diff --git a/app/logical/bulk_update_request_processor.rb b/app/logical/bulk_update_request_processor.rb
index 840ee835c..cf2e5b512 100644
--- a/app/logical/bulk_update_request_processor.rb
+++ b/app/logical/bulk_update_request_processor.rb
@@ -113,7 +113,15 @@ class BulkUpdateRequestProcessor
             errors.add(:base, "Can't rename #{args[0]} -> #{args[1]} ('#{args[0]}' has more than #{MAXIMUM_RENAME_COUNT} posts, use an alias instead)")
           end
 
-        when :mass_update, :nuke
+        when :mass_update
+          lhs = PostQueryBuilder.new(args[0])
+          rhs = PostQueryBuilder.new(args[1])
+
+          if lhs.is_simple_tag? && rhs.is_simple_tag?
+            errors.add(:base, "Can't mass update #{args[0]} -> #{args[1]} (use an alias or a rename instead for tag moves)")
+          end
+
+        when :nuke
           # okay
 
         when :invalid_line
@@ -210,11 +218,6 @@ class BulkUpdateRequestProcessor
       case command
       when :create_alias, :rename
         BulkUpdateRequestProcessor.is_tag_move_allowed?(args[0], args[1])
-      when :mass_update
-        lhs = PostQueryBuilder.new(args[0])
-        rhs = PostQueryBuilder.new(args[1])
-
-        lhs.is_simple_tag? && rhs.is_simple_tag? && BulkUpdateRequestProcessor.is_tag_move_allowed?(args[0], args[1])
       else
         false
       end
diff --git a/test/functional/bulk_update_requests_controller_test.rb b/test/functional/bulk_update_requests_controller_test.rb
index ee867f518..9aa36af54 100644
--- a/test/functional/bulk_update_requests_controller_test.rb
+++ b/test/functional/bulk_update_requests_controller_test.rb
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ class BulkUpdateRequestsControllerTest < ActionDispatch::IntegrationTest
           create(:tag, name: "artist1a", category: Tag.categories.artist, post_count: 10)
           create(:tag, name: "artist1b", category: Tag.categories.general, post_count: 0)
           create(:tag, name: "artist2a", category: Tag.categories.artist, post_count: 20)
-          @bulk_update_request = create(:bulk_update_request, script: "mass update artist1a -> artist1b\ncreate alias artist2a -> artist2b")
+          @bulk_update_request = create(:bulk_update_request, script: "rename artist1a -> artist1b\ncreate alias artist2a -> artist2b")
 
           perform_enqueued_jobs do
             post_auth approve_bulk_update_request_path(@bulk_update_request), @builder
diff --git a/test/unit/bulk_update_request_test.rb b/test/unit/bulk_update_request_test.rb
index 9fa911129..d1572c806 100644
--- a/test/unit/bulk_update_request_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/bulk_update_request_test.rb
@@ -308,11 +308,11 @@ class BulkUpdateRequestTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       context "the mass update command" do
         setup do
           @post = create(:post, tag_string: "foo")
-          @bur = create_bur!("mass update foo -> bar", @admin)
+          @bur = create_bur!("mass update foo -> bar baz", @admin)
         end
 
         should "update the tags" do
-          assert_equal("bar", @post.reload.tag_string)
+          assert_equal("bar baz", @post.reload.tag_string)
           assert_equal("approved", @bur.reload.status)
           assert_equal(User.system, @post.versions.last.updater)
         end
@@ -324,6 +324,13 @@ class BulkUpdateRequestTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
           assert_equal("Imageboard", @post.reload.source)
           assert_equal("approved", @bur.reload.status)
         end
+
+        should "not allow mass update for simple A -> B moves" do
+          @bur = build(:bulk_update_request, script: "mass update bunny -> rabbit")
+
+          assert_equal(false, @bur.valid?)
+          assert_equal(["Can't mass update bunny -> rabbit (use an alias or a rename instead for tag moves)"], @bur.errors.full_messages)
+        end
       end
 
       context "the rename command" do
@@ -535,7 +542,7 @@ class BulkUpdateRequestTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
         @script = '
           create alias foo -> bar
           create implication bar -> baz
-          mass update aaa -> bbb
+          mass update aaa -> bbb blah
         '
 
         @bur = create_bur!(@script, @admin)
@@ -554,7 +561,7 @@ class BulkUpdateRequestTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       end
 
       should "process mass updates" do
-        assert_equal("bar baz bbb", @post.reload.tag_string)
+        assert_equal("bar baz bbb blah", @post.reload.tag_string)
       end
 
       should "set the alias/implication approvers" do