diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/ostatus/error.html b/bookwyrm/templates/ostatus/error.html
index cb1aec40..442c35b9 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/ostatus/error.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/ostatus/error.html
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 {% block content %}
 <div class="block">
-    {% if not request.user.is_authenticated %}
+    {% if not request.user.is_authenticated and not error == 'remote_subscribe' %}
     <div class="navbar-item">
 
       <div class="columns">
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/ostatus/subscribe.html b/bookwyrm/templates/ostatus/subscribe.html
index 66245ffc..7bf6299a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/ostatus/subscribe.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/ostatus/subscribe.html
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block heading %}
-{% if not request.user.is_authenticated %}
+{% if not request.user.is_authenticated and not error == 'remote_subscribe' %}
 {% trans "Let's log in first..." %}
 {% elif error %}
 {% trans 'Uh oh...' %}