, instance, created, *args, **kwargs):
         for membership in instance.book_list.group.memberships.all():
             if membership.user != instance.user:
                 Notification.notify_list_item(membership.user, instance)
+
+
+@receiver(models.signals.post_save, sender=UserFollowRequest)
+@transaction.atomic
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+def notify_user_on_follow(sender, instance, created, *args, **kwargs):
+    """Someone added to your list"""
+    if not created or not instance.user_object.local:
+        return
+
+    manually_approves = instance.user_object.manually_approves_followers
+    if manually_approves:
+        # don't group notifications
+        notification = Notification.objects.filter(
+            user=instance.user_object,
+            related_users=instance.user_subject,
+            notification_type=Notification.FOLLOW_REQUEST,
+        ).first()
+        if not notification:
+            notification = Notification.objects.create(
+                user=instance.user_object, notification_type=Notification.FOLLOW_REQUEST
+            )
+        notification.related_users.set([instance.user_subject])
+        notification.read = False
+        notification.save()
+    else:
+        Notification.notify(
+            instance.user_object,
+            instance.user_subject,
+            notification_type=Notification.FOLLOW,
+        )
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py b/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py
index bc483805b..082294c0e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 """ defines relationships between users """
-from django.apps import apps
 from django.core.cache import cache
 from django.db import models, transaction, IntegrityError
 from django.db.models import Q
@@ -148,16 +147,6 @@ class UserFollowRequest(ActivitypubMixin, UserRelationship):
             if not manually_approves:
                 self.accept()
 
-            model = apps.get_model("bookwyrm.Notification", require_ready=True)
-            notification_type = (
-                model.FOLLOW_REQUEST if manually_approves else model.FOLLOW
-            )
-            model.notify(
-                self.user_object,
-                self.user_subject,
-                notification_type=notification_type,
-            )
-
     def get_accept_reject_id(self, status):
         """get id for sending an accept or reject of a local user"""
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/follow_request.html b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/follow_request.html
index 9cec8116a..804c35282 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/follow_request.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/notifications/items/follow_request.html
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block description %}
-    {% trans "sent you a follow request" %}
+    {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+    <a href="{{ related_user_link }}">{{ related_user }}</a> sent you a follow request
+    {% endblocktrans %}
     <div class="row shrink">
-        {% include 'snippets/follow_request_buttons.html' with user=notification.related_user %}
+        {% include 'snippets/follow_request_buttons.html' with user=notification.related_users.first %}
     </div>
 {% endblock %}