diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py b/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py
index e95c38fa..cd72c756 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/relationship.py
@@ -133,7 +133,9 @@ class UserFollowRequest(ActivitypubMixin, UserRelationship):
                 user_object=self.user_subject,
             )
         ).exists():
-            raise IntegrityError()
+            raise IntegrityError(
+                "Attempting to follow blocked user", self.user_subject, self.user_object
+            )
         super().save(*args, **kwargs)
 
         if broadcast and self.user_subject.local and not self.user_object.local:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/follow.py b/bookwyrm/views/follow.py
index 6e58a2b2..3ee392e3 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/follow.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/follow.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import urllib.parse
 import re
 from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required
-from django.db import IntegrityError
 from django.shortcuts import get_object_or_404, redirect
 from django.template.response import TemplateResponse
 from django.views.decorators.http import require_POST
@@ -23,16 +22,14 @@ def follow(request):
     username = request.POST["user"]
     to_follow = get_user_from_username(request.user, username)
 
-    try:
-        models.UserFollowRequest.objects.create(
-            user_subject=request.user,
-            user_object=to_follow,
-        )
-    except IntegrityError:
-        pass
-
-    if request.GET.get("next"):
-        return redirect(request.GET.get("next", "/"))
+    follow_request, created = models.UserFollowRequest.objects.get_or_create(
+        user_subject=request.user,
+        user_object=to_follow,
+    )
+    if not created:
+        # this request probably failed to connect with the remote
+        # that means we should save to trigger a re-broadcast
+        follow_request.save()
 
     return redirect(to_follow.local_path)