diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/components/modal.html b/bookwyrm/templates/components/modal.html
index d8c1a468..2eabd2e2 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/components/modal.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/components/modal.html
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@
             <h2 class="modal-card-title is-flex-shrink-1" id="modal_card_title_{{ controls_text }}_{{ controls_uid }}">
                 {% block modal-title %}{% endblock %}
             </h2>
-            {% include 'snippets/toggle/toggle_button.html' with label=label class="delete" nonbutton=True %}
+            {% if static %}
+                <a href="/" class="delete">{{ label }}</a>
+            {% else %}
+                {% include 'snippets/toggle/toggle_button.html' with label=label class="delete" nonbutton=True %}
+            {% endif %}
         </header>
         {% block modal-form-open %}{% endblock %}
         {% if not no_body %}
@@ -27,6 +31,10 @@
         </footer>
         {% block modal-form-close %}{% endblock %}
     </div>
-    {% include 'snippets/toggle/toggle_button.html' with label=label class="modal-close is-large" nonbutton=True %}
+    {% if static %}
+        <a href="/" class="modal-close is-large">{{ label }}</a>
+    {% else %}
+        {% include 'snippets/toggle/toggle_button.html' with label=label class="modal-close is-large" nonbutton=True %}
+    {% endif %}
 </div>
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/reading_progress/finish.html b/bookwyrm/templates/reading_progress/finish.html
index ca69128e..501fb3c4 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/reading_progress/finish.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/reading_progress/finish.html
@@ -9,6 +9,6 @@ Finish "{{ book_title }}"
 
 {% block content %}
 
-{% include "snippets/reading_modals/finish_reading_modal.html" with book=book active=True %}
+{% include "snippets/reading_modals/finish_reading_modal.html" with book=book active=True static=True %}
 
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/reading_progress/start.html b/bookwyrm/templates/reading_progress/start.html
index e24a0e05..df8f698a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/reading_progress/start.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/reading_progress/start.html
@@ -9,6 +9,6 @@ Start "{{ book_title }}"
 
 {% block content %}
 
-{% include "snippets/reading_modals/start_reading_modal.html" with book=book active=True %}
+{% include "snippets/reading_modals/start_reading_modal.html" with book=book active=True static=True %}
 
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/reading_progress/want.html b/bookwyrm/templates/reading_progress/want.html
index 6122ade3..31f047cf 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/reading_progress/want.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/reading_progress/want.html
@@ -9,6 +9,6 @@ Want to Read "{{ book_title }}"
 
 {% block content %}
 
-{% include "snippets/reading_modals/want_to_read_modal.html" with book=book active=True %}
+{% include "snippets/reading_modals/want_to_read_modal.html" with book=book active=True static=True %}
 
 {% endblock %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/reading.py b/bookwyrm/views/reading.py
index 9100e1d4..70dc2147 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/reading.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/reading.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ class ReadingStatus(View):
         }.get(status)
         if not template:
             return HttpResponseNotFound()
+        # redirect if we're already on this shelf
         return TemplateResponse(request, f"reading_progress/{template}", {"book": book})
 
     def post(self, request, status, book_id):
@@ -58,11 +59,15 @@ class ReadingStatus(View):
             )
             .first()
         )
+
+        referer = request.headers.get("Referer", "/")
+        if "reading-status" in referer:
+            referer = "/"
         if current_status_shelfbook is not None:
             if current_status_shelfbook.shelf.identifier != desired_shelf.identifier:
                 current_status_shelfbook.delete()
             else:  # It already was on the shelf
-                return redirect(request.headers.get("Referer", "/"))
+                return redirect(referer)
 
         models.ShelfBook.objects.create(
             book=book, shelf=desired_shelf, user=request.user
@@ -87,8 +92,7 @@ class ReadingStatus(View):
             else:
                 privacy = request.POST.get("privacy")
                 handle_reading_status(request.user, desired_shelf, book, privacy)
-
-        return redirect(request.headers.get("Referer", "/"))
+        return redirect(referer)
 
 
 @login_required