diff --git a/bookwyrm/forms/forms.py b/bookwyrm/forms/forms.py
index 4aa1e5758..ea6093750 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/forms/forms.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/forms/forms.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 """ using django model forms """
+import datetime
 from django import forms
 from django.forms import widgets
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
@@ -7,7 +8,6 @@ from bookwyrm import models
 from bookwyrm.models.user import FeedFilterChoices
 from .custom_form import CustomForm
 
-
 # pylint: disable=missing-class-docstring
 class FeedStatusTypesForm(CustomForm):
     class Meta:
@@ -58,6 +58,21 @@ class ReadThroughForm(CustomForm):
             self.add_error(
                 "stopped_date", _("Reading stopped date cannot be before start date.")
             )
+        current_time = datetime.datetime.now()
+        if (
+            stopped_date is not None
+            and current_time.timestamp() < stopped_date.timestamp()
+        ):
+            self.add_error(
+                "stopped_date", _("Reading stopped date cannot be in the future.")
+            )
+        if (
+            finish_date is not None
+            and current_time.timestamp() < finish_date.timestamp()
+        ):
+            self.add_error(
+                "finish_date", _("Reading finished date cannot be in the future.")
+            )
 
     class Meta:
         model = models.ReadThrough