diff --git a/bookwyrm/suggested_users.py b/bookwyrm/suggested_users.py
index d0937cfd..a98da13e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/suggested_users.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/suggested_users.py
@@ -132,6 +132,16 @@ def update_suggestions_on_follow(sender, instance, created, *args, **kwargs):
     suggested_users.rerank_obj(instance.user_object)
 
 
+@receiver(signals.post_save, sender=models.UserBlocks)
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+def update_suggestions_on_block(sender, instance, *args, **kwargs):
+    """remove blocked users from recs"""
+    if instance.user_subject.local:
+        suggested_users.remove_suggestion(instance.user_subject, instance.user_object)
+    if instance.user_object.local:
+        suggested_users.remove_suggestion(instance.user_object, instance.user_subject)
+
+
 @receiver(signals.post_delete, sender=models.UserFollows)
 # pylint: disable=unused-argument
 def update_suggestions_on_unfollow(sender, instance, **kwargs):
@@ -163,7 +173,7 @@ def add_new_user(sender, instance, created, **kwargs):
         # a new user is found, create suggestions for them
         suggested_users.rerank_user_suggestions(instance)
 
-    # TODO: this happens on every save, not just when discoverability changes
+    # this happens on every save, not just when discoverability changes, annoyingly
     if instance.discoverable:
         suggested_users.rerank_obj(instance, update_only=False)
     elif not created:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/get_started/users.html b/bookwyrm/templates/get_started/users.html
index 753691fb..7ec7ed9d 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/get_started/users.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/get_started/users.html
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
     <form class="field has-addons" method="get" action="{% url 'get-started-users' %}">
         <div class="control">
             <input type="text" name="query" value="{{ request.GET.query }}" class="input" placeholder="{% trans 'Search for a user' %}" aria-label="{% trans 'Search for a user' %}">
-            {% if request.GET.query and not user_results %}
+            {% if request.GET.query and no_results %}
             <p class="help">{% blocktrans with query=request.GET.query %}No users found for "{{ query }}"{% endblocktrans %}</p>
             {% endif %}
         </div>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/get_started.py b/bookwyrm/views/get_started.py
index bae23212..eeef1d9e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/get_started.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/get_started.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from django.views import View
 
 from bookwyrm import forms, models
 from bookwyrm.connectors import connector_manager
+from bookwyrm.suggested_users import suggested_users
 from .user import save_user_form
 
 
@@ -117,12 +118,12 @@ class GetStartedUsers(View):
             )
             .order_by("-similarity")[:5]
         )
+        data = {"no_results": not user_results}
 
         if user_results.count() < 5:
-            suggested_users = []  # TODO: get_suggested_users(request.user)
-            user_results = list(user_results) + list(suggested_users)
+            user_results = list(user_results) + suggested_users.get_suggestions(
+                request.user
+            )
 
-        data = {
-            "suggested_users": user_results,
-        }
+        data["suggested_users"] = user_results
         return TemplateResponse(request, "get_started/users.html", data)