diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/queue.py b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/queue.py
index 1ff7917a..006b7a04 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/src/download/queue.py
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/src/download/queue.py
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ class PendingList(PendingIndex):
         # add last newline
         bulk_list.append("\n")
         query_str = "\n".join(bulk_list)
-        _, _ = ElasticWrap("_bulk").post(query_str, ndjson=True)
+        _, _ = ElasticWrap("_bulk?refresh=true").post(query_str, ndjson=True)
 
     def _notify_add(self, idx, total):
         """send notification for adding videos to download queue"""
diff --git a/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/downloads.html b/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/downloads.html
index a1d9be29..59f4f039 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/downloads.html
+++ b/tubearchivist/home/templates/home/downloads.html
@@ -20,11 +20,12 @@
             <img id="animate-icon" onclick="showForm()" src="{% static 'img/icon-add.svg' %}" alt="add-icon">
             <p>Add to download queue</p>
             <div class="show-form">
-                <form id='hidden-form'>
+                <div id='hidden-form' novalidate>
                     {% csrf_token %}
                     {{ add_form }}
-                    <button onclick="addToQueue()">Add to download queue</button>
-                </form>
+                    <button onclick="addToQueue()">Add to queue</button>
+                    <button onclick="addToQueue(true)">Download now</button>
+                </div>
             </div>
         </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/tubearchivist/static/css/style.css b/tubearchivist/static/css/style.css
index 07b59c00..9ece9873 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/static/css/style.css
+++ b/tubearchivist/static/css/style.css
@@ -369,6 +369,10 @@ button:hover {
     display: none;
 }
 
+#hidden-form button {
+    margin-right: 1rem;
+}
+
 #text-reveal {
     height: 0;
     overflow: hidden;
diff --git a/tubearchivist/static/script.js b/tubearchivist/static/script.js
index 59161447..cc770741 100644
--- a/tubearchivist/static/script.js
+++ b/tubearchivist/static/script.js
@@ -160,18 +160,22 @@ function dlPending() {
   }, 500);
 }
 
-function addToQueue() {
+function addToQueue(autostart=false) {
   let textArea = document.getElementById('id_vid_url');
   if (textArea.value === '') {
     return
   }
   let toPost = {data: [{youtube_id: textArea.value, status: 'pending'}]};
   let apiEndpoint = '/api/download/';
+  if (autostart) {
+    apiEndpoint = `${apiEndpoint}?autostart=true`;
+  }
   apiRequest(apiEndpoint, 'POST', toPost);
-  textArea.value = "";
+  textArea.value = '';
   setTimeout(function () {
     checkMessages();
   }, 500);
+  showForm();
 }
 
 function toIgnore(button) {