diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/test_utils.py b/bookwyrm/tests/test_utils.py
index 60f3185e6..61ed2262c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ class TestUtils(TestCase):
 
     def test_invalid_url_domain(self):
         """Check with an invalid URL"""
-        self.assertEqual(
-            validate_url_domain("https://up-to-no-good.tld/bad-actor.exe"), "/"
+        self.assertIsNone(
+            validate_url_domain("https://up-to-no-good.tld/bad-actor.exe")
         )
 
     def test_default_url_domain(self):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/utils/validate.py b/bookwyrm/utils/validate.py
index 89aee4782..b91add3ad 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/utils/validate.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/utils/validate.py
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN, USE_HTTPS
 
 
-def validate_url_domain(url, default="/"):
+def validate_url_domain(url):
     """Basic check that the URL starts with the instance domain name"""
     if not url:
-        return default
+        return None
 
-    if url in ("/", default):
+    if url == "/":
         return url
 
     protocol = "https://" if USE_HTTPS else "http://"
@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@ def validate_url_domain(url, default="/"):
     if url.startswith(origin):
         return url
 
-    return default
+    return None
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py b/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
index f89ea0dfe..4f5e00e41 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/helpers.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from bookwyrm import activitypub, models, settings
 from bookwyrm.connectors import ConnectorException, get_data
 from bookwyrm.status import create_generated_note
 from bookwyrm.utils import regex
+from bookwyrm.utils.validate import validate_url_domain
 
 
 # pylint: disable=unnecessary-pass
@@ -219,3 +220,15 @@ def maybe_redirect_local_path(request, model):
         new_path = f"{model.local_path}?{request.GET.urlencode()}"
 
     return redirect(new_path, permanent=True)
+
+
+def redirect_to_referer(request, *args):
+    """Redirect to the referrer, if it's in our domain, with get params"""
+    # make sure the refer is part of this instance
+    validated = validate_url_domain(request.META.get("HTTP_REFERER"))
+
+    if validated:
+        return redirect(validated)
+
+    # if not, use the args passed you'd normally pass to redirect()
+    return redirect(*args or "/")