diff --git a/files/helpers/alerts.py b/files/helpers/alerts.py
index e63273c8d..2fa2954da 100644
--- a/files/helpers/alerts.py
+++ b/files/helpers/alerts.py
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ def NOTIFY_USERS(text, v, oldtext=None, ghost=False, obj=None, followers_ping=Tr
 				continue
 
 			if i.group(1) == 'focusgroup' and not v.admin_level:
-				abort(403, f"Only admins can mention !focusgroup")
+				abort(403, "Only admins can mention !focusgroup")
 
 			if i.group(1) == 'everyone':
 				if charge:
diff --git a/files/routes/groups.py b/files/routes/groups.py
index 810cf2132..b8d36ebf9 100644
--- a/files/routes/groups.py
+++ b/files/routes/groups.py
@@ -74,17 +74,17 @@ def create_group(v):
 def join_group(v, group_name):
 	group_name = group_name.strip().lower()
 
-	if group_name == 'verifiedrich':
-		if not v.patron:
-			abort(403, f"Only {patron}s can join !verifiedrich")
+	if group_name == 'verifiedrich' and not v.patron:
+		abort(403, f"Only {patron}s can join !verifiedrich")
 
+	if group_name in {'verifiedrich', 'focusgroup'}:
 		join = GroupMembership(
 				user_id=v.id,
 				group_name=group_name,
 				approved_utc = time.time()
 			)
 		g.db.add(join)
-		return {"message": "You have joined !verifiedrich successfully!"}
+		return {"message": f"You have joined !{group_name} successfully!"}
 
 	group = g.db.get(Group, group_name)
 	if not group: abort(404)
diff --git a/files/templates/group_memberships.html b/files/templates/group_memberships.html
index dd4606dda..9405db511 100644
--- a/files/templates/group_memberships.html
+++ b/files/templates/group_memberships.html
@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@
 	<div class="mx-2">
 		{% if v.id != group.owner_id %}
 			<button id="leave-{{group}}" type="button" class="mt-4 btn btn-danger btn-block {% if v.id not in group.membership_user_ids %}d-none{% endif %}" data-nonce="{{g.nonce}}" data-onclick="postToastSwitch(this,'/!{{group}}/leave','leave-{{group}}','apply-{{group}}','d-none')">
-				{%- if v.id in group.member_ids or group.name == 'verifiedrich' -%}
+				{%- if v.id in group.member_ids or group.name in ('verifiedrich', 'focusgroup') -%}
 					Leave
 				{%- else -%}
 					Cancel Application
 				{%- endif -%}
 			</button>
 
-			<button id="apply-{{group}}" type="button" class="mt-4 {% if v.id in group.membership_user_ids %}d-none{% endif %} btn btn-success btn-block" data-nonce="{{g.nonce}}" data-onclick="postToastSwitch(this,'/!{{group}}/apply','leave-{{group}}','apply-{{group}}','d-none')">{% if group.name != 'verifiedrich' %}Apply to {% endif %}Join</button>
+			<button id="apply-{{group}}" type="button" class="mt-4 {% if v.id in group.membership_user_ids %}d-none{% endif %} btn btn-success btn-block" data-nonce="{{g.nonce}}" data-onclick="postToastSwitch(this,'/!{{group}}/apply','leave-{{group}}','apply-{{group}}','d-none')">{% if group.name not in ('verifiedrich', 'focusgroup') %}Apply to {% endif %}Join</button>
 		{% endif %}
 
 		{% if v.id == group.owner_id %}
diff --git a/files/templates/groups.html b/files/templates/groups.html
index 56576039d..8f6aaa17b 100644
--- a/files/templates/groups.html
+++ b/files/templates/groups.html
@@ -51,14 +51,14 @@
 							<a href="/!{{group}}">{{group.member_ids | length}}</a>
 							{% if v.id != group.owner_id %}
 								<button id="leave-{{group}}" type="button" class="ml-3 ml-md-5 btn btn-primary {% if v.id not in group.membership_user_ids %}d-none{% endif %}" data-nonce="{{g.nonce}}" data-onclick="postToastSwitch(this,'/!{{group}}/leave','leave-{{group}}','apply-{{group}}','d-none')">
-									{%- if v.id in group.member_ids or group.name == 'verifiedrich' -%}
+									{%- if v.id in group.member_ids or group.name in ('verifiedrich', 'focusgroup') -%}
 										Leave
 									{%- else -%}
 										Cancel Application
 									{%- endif -%}
 								</button>
 
-								<button id="apply-{{group}}" type="button" class="ml-3 ml-md-5 {% if v.id in group.membership_user_ids %}d-none{% endif %} btn btn-primary" data-nonce="{{g.nonce}}" data-onclick="postToastSwitch(this,'/!{{group}}/apply','leave-{{group}}','apply-{{group}}','d-none')">{% if group.name != 'verifiedrich' %}Apply to {% endif %}Join</button>
+								<button id="apply-{{group}}" type="button" class="ml-3 ml-md-5 {% if v.id in group.membership_user_ids %}d-none{% endif %} btn btn-primary" data-nonce="{{g.nonce}}" data-onclick="postToastSwitch(this,'/!{{group}}/apply','leave-{{group}}','apply-{{group}}','d-none')">{% if group.name not in ('verifiedrich', 'focusgroup') %}Apply to {% endif %}Join</button>
 							{% endif %}
 						</td>
 						<td>