diff --git a/bookwyrm/forms.py b/bookwyrm/forms.py
index cb9a1e97..865bc02f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/forms.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/forms.py
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ class GoalForm(CustomForm):
 class SiteForm(CustomForm):
     class Meta:
         model = models.SiteSettings
-        exclude = []
+        exclude = ["admin_code", "install_mode"]
         widgets = {
             "instance_short_description": forms.TextInput(
                 attrs={"aria-describedby": "desc_instance_short_description"}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/settings/site.html b/bookwyrm/templates/settings/site.html
index 8efad308..2ecd988e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/settings/site.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/settings/site.html
@@ -15,6 +15,24 @@
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block panel %}
+{% if success %}
+<div class="notification is-success is-light">
+    <span class="icon icon-check" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+    <span>
+        {% trans "Settings saved" %}
+    </span>
+</div>
+{% endif %}
+
+{% if site_form.errors %}
+<div class="notification is-danger is-light">
+    <span class="icon icon-x" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+    <span>
+        {% trans "Unable to save settings" %}
+    </span>
+</div>
+{% endif %}
+
 <form action="{% url 'settings-site' %}" method="POST" class="content" enctype="multipart/form-data">
     {% csrf_token %}
     <section class="block" id="instance_info">
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/admin/site.py b/bookwyrm/views/admin/site.py
index 4dc14be1..7e75a820 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/admin/site.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/admin/site.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 """ manage site settings """
 from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required, permission_required
-from django.shortcuts import redirect
 from django.template.response import TemplateResponse
 from django.utils.decorators import method_decorator
 from django.views import View
@@ -32,7 +31,8 @@ class Site(View):
             return TemplateResponse(request, "settings/site.html", data)
         form.save()
 
-        return redirect("settings-site")
+        data = {"site_form": forms.SiteForm(instance=site), "success": True}
+        return TemplateResponse(request, "settings/site.html", data)
 
 
 @login_required