diff --git a/bookwyrm/suggested_users.py b/bookwyrm/suggested_users.py
index a6d09ecd..7b20461a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/suggested_users.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/suggested_users.py
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ class SuggestedUsers(RedisStore):
 
     def rerank_user_suggestions(self, user):
         """update the ranks of the follows suggested to a user"""
+        if not user.local:
+            raise ValueError('Attempting to create suggestions for remote user: ', user.id)
         self.populate_store(self.store_id(user))
 
     def get_suggestions(self, user):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/feed/feed.html b/bookwyrm/templates/feed/feed.html
index 21e71ae1..78b03436 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/feed/feed.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/feed/feed.html
@@ -44,18 +44,22 @@
 
 {# activity feed #}
 {% if not activities %}
-<p>{% trans "There aren't any activities right now! Try following a user to get started" %}</p>
+<div class="block content">
+    <p>{% trans "There aren't any activities right now! Try following a user to get started" %}</p>
+
+    {% if suggested_users %}
+    {# suggested users for when things are very lonely #}
+    {% include 'feed/suggested_users.html' with suggested_users=suggested_users %}
+</div>
+{% endif %}
+
 {% endif %}
 
 {% for activity in activities %}
 
 {% if not activities.number > 1 and forloop.counter0 == 2 and suggested_users %}
 {# suggested users on the first page, two statuses down #}
-<section class="block">
-    <h2 class="title is-5">{% trans "Who to follow" %}</h2>
-    {% include 'feed/suggested_users.html' with suggested_users=suggested_users %}
-    <a class="help" href="{% url 'directory' %}">View directory <span class="icon icon-arrow-right"></a>
-</section>
+{% include 'feed/suggested_users.html' with suggested_users=suggested_users %}
 {% endif %}
 <div class="block">
     {% include 'snippets/status/status.html' with status=activity %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/feed/suggested_users.html b/bookwyrm/templates/feed/suggested_users.html
index eb146f7e..c095faa5 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/feed/suggested_users.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/feed/suggested_users.html
@@ -1,25 +1,6 @@
 {% load i18n %}
-{% load utilities %}
-{% load humanize %}
-<div class="columns is-mobile scroll-x mb-0">
-    {% for user in suggested_users %}
-    <div class="column is-flex is-flex-grow-0">
-        <div class="box has-text-centered is-shadowless has-background-white-bis m-0">
-            <a href="{{ user.local_path }}" class="has-text-black">
-                {% include 'snippets/avatar.html' with user=user large=True %}
-                <span title="{{ user.display_name }}" class="is-block is-6 has-text-weight-bold">{{ user.display_name|truncatechars:10 }}</span>
-                <span title="@{{ user|username }}" class="is-block pb-3">@{{ user|username|truncatechars:8 }}</span>
-            </a>
-            {% include 'snippets/follow_button.html' with user=user minimal=True %}
-            {% if user.mutuals %}
-            <p class="help">
-            {% blocktrans with mutuals=user.mutuals|intcomma count counter=user.mutuals %}{{ mutuals }} follower you follow{% plural %}{{ mutuals }} followers you follow{% endblocktrans %}
-            </p>
-            {% elif user.shared_books %}
-            <p class="help">{% blocktrans with shared_books=user.shared_books|intcomma count counter=user.shared_books %}{{ shared_books }} book on your shelves{% plural %}{{ shared_books }} books on your shelves{% endblocktrans %}</p>
-            {% endif %}
-        </div>
-    </div>
-    {% endfor %}
-</div>
-
+<section class="block">
+    <h2 class="title is-5">{% trans "Who to follow" %}</h2>
+    {% include 'snippets/suggested_users.html' with suggested_users=suggested_users %}
+    <a class="help" href="{% url 'directory' %}">View directory <span class="icon icon-arrow-right"></a>
+</section>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/get_started/users.html b/bookwyrm/templates/get_started/users.html
index 259f06d3..753691fb 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/get_started/users.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/get_started/users.html
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
         </div>
     </form>
 
-    {% include 'feed/suggested_users.html' with suggested_users=suggested_users %}
+    {% include 'snippets/suggested_users.html' with suggested_users=suggested_users %}
 </div>
 {% endblock %}
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/suggested_users.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/suggested_users.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eb146f7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/suggested_users.html
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+{% load i18n %}
+{% load utilities %}
+{% load humanize %}
+<div class="columns is-mobile scroll-x mb-0">
+    {% for user in suggested_users %}
+    <div class="column is-flex is-flex-grow-0">
+        <div class="box has-text-centered is-shadowless has-background-white-bis m-0">
+            <a href="{{ user.local_path }}" class="has-text-black">
+                {% include 'snippets/avatar.html' with user=user large=True %}
+                <span title="{{ user.display_name }}" class="is-block is-6 has-text-weight-bold">{{ user.display_name|truncatechars:10 }}</span>
+                <span title="@{{ user|username }}" class="is-block pb-3">@{{ user|username|truncatechars:8 }}</span>
+            </a>
+            {% include 'snippets/follow_button.html' with user=user minimal=True %}
+            {% if user.mutuals %}
+            <p class="help">
+            {% blocktrans with mutuals=user.mutuals|intcomma count counter=user.mutuals %}{{ mutuals }} follower you follow{% plural %}{{ mutuals }} followers you follow{% endblocktrans %}
+            </p>
+            {% elif user.shared_books %}
+            <p class="help">{% blocktrans with shared_books=user.shared_books|intcomma count counter=user.shared_books %}{{ shared_books }} book on your shelves{% plural %}{{ shared_books }} books on your shelves{% endblocktrans %}</p>
+            {% endif %}
+        </div>
+    </div>
+    {% endfor %}
+</div>
+