diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/form_rate_stars.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/form_rate_stars.html
index 25544739..3abebac0 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/form_rate_stars.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/form_rate_stars.html
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
         type="radio"
         name="rating"
         value="0"
-        {% if book|user_rating:user == 0 %}checked{% endif %}
+        {% if default_rating == 0 or not default_rating %}checked{% endif %}
     >
 
     <label class="is-sr-only" for="{{ type|slugify }}-{{ book.id }}-no-rating">
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@
             type="radio"
             name="rating"
             value="{{ forloop.counter }}"
-            {% if book|user_rating:user == forloop.counter %}checked{% endif %}
+            {% if default_rating == forloop.counter %}checked{% endif %}
         />
 
         <label
             class="
                 icon
-                {% if forloop.counter <= book|user_rating:user %}
+                {% if forloop.counter <= default_rating %}
                 icon-star-full
                 {% else %}
                 icon-star-empty
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/rate_action.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/rate_action.html
index 47662147..9fee692d 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/rate_action.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/rate_action.html
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
         <input type="hidden" name="book" value="{{ book.id }}">
         <input type="hidden" name="privacy" value="public">
 
-        {% include 'snippets/form_rate_stars.html' with book=book classes='mb-1 has-text-warning-dark' %}
+        {% include 'snippets/form_rate_stars.html' with book=book classes='mb-1 has-text-warning-dark' default_rating=book|user_rating:request.user %}
 
         <div class="field has-addons hidden">
             <div class="control">