diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/follow.py b/bookwyrm/views/follow.py
index 6b1de5e6..4c61417a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/follow.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/follow.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ def remote_follow(request):
         if remote_user[0] == "@":
             remote_user = remote_user[1:]
         remote_domain = remote_user.split("@")[1]
-    except:
+    except IndexError:
         remote_domain = None
 
     wf_response = subscribe_remote_webfinger(remote_user)
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def remote_follow(request):
         }
         return TemplateResponse(request, "ostatus/subscribe.html", data)
 
-    if type(wf_response) == WebFingerError:
+    if isinstance(wf_response, WebFingerError):
         data = {
             "account": remote_user,
             "user": user,
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py b/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
index af98f7e8..f6ac8979 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ from bookwyrm.utils import regex
 class WebFingerError(Exception):
     """error class for problems finding user information with webfinger"""
 
-    pass
+    def __init__(self, message):
+        super().__init__(message)
 
 
 def get_user_from_username(viewer, username):