diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/directory/community_filter.html b/bookwyrm/templates/directory/community_filter.html
index 91783fd36..3d101fcee 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/directory/community_filter.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/directory/community_filter.html
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@
 {% block filter %}
 <legend class="label">{% trans "Community" %}</legend>
 <label class="is-block">
-    <input type="radio" class="radio" name="scope" value="local" {% if request.GET.scope == "local" %}checked{% endif %}>
+    <input type="radio" class="radio" name="scope" value="local" {% if scope == "local" %}checked{% endif %}>
     {% trans "Local users" %}
 </label>
 <label class="is-block">
-    <input type="radio" class="radio" name="scope" value="federated" {% if request.GET.scope == "federated" %}checked{% endif %}>
+    <input type="radio" class="radio" name="scope" value="federated" {% if scope == "federated" %}checked{% endif %}>
     {% trans "Federated community" %}
 </label>
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/directory/sort_filter.html b/bookwyrm/templates/directory/sort_filter.html
index 344366016..5de7d6a10 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/directory/sort_filter.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/directory/sort_filter.html
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 <div class="control">
     <div class="select">
         <select name="sort" id="id_sort">
-            <option value="recent" {% if request.GET.sort == "recent" %}selected{% endif %}>{% trans "Recently active" %}</option>
-            <option value="suggested" {% if request.GET.sort == "suggested" %}selected{% endif %}>{% trans "Suggested" %}</option>
+            <option value="recent" {% if sort == "recent" %}selected{% endif %}>{% trans "Recently active" %}</option>
+            <option value="suggested" {% if sort == "suggested" %}selected{% endif %}>{% trans "Suggested" %}</option>
         </select>
     </div>
 </div>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/directory.py b/bookwyrm/views/directory.py
index 81898af26..7b2ee78b5 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/directory.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/directory.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class Directory(View):
         software = request.GET.get("software")
         if not software or software == "bookwyrm":
             filters["bookwyrm_user"] = True
-        scope = request.GET.get("scope")
+        scope = request.GET.get("scope", "federated")
         if scope == "local":
             filters["local"] = True
 
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ class Directory(View):
                 page.number, on_each_side=2, on_ends=1
             ),
             "users": page,
+            "sort": sort,
+            "scope": scope,
         }
         return TemplateResponse(request, "directory/directory.html", data)