diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/ComposeActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/ComposeActivity.java
index b49b4c687..2c459fd81 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/ComposeActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/ComposeActivity.java
@@ -313,22 +313,9 @@ public final class ComposeActivity
                     getString(R.string.compose_active_account_description,
                             activeAccount.getFullName()));
 
-            mastodonApi.getInstance().enqueue(new Callback<Instance>() {
-                @Override
-                public void onResponse(@NonNull Call<Instance> call, @NonNull Response<Instance> response) {
-                    if (response.isSuccessful() && response.body().getMaxTootChars() != null) {
-                        maximumTootCharacters = response.body().getMaxTootChars();
-                        updateVisibleCharactersLeft();
-                        cacheInstanceMetadata(activeAccount);
-                    }
-                }
-
-                @Override
-                public void onFailure(@NonNull Call<Instance> call, @NonNull Throwable t) {
-                    Log.w(TAG, "error loading instance data", t);
-                    loadCachedInstanceMetadata(activeAccount);
-                }
-            });
+            mastodonApi.getInstance()
+                    .as(autoDisposable(from(this, Lifecycle.Event.ON_DESTROY)))
+                    .subscribe(this::onFetchInstanceSuccess, this::onFetchInstanceFailure);
 
             mastodonApi.getCustomEmojis().enqueue(new Callback<List<Emoji>>() {
                 @Override
@@ -1851,6 +1838,19 @@ public final class ComposeActivity
                 (mimeType.startsWith("image/") || mimeType.startsWith("video/") || mimeType.equals("text/plain")));
     }
 
+    private void onFetchInstanceSuccess(Instance instance) {
+        if (instance != null && instance.getMaxTootChars() != null) {
+            maximumTootCharacters = instance.getMaxTootChars();
+            updateVisibleCharactersLeft();
+            cacheInstanceMetadata(accountManager.getActiveAccount());
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void onFetchInstanceFailure(Throwable throwable) {
+        Log.w(TAG, "error loading instance data", throwable);
+        loadCachedInstanceMetadata(accountManager.getActiveAccount());
+    }
+
     public static final class QueuedMedia {
         Type type;
         ProgressImageView preview;
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/EditProfileActivity.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/EditProfileActivity.kt
index 60537d89d..06f9c9b51 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/EditProfileActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/EditProfileActivity.kt
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import com.keylesspalace.tusky.adapter.AccountFieldEditAdapter
 import com.keylesspalace.tusky.di.Injectable
 import com.keylesspalace.tusky.di.ViewModelFactory
 import com.keylesspalace.tusky.entity.Account
+import com.keylesspalace.tusky.entity.Instance
 import com.keylesspalace.tusky.util.*
 import com.keylesspalace.tusky.viewmodel.EditProfileViewModel
 import com.mikepenz.google_material_typeface_library.GoogleMaterial
@@ -164,6 +165,18 @@ class EditProfileActivity : BaseActivity(), Injectable {
             }
         })
 
+        viewModel.obtainInstance()
+        viewModel.instanceData.observe(this, Observer<Resource<Instance>> { result ->
+            when (result) {
+                is Success -> {
+                    val instance = result.data
+                    if (instance?.maxBioChars != null && instance.maxBioChars > 0) {
+                        noteEditTextLayout.counterMaxLength = instance.maxBioChars
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        })
+
         observeImage(viewModel.avatarData, avatarPreview, avatarProgressBar, true)
         observeImage(viewModel.headerData, headerPreview, headerProgressBar, false)
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/entity/Instance.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/entity/Instance.kt
index 959af1fad..ef0933f1d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/entity/Instance.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/entity/Instance.kt
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ data class Instance (
         val thumbnail: String?,
         val languages: List<String>,
         @SerializedName("contact_account") val contactAccount: Account,
-        @SerializedName("max_toot_chars") val maxTootChars: Int?
+        @SerializedName("max_toot_chars") val maxTootChars: Int?,
+        @SerializedName("max_bio_chars") val maxBioChars: Int?
 ) {
     override fun hashCode(): Int {
         return uri.hashCode()
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/network/MastodonApi.java b/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/network/MastodonApi.java
index 71606d3aa..cb30099ad 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/network/MastodonApi.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/network/MastodonApi.java
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ public interface MastodonApi {
     Call<List<Emoji>> getCustomEmojis();
 
     @GET("api/v1/instance")
-    Call<Instance> getInstance();
+    Single<Instance> getInstance();
 
     @GET("/api/v1/conversations")
     Call<List<Conversation>> getConversations(@Nullable @Query("max_id") String maxId, @Query("limit") int limit);
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/viewmodel/EditProfileViewModel.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/viewmodel/EditProfileViewModel.kt
index d9c9274b2..54078e477 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/viewmodel/EditProfileViewModel.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/viewmodel/EditProfileViewModel.kt
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import com.keylesspalace.tusky.EditProfileActivity.Companion.HEADER_WIDTH
 import com.keylesspalace.tusky.appstore.EventHub
 import com.keylesspalace.tusky.appstore.ProfileEditedEvent
 import com.keylesspalace.tusky.entity.Account
+import com.keylesspalace.tusky.entity.Instance
 import com.keylesspalace.tusky.entity.StringField
 import com.keylesspalace.tusky.network.MastodonApi
 import com.keylesspalace.tusky.util.*
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ class EditProfileViewModel  @Inject constructor(
     val avatarData = MutableLiveData<Resource<Bitmap>>()
     val headerData = MutableLiveData<Resource<Bitmap>>()
     val saveData = MutableLiveData<Resource<Nothing>>()
+    val instanceData = MutableLiveData<Resource<Instance>>()
 
     private var oldProfileData: Account? = null
 
@@ -267,5 +269,20 @@ class EditProfileViewModel  @Inject constructor(
         disposeables.dispose()
     }
 
+    fun obtainInstance() {
+        if(instanceData.value == null || instanceData.value is Error) {
+            instanceData.postValue(Loading())
+
+            mastodonApi.instance.subscribe(
+                            {instance ->
+                                instanceData.postValue(Success(instance))
+                            },
+                            {
+                                instanceData.postValue(Error())
+                            })
+                    .addTo(disposeables)
+        }
+    }
+
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_edit_profile.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_edit_profile.xml
index 50617b61b..36ec77b95 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_edit_profile.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_edit_profile.xml
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@
 
                 <com.google.android.material.textfield.TextInputLayout
                     style="@style/TuskyTextInput"
+                    android:id="@+id/noteEditTextLayout"
                     android:layout_width="match_parent"
                     android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                     android:layout_marginStart="16dp"
diff --git a/app/src/test/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/ComposeActivityTest.kt b/app/src/test/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/ComposeActivityTest.kt
index 12522908f..326a386d4 100644
--- a/app/src/test/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/ComposeActivityTest.kt
+++ b/app/src/test/java/com/keylesspalace/tusky/ComposeActivityTest.kt
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ import org.mockito.Mockito.`when`
 import org.mockito.Mockito.mock
 import org.robolectric.Robolectric
 import androidx.test.ext.junit.runners.AndroidJUnit4
+import io.reactivex.Single
+import io.reactivex.SingleObserver
 import org.robolectric.annotation.Config
 import org.robolectric.fakes.RoboMenuItem
 import retrofit2.Call
@@ -77,7 +79,7 @@ class ComposeActivityTest {
             notificationVibration = true,
             notificationLight = true
     )
-    var instanceResponseCallback: ((Call<Instance>?, Callback<Instance>?)->Unit)? = null
+    var instanceResponseCallback: (()->Instance)? = null
 
     @Before
     fun setupActivity() {
@@ -109,28 +111,14 @@ class ComposeActivityTest {
 
             override fun enqueue(callback: Callback<List<Emoji>>?) {}
         })
-        `when`(apiMock.instance).thenReturn(object: Call<Instance> {
-            override fun isExecuted(): Boolean {
-                return false
-            }
-            override fun clone(): Call<Instance> {
-                throw Error("not implemented")
-            }
-            override fun isCanceled(): Boolean {
-                throw Error("not implemented")
-            }
-            override fun cancel() {
-                throw Error("not implemented")
-            }
-            override fun execute(): Response<Instance> {
-                throw Error("not implemented")
-            }
-            override fun request(): Request {
-                throw Error("not implemented")
-            }
-
-            override fun enqueue(callback: Callback<Instance>?) {
-                instanceResponseCallback?.invoke(this, callback)
+        `when`(apiMock.instance).thenReturn(object: Single<Instance>() {
+            override fun subscribeActual(observer: SingleObserver<in Instance>) {
+                val instance = instanceResponseCallback?.invoke()
+                if (instance == null) {
+                    observer.onError(Throwable())
+                } else {
+                    observer.onSuccess(instance)
+                }
             }
         })
 
@@ -181,7 +169,7 @@ class ComposeActivityTest {
 
     @Test
     fun whenMaximumTootCharsIsNull_defaultLimitIsUsed() {
-        instanceResponseCallback = getSuccessResponseCallbackWithMaximumTootCharacters(null)
+        instanceResponseCallback = { getInstanceWithMaximumTootCharacters(null) }
         setupActivity()
         assertEquals(ComposeActivity.STATUS_CHARACTER_LIMIT, activity.maximumTootCharacters)
     }
@@ -189,23 +177,11 @@ class ComposeActivityTest {
     @Test
     fun whenMaximumTootCharsIsPopulated_customLimitIsUsed() {
         val customMaximum = 1000
-        instanceResponseCallback = getSuccessResponseCallbackWithMaximumTootCharacters(customMaximum)
+        instanceResponseCallback = { getInstanceWithMaximumTootCharacters(customMaximum) }
         setupActivity()
         assertEquals(customMaximum, activity.maximumTootCharacters)
     }
 
-    @Test
-    fun whenInitialInstanceRequestFails_defaultValueIsUsed() {
-        instanceResponseCallback = {
-            call: Call<Instance>?, callback: Callback<Instance>? ->
-            if (call != null) {
-                callback?.onResponse(call, Response.error(400, ResponseBody.create(null, "")))
-            }
-        }
-        setupActivity()
-        assertEquals(ComposeActivity.STATUS_CHARACTER_LIMIT, activity.maximumTootCharacters)
-    }
-
     @Test
     fun whenTextContainsNoUrl_everyCharacterIsCounted() {
         val content = "This is test content please ignore thx "
@@ -281,7 +257,8 @@ class ComposeActivityTest {
                         emptyList(),
                         emptyList()
                 ),
-                maximumTootCharacters
+                maximumTootCharacters,
+                null
         )
     }