diff --git a/appview/db/reaction.go b/appview/db/reaction.go
index 62bccb28..5d65c2a5 100644
--- a/appview/db/reaction.go
+++ b/appview/db/reaction.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package db
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"log"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/bluesky-social/indigo/atproto/syntax"
@@ -26,32 +25,6 @@ func UpsertReaction(e Execer, reaction models.Reaction) error {
 	return err
 }
 
-// Get a reaction record
-func GetReaction(e Execer, did string, subjectAt syntax.ATURI, kind models.ReactionKind) (*models.Reaction, error) {
-	query := `
-	select did, subject_at, created, rkey
-	from reactions
-	where did = ? and subject_at = ? and kind = ?`
-	row := e.QueryRow(query, did, subjectAt, kind)
-
-	var reaction models.Reaction
-	var created string
-	err := row.Scan(&reaction.ReactedByDid, &reaction.ThreadAt, &created, &reaction.Rkey)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	createdAtTime, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, created)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Println("unable to determine followed at time")
-		reaction.Created = time.Now()
-	} else {
-		reaction.Created = createdAtTime
-	}
-
-	return &reaction, nil
-}
-
 // Remove a reaction
 func DeleteReaction(e Execer, did syntax.DID, subjectAt syntax.ATURI, kind models.ReactionKind) ([]syntax.ATURI, error) {
 	var deleted []syntax.ATURI
@@ -133,19 +106,28 @@ func GetReactionMap(e Execer, userLimit int, subjectAt syntax.ATURI) (map[models
 	return reactionMap, rows.Err()
 }
 
-func GetReactionStatus(e Execer, userDid string, threadAt syntax.ATURI, kind models.ReactionKind) bool {
-	if _, err := GetReaction(e, userDid, threadAt, kind); err != nil {
-		return false
-	} else {
-		return true
-	}
+func GetReactionStatus(e Execer, userDid string, threadAt syntax.ATURI, kind models.ReactionKind) (bool, error) {
+	var exists bool
+	err := e.QueryRow(
+		`select exists (
+			select 1 from reactions
+			where did = ? and subject_at = ? and kind = ?
+		)`,
+		userDid,
+		threadAt,
+		kind,
+	).Scan(&exists)
+	return exists, err
 }
 
-func GetReactionStatusMap(e Execer, userDid string, threadAt syntax.ATURI) map[models.ReactionKind]bool {
+func GetReactionStatusMap(e Execer, userDid string, threadAt syntax.ATURI) (map[models.ReactionKind]bool, error) {
 	statusMap := map[models.ReactionKind]bool{}
 	for _, kind := range models.OrderedReactionKinds {
-		count := GetReactionStatus(e, userDid, threadAt, kind)
-		statusMap[kind] = count
+		reacted, err := GetReactionStatus(e, userDid, threadAt, kind)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		statusMap[kind] = reacted
 	}
-	return statusMap
+	return statusMap, nil
 }
diff --git a/appview/issues/issues.go b/appview/issues/issues.go
index 4e60a579..715773ed 100644
--- a/appview/issues/issues.go
+++ b/appview/issues/issues.go
@@ -99,7 +99,10 @@ func (rp *Issues) RepoSingleIssue(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 	userReactions := map[models.ReactionKind]bool{}
 	if user != nil {
-		userReactions = db.GetReactionStatusMap(rp.db, user.Active.Did, issue.AtUri())
+		userReactions, err = db.GetReactionStatusMap(rp.db, user.Active.Did, issue.AtUri())
+		if err != nil {
+			l.Error("failed to get issue reaction status", "err", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	backlinks, err := db.GetBacklinks(rp.db, issue.AtUri())
diff --git a/appview/pulls/pulls.go b/appview/pulls/pulls.go
index a0dcc317..46b4125d 100644
--- a/appview/pulls/pulls.go
+++ b/appview/pulls/pulls.go
@@ -227,12 +227,15 @@ func (s *Pulls) repoPullHelper(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, interdiff
 
 	reactionMap, err := db.GetReactionMap(s.db, 20, pull.AtUri())
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Println("failed to get pull reactions")
+		s.logger.Error("failed to get pull reaction status", "err", err)
 	}
 
 	userReactions := map[models.ReactionKind]bool{}
 	if user != nil {
-		userReactions = db.GetReactionStatusMap(s.db, user.Active.Did, pull.AtUri())
+		userReactions, err = db.GetReactionStatusMap(s.db, user.Active.Did, pull.AtUri())
+		if err != nil {
+			s.logger.Error("failed to get pull reaction status", "err", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	labelDefs, err := db.GetLabelDefinitions(