diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/feed/feed.html b/bookwyrm/templates/feed/feed.html
index 780f1d17..39eebb26 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/feed/feed.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/feed/feed.html
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 {# announcements and system messages #}
 {% if not activities.number > 1 %}
 <a href="{{ request.path }}" class="transition-y is-hidden notification is-primary is-block" data-poll-wrapper>
-    {% blocktrans %}load <span data-poll="stream/{{ tab.key }}">0</span> unread status(es){% endblocktrans %}
+    {% blocktrans with tab_key=tab.key %}load <span data-poll="stream/{{ tab_key }}">0</span> unread status(es){% endblocktrans %}
 </a>
 
 {% if request.user.show_goal and not goal and tab.key == streams.first.key %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/create_status/content_field.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/create_status/content_field.html
index 583a73d6..0a42a832 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/create_status/content_field.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/create_status/content_field.html
@@ -14,6 +14,6 @@ draft: an existing Status object that is providing default values for input fiel
     id="id_content_{{ type }}_{{ book.id }}{{ reply_parent.id }}"
     placeholder="{{ placeholder }}"
     aria-label="{% if reply_parent %}{% trans 'Reply' %}{% else %}{% trans 'Content' %}{% endif %}"
-    required
+    {% if type != "quotation" %}required{% endif %}
 >{% if reply_parent %}{{ reply_parent|mentions:request.user }}{% endif %}{% if mention %}@{{ mention|username }} {% endif %}{{ draft.content|default:'' }}</textarea>
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/body.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/body.html
index d205f423..2c8a0e04 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/body.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status/body.html
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 {% block card-content %}
 {% with status_type=status.status_type %}
 
-{% if status_type == 'GeneratedNote' or status_type == 'Rating' or not status.content %}
+{% if status_type == 'GeneratedNote' or status_type == 'Rating' %}
     {% include 'snippets/status/generated_status.html' with status=status %}
 {% else %}
     {% include 'snippets/status/content_status.html' with status=status %}