diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f7505491b..bbe27debf 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 - Update db:raw queries to support laravel v10 ([849e5103](https://github.com/pixelfed/pixelfed/commit/849e5103))
 - Update RegisterController, store client ip during registration ([d4c967de](https://github.com/pixelfed/pixelfed/commit/d4c967de))
 - Update ApiV1Controller, fix account blocks. Closes #4304 ([98739139](https://github.com/pixelfed/pixelfed/commit/98739139))
+- Update RegisterController, improve max_users calculation and add kb page to redirect to if conditions are met ([1bbee6d0](https://github.com/pixelfed/pixelfed/commit/1bbee6d0))
 -  ([](https://github.com/pixelfed/pixelfed/commit/))
 
 ## [v0.11.5 (2023-03-25)](https://github.com/pixelfed/pixelfed/compare/v0.11.4...v0.11.5)
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Auth/RegisterController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Auth/RegisterController.php
index b4e45934d..0e62abef8 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Auth/RegisterController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Auth/RegisterController.php
@@ -180,7 +180,11 @@ class RegisterController extends Controller
 			}
 			$limit = config('pixelfed.max_users');
 			if($limit) {
-				abort_if($limit <= User::count(), 404);
+				$count = User::where(function($q){ return $q->whereNull('status')->orWhereNotIn('status', ['deleted','delete']); })->count();
+				if($limit <= $count) {
+					return redirect(route('help.instance-max-users-limit'));
+				}
+				abort_if($limit <= $count, 404);
 				return view('auth.register');
 			} else {
 				return view('auth.register');
@@ -204,11 +208,11 @@ class RegisterController extends Controller
 			abort_if(BouncerService::checkIp($request->ip()), 404);
 		}
 
-		$count = User::count();
+		$count = User::where(function($q){ return $q->whereNull('status')->orWhereNotIn('status', ['deleted','delete']); })->count();
 		$limit = config('pixelfed.max_users');
 
 		if(false == config_cache('pixelfed.open_registration') || $limit && $limit <= $count) {
-			return abort(403);
+			return redirect(route('help.instance-max-users-limit'));
 		}
 
 		$this->validator($request->all())->validate();
diff --git a/resources/views/site/help/instance-max-users.blade.php b/resources/views/site/help/instance-max-users.blade.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bf68e3125
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/views/site/help/instance-max-users.blade.php
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+@extends('site.help.partial.template', ['breadcrumb'=>'Instance User Limit'])
+
+@section('section')
+
+	<div class="title">
+		<h3 class="font-weight-bold">Instance User Limit</h3>
+	</div>
+	<hr>
+	@if(config('pixelfed.max_users'))
+	<p class="lead">We have a limit on how many users can join our instance to keep our community healthy.</p>
+
+	<p class="lead">If you have been redirected to this page, that means we've reached our user limit or we are not accepting new account registrations at this time.</p>
+
+	<p class="lead">Please try again later, or consider <a href="https://pixelfed.org/servers">joining a different Pixelfed instance</a>.</p>
+	@else
+	<p class="lead">We do not have a limit on how many users can join our instance.</p>
+
+	<p class="lead">If this instance isn't for you, consider <a href="https://pixelfed.org/servers">joining a different Pixelfed instance</a>.</p>
+	@endif
+@endsection
diff --git a/routes/web.php b/routes/web.php
index c0d12153b..6f5d1fc33 100644
--- a/routes/web.php
+++ b/routes/web.php
@@ -562,6 +562,7 @@ Route::domain(config('pixelfed.domain.app'))->middleware(['validemail', 'twofact
 			Route::view('labs-deprecation', 'site.help.labs-deprecation')->name('help.labs-deprecation');
 			Route::view('tagging-people', 'site.help.tagging-people')->name('help.tagging-people');
 			Route::view('licenses', 'site.help.licenses')->name('help.licenses');
+			Route::view('instance-max-users-limit', 'site.help.instance-max-users')->name('help.instance-max-users-limit');
 		});
 		Route::get('newsroom/{year}/{month}/{slug}', 'NewsroomController@show');
 		Route::get('newsroom/archive', 'NewsroomController@archive');