diff --git a/blocking.py b/blocking.py
index b5290af2a..8988290fe 100644
--- a/blocking.py
+++ b/blocking.py
@@ -39,6 +39,64 @@ from conversation import mute_conversation
 from conversation import unmute_conversation
 
 
+def add_account_blocks(base_dir: str,
+                       nickname: str, domain: str,
+                       blocked_accounts_textarea: str) -> bool:
+    """Update the blockfile for an account after editing their
+    profile and changing "blocked accounts"
+    """
+    if blocked_accounts_textarea is None:
+        return False
+    blocklist = blocked_accounts_textarea.split('\n')
+    blocking_file_text = ''
+    blocking_reasons_file_text = ''
+    for line in blocklist:
+        line = line.strip()
+        reason = None
+        if ' ' in line:
+            block_id = line.split(' ', 1)[0]
+            reason = line.split(' ', 1)[1]
+            blocking_reasons_file_text += block_id + ' ' + reason + '\n'
+        else:
+            block_id = line
+        blocking_file_text += block_id + '\n'
+
+    account_directory = acct_dir(base_dir, nickname, domain)
+    blocking_filename = \
+        account_directory + '/blocking.txt'
+    blocking_reasons_filename = \
+        account_directory + '/blocking_reasons.txt'
+
+    if not blocking_file_text:
+        if os.path.isfile(blocking_filename):
+            try:
+                os.remove(blocking_filename)
+            except OSError:
+                print('EX: _profile_edit unable to delete  blocking ' +
+                      blocking_filename)
+        if os.path.isfile(blocking_reasons_filename):
+            try:
+                os.remove(blocking_reasons_filename)
+            except OSError:
+                print('EX: _profile_edit unable to delete blocking reasons' +
+                      blocking_reasons_filename)
+        return True
+
+    try:
+        with open(blocking_filename, 'w+', encoding='utf-8') as fp_block:
+            fp_block.write(blocking_file_text)
+    except OSError:
+        print('EX: Failed to write ' + blocking_filename)
+
+    try:
+        with open(blocking_reasons_filename, 'w+',
+                  encoding='utf-8') as fp_block:
+            fp_block.write(blocking_reasons_file_text)
+    except OSError:
+        print('EX: Failed to write ' + blocking_reasons_filename)
+    return True
+
+
 def _add_global_block_reason(base_dir: str,
                              block_nickname: str, block_domain: str,
                              reason: str) -> bool:
diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index 40972fbff..bb57eb85c 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ from media import replace_twitter
 from media import attach_media
 from media import path_is_video
 from media import path_is_audio
+from blocking import add_account_blocks
 from blocking import get_cw_list_variable
 from blocking import load_cw_lists
 from blocking import update_blocked_cache
@@ -7413,25 +7414,13 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                                       auto_cw_filename)
 
                     # save blocked accounts list
-                    blocked_filename = \
-                        acct_dir(base_dir, nickname, domain) + \
-                        '/blocking.txt'
                     if fields.get('blocked'):
-                        try:
-                            with open(blocked_filename, 'w+',
-                                      encoding='utf-8') as blockedfile:
-                                blockedfile.write(fields['blocked'])
-                        except OSError:
-                            print('EX: unable to write blocked accounts ' +
-                                  blocked_filename)
+                        add_account_blocks(base_dir,
+                                           nickname, domain,
+                                           fields['blocked'])
                     else:
-                        if os.path.isfile(blocked_filename):
-                            try:
-                                os.remove(blocked_filename)
-                            except OSError:
-                                print('EX: _profile_edit ' +
-                                      'unable to delete ' +
-                                      blocked_filename)
+                        add_account_blocks(base_dir,
+                                           nickname, domain, '')
 
                     # Save DM allowed instances list.
                     # The allow list for incoming DMs,