diff --git a/fedireads/status.py b/fedireads/status.py
index 7d6f6b66..61832dd9 100644
--- a/fedireads/status.py
+++ b/fedireads/status.py
@@ -30,10 +30,9 @@ def create_review(user, book, name, content, rating):
     content = sanitize(content)
 
     # no ratings outside of 0-5
-    try:
-        rating = int(rating)
+    if rating:
         rating = rating if 1 <= rating <= 5 else None
-    except ValueError:
+    else:
         rating = None
 
     return models.Review.objects.create(
diff --git a/fedireads/view_actions.py b/fedireads/view_actions.py
index d1542512..34d4f411 100644
--- a/fedireads/view_actions.py
+++ b/fedireads/view_actions.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def review(request):
     # TODO: validation, htmlification
     name = form.data.get('name')
     content = form.data.get('content')
-    rating = form.data.get('rating')
+    rating = form.cleaned_data.get('rating')
 
     # throws a value error if the book is not found
     book = get_or_create_book(book_identifier)