diff --git a/bookwyrm/forms/admin.py b/bookwyrm/forms/admin.py
index a2b35a374..7fa621858 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/forms/admin.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/forms/admin.py
@@ -184,6 +184,12 @@ class FederationSettings(CustomForm):
             "disable_federation",
         ]
 
+        widgets = {
+            "disable_federation": forms.CheckboxInput(
+                attrs={"aria-describedby": "desc_disable_federation"}
+            ),
+        }
+
 
 class AutoModRuleForm(CustomForm):
     class Meta:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/settings/federation/settings.html b/bookwyrm/templates/settings/federation/settings.html
index 79c78bd49..665bc2952 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/settings/federation/settings.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/settings/federation/settings.html
@@ -30,12 +30,15 @@
     method="POST"
 >
     {% csrf_token %}
-    <section class="block">
+    <section class="block box">
         <div class="field">
             <label class="label" for="id_disable_federation">
                 {{ form.disable_federation }}
                 {% trans "Disable federation" %}
             </label>
+            <span class="help" id="desc_disable_federation">
+                {% trans "Prevents your instance from interacting with other federated services. Existing data from other instances will still be present." %}
+            </span>
         </div>
     </section>
     <footer class="block">