diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/user.py b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
index 6367dcaef..6f58c300a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
@@ -478,10 +478,13 @@ def set_remote_server(user_id):
         get_remote_reviews.delay(user.outbox)
 
 
-def get_or_create_remote_server(domain):
+def get_or_create_remote_server(domain, refresh=False):
     """get info on a remote server"""
+    server = FederatedServer()
     try:
-        return FederatedServer.objects.get(server_name=domain)
+        server = FederatedServer.objects.get(server_name=domain)
+        if not refresh:
+            return server
     except FederatedServer.DoesNotExist:
         pass
 
@@ -496,13 +499,15 @@ def get_or_create_remote_server(domain):
         application_type = data.get("software", {}).get("name")
         application_version = data.get("software", {}).get("version")
     except ConnectorException:
+        if server.id:
+            return server
         application_type = application_version = None
 
-    server = FederatedServer.objects.create(
-        server_name=domain,
-        application_type=application_type,
-        application_version=application_version,
-    )
+    server.server_name = domain
+    server.application_type = application_type
+    server.application_version = application_version
+
+    server.save()
     return server
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/settings/federation/instance.html b/bookwyrm/templates/settings/federation/instance.html
index e5ea882d1..cb6b1fc37 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/settings/federation/instance.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/settings/federation/instance.html
@@ -11,6 +11,13 @@
 {% endif %}
 {% endblock %}
 
+{% block edit-button %}
+<form name="reload" method="POST" action="{% url 'settings-federated-server-refresh' server.id %}">
+    {% csrf_token %}
+    <button class="button" type="submit">{% trans "Refresh data" %}</button>
+</form>
+{% endblock %}
+
 {% block breadcrumbs %}
 <nav class="breadcrumb subtitle" aria-label="breadcrumbs">
     <ul>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/urls.py b/bookwyrm/urls.py
index d2caa76ea..8da1cafc9 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/urls.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/urls.py
@@ -144,6 +144,11 @@ urlpatterns = [
         views.unblock_server,
         name="settings-federated-server-unblock",
     ),
+    re_path(
+        r"^settings/federation/(?P<server>\d+)/refresh/?$",
+        views.refresh_server,
+        name="settings-federated-server-refresh",
+    ),
     re_path(
         r"^settings/federation/add/?$",
         views.AddFederatedServer.as_view(),
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/__init__.py b/bookwyrm/views/__init__.py
index 76e9ff024..988fe95aa 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/__init__.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/__init__.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from .admin.automod import AutoMod, automod_delete, run_automod
 from .admin.dashboard import Dashboard
 from .admin.federation import Federation, FederatedServer
 from .admin.federation import AddFederatedServer, ImportServerBlocklist
-from .admin.federation import block_server, unblock_server
+from .admin.federation import block_server, unblock_server, refresh_server
 from .admin.email_blocklist import EmailBlocklist
 from .admin.ip_blocklist import IPBlocklist
 from .admin.invite import ManageInvites, Invite, InviteRequest
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/admin/federation.py b/bookwyrm/views/admin/federation.py
index 1eb778cd1..d95553491 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/admin/federation.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/admin/federation.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from django.views.decorators.http import require_POST
 
 from bookwyrm import forms, models
 from bookwyrm.settings import PAGE_LENGTH
+from bookwyrm.models.user import get_or_create_remote_server
 
 
 # pylint: disable= no-self-use
@@ -163,3 +164,14 @@ def unblock_server(request, server):
     server = get_object_or_404(models.FederatedServer, id=server)
     server.unblock()
     return redirect("settings-federated-server", server.id)
+
+
+@login_required
+@require_POST
+@permission_required("bookwyrm.control_federation", raise_exception=True)
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+def refresh_server(request, server):
+    """unblock a server"""
+    server = get_object_or_404(models.FederatedServer, id=server)
+    get_or_create_remote_server(server.server_name, refresh=True)
+    return redirect("settings-federated-server", server.id)