diff --git a/backend/channel/views.py b/backend/channel/views.py
index ce514d8b..7fe0860a 100644
--- a/backend/channel/views.py
+++ b/backend/channel/views.py
@@ -89,8 +89,18 @@ class ChannelApiView(ApiBaseView):
 
     def post(self, request, channel_id):
         """modify channel overwrites"""
+        self.get_document(channel_id)
+        if not self.response["data"]:
+            return Response({"error": "channel not found"}, status=404)
+
         data = request.data
-        if not isinstance(data, dict) or "channel_overwrites" not in data:
+        subscribed = data.get("channel_subscribed")
+        if subscribed is not None:
+            channel_sub = ChannelSubscription()
+            json_data = channel_sub.change_subscribe(channel_id, subscribed)
+            return Response(json_data, status=200)
+
+        if "channel_overwrites" not in data:
             return Response({"error": "invalid payload"}, status=400)
 
         overwrites = data["channel_overwrites"]
diff --git a/backend/download/src/subscriptions.py b/backend/download/src/subscriptions.py
index 1abc2d2c..0c07eb1a 100644
--- a/backend/download/src/subscriptions.py
+++ b/backend/download/src/subscriptions.py
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@ class ChannelSubscription:
         channel.upload_to_es()
         channel.sync_to_videos()
 
+        return channel.json_data
+
 
 class VideoQueryBuilder:
     """Build queries for yt-dlp."""
@@ -280,6 +282,7 @@ class PlaylistSubscription:
         playlist.build_json()
         playlist.json_data["playlist_subscribed"] = subscribe_status
         playlist.upload_to_es()
+        return playlist.json_data
 
     def find_missing(self):
         """find videos in subscribed playlists not downloaded yet"""
@@ -426,7 +429,7 @@ class SubscriptionHandler:
 
     def _subscribe(self, channel_id):
         """subscribe to channel"""
-        ChannelSubscription().change_subscribe(
+        _ = ChannelSubscription().change_subscribe(
             channel_id, channel_subscribed=True
         )
 
diff --git a/backend/playlist/views.py b/backend/playlist/views.py
index ba5a2c72..329d1417 100644
--- a/backend/playlist/views.py
+++ b/backend/playlist/views.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class PlaylistApiListView(ApiBaseView):
     def _unsubscribe(playlist_id: str):
         """unsubscribe"""
         print(f"[{playlist_id}] unsubscribe from playlist")
-        PlaylistSubscription().change_subscribe(
+        _ = PlaylistSubscription().change_subscribe(
             playlist_id, subscribe_status=False
         )
 
@@ -85,8 +85,18 @@ class PlaylistApiView(ApiBaseView):
 
     def post(self, request, playlist_id):
         """post to custom playlist to add a video to list"""
-        playlist = YoutubePlaylist(playlist_id)
-        if not playlist.is_custom_playlist():
+        self.get_document(playlist_id)
+        if not self.response["data"]:
+            return Response({"error": "playlist not found"}, status=404)
+
+        data = request.data
+        subscribed = data.get("playlist_subscribed")
+        if subscribed is not None:
+            playlist_sub = PlaylistSubscription()
+            json_data = playlist_sub.change_subscribe(playlist_id, subscribed)
+            return Response(json_data, status=200)
+
+        if not self.response["data"]["playlist_type"] == "custom":
             message = f"playlist with ID {playlist_id} is not custom"
             return Response({"message": message}, status=400)
 
@@ -95,6 +105,7 @@ class PlaylistApiView(ApiBaseView):
             message = f"invalid action: {action}"
             return Response({"message": message}, status=400)
 
+        playlist = YoutubePlaylist(playlist_id)
         video_id = request.data.get("video_id")
         if action == "create":
             playlist.add_video_to_playlist(video_id)