diff --git a/templates/exam_overview_js.html b/templates/exam_overview_js.html
index 2b6ba740..d27d785d 100644
--- a/templates/exam_overview_js.html
+++ b/templates/exam_overview_js.html
@@ -143,7 +143,8 @@
                 })
         })
         $("#button-edit-order").click(function (evt) {
-            $(this).remove();
+        // hide the edit button while in edit mode so we can restore it after saving
+        $(this).addClass('d-none').prop('disabled', true);
             sortable('.sortable');
             $("#full-question-list").addClass('sorting');
 
@@ -215,7 +216,7 @@
             });
 
             $("#full-question-list").after($(
-                "<button title='click and drag questions to change order'>Save exam order</button>"
+                "<button id='save-order-button' class='btn btn-primary btn-sm' title='click and drag questions to change order'>Save exam order</button>"
             ).click(() => {
                 new_order = [];
                 $("#full-question-list li").each((n, el) => {
@@ -237,6 +238,20 @@
                         if (data.status == "success") {
                             toastr.info('Exam order changed.')
                             renumber();
+
+                            // cleanup ordering controls and restore edit button
+                            $('#random-order-button').remove();
+                            $('#save-order-button').remove();
+                            $('#cancel-order-button').remove();
+                            // remove per-item move controls
+                            $('#full-question-list .move-up, #full-question-list .move-down').remove();
+                            // remove fallback delete buttons if desired (keep server-side removes intact)
+                            $('#full-question-list .exam-question-delete').remove();
+                            // remove visual sorting state
+                            $('#full-question-list').removeClass('sorting');
+
+                            // restore the edit button so the user can re-enter edit mode
+                            $('#button-edit-order').removeClass('d-none').prop('disabled', false);
                         }
                     })
                     .always(function () {