diff --git a/irc/accounts.go b/irc/accounts.go
index f926e9c1..b75e34b6 100644
--- a/irc/accounts.go
+++ b/irc/accounts.go
@@ -1169,13 +1169,9 @@ func (vh *VHostInfo) checkThrottle(cooldown time.Duration) (err error) {
 // callback type implementing the actual business logic of vhost operations
 type vhostMunger func(input VHostInfo) (output VHostInfo, err error)
 
-func (am *AccountManager) VHostSet(account string, vhost string, cooldown time.Duration) (result VHostInfo, err error) {
+func (am *AccountManager) VHostSet(account string, vhost string) (result VHostInfo, err error) {
 	munger := func(input VHostInfo) (output VHostInfo, err error) {
 		output = input
-		err = output.checkThrottle(cooldown)
-		if err != nil {
-			return
-		}
 		output.Enabled = true
 		output.ApprovedVHost = vhost
 		return
@@ -1205,6 +1201,29 @@ func (am *AccountManager) VHostRequest(account string, vhost string, cooldown ti
 	return am.performVHostChange(account, munger)
 }
 
+func (am *AccountManager) VHostTake(account string, vhost string, cooldown time.Duration) (result VHostInfo, err error) {
+	munger := func(input VHostInfo) (output VHostInfo, err error) {
+		output = input
+
+		// if you have a request pending, you can cancel it using take;
+		// otherwise, you're subject to the same throttling as if you were making a request
+		if output.RequestedVHost == "" {
+			err = output.checkThrottle(cooldown)
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		output.ApprovedVHost = vhost
+		output.RequestedVHost = ""
+		output.RejectedVHost = ""
+		output.RejectionReason = ""
+		output.LastRequestTime = time.Now().UTC()
+		return
+	}
+
+	return am.performVHostChange(account, munger)
+}
+
 func (am *AccountManager) VHostApprove(account string) (result VHostInfo, err error) {
 	munger := func(input VHostInfo) (output VHostInfo, err error) {
 		output = input
diff --git a/irc/hostserv.go b/irc/hostserv.go
index 8cfa9220..6424910b 100644
--- a/irc/hostserv.go
+++ b/irc/hostserv.go
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ func hsSetHandler(server *Server, client *Client, command string, params []strin
 	}
 	// else: command == "del", vhost == ""
 
-	_, err := server.accounts.VHostSet(user, vhost, 0)
+	_, err := server.accounts.VHostSet(user, vhost)
 	if err != nil {
 		hsNotice(rb, client.t("An error occurred"))
 	} else if vhost != "" {
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ func hsTakeHandler(server *Server, client *Client, command string, params []stri
 		return
 	}
 
-	_, err := server.accounts.VHostSet(client.Account(), vhost, config.Accounts.VHosts.UserRequests.Cooldown)
+	_, err := server.accounts.VHostTake(client.Account(), vhost, config.Accounts.VHosts.UserRequests.Cooldown)
 	if err != nil {
 		if throttled, ok := err.(*vhostThrottleExceeded); ok {
 			hsNotice(rb, fmt.Sprintf(client.t("You must wait an additional %v before taking a vhost"), throttled.timeRemaining))