diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py b/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
index bebe00d0..10015bf1 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ def broadcast_task(sender_id, activity, recipients):
     for recipient in recipients:
         try:
             sign_and_send(sender, activity, recipient)
-        except (HTTPError, SSLError) as e:
+        except (HTTPError, SSLError, ConnectionError) as e:
             logger.exception(e)
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/book.py b/bookwyrm/models/book.py
index 6a1a18b1..84bfbc6b 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/book.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/book.py
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ class BookDataModel(ObjectMixin, BookWyrmModel):
             self.remote_id = None
         return super().save(*args, **kwargs)
 
+    def broadcast(self, activity, sender, software='bookwyrm'):
+        ''' only send book data updates to other bookwyrm instances '''
+        super().broadcast(activity, sender, software=software)
+
 
 class Book(BookDataModel):
     ''' a generic book, which can mean either an edition or a work '''