diff --git a/bookwyrm/management/commands/initdb.py b/bookwyrm/management/commands/initdb.py
index d6101c87..a86a1652 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/management/commands/initdb.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/management/commands/initdb.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand, CommandError
 from django.contrib.auth.models import Group, Permission
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 
-from bookwyrm.models import Connector, SiteSettings, User
+from bookwyrm.models import Connector, FederatedServer, SiteSettings, User
 from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
 
 
@@ -107,6 +107,16 @@ def init_connectors():
     )
 
 
+def init_federated_servers():
+    """ big no to nazis """
+    built_in_blocks = ["gab.ai", "gab.com"]
+    for server in built_in_blocks:
+        FederatedServer.objects.create(
+            server_name=server,
+            status="blocked",
+        )
+
+
 def init_settings():
     SiteSettings.objects.create()
 
@@ -118,4 +128,5 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         init_groups()
         init_permissions()
         init_connectors()
+        init_federated_servers()
         init_settings()
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/settings/federated_server.html b/bookwyrm/templates/settings/federated_server.html
index 13715bfb..edab3139 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/settings/federated_server.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/settings/federated_server.html
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
         </div>
         <div class="is-flex">
             <dt>{% trans "Status:" %}</dt>
-            <dd>Federated</dd>
+            <dd>{{ server.status }}</dd>
         </div>
     </dl>
 </section>