diff --git a/server/routes/api/index.js b/server/routes/api/index.js
index f42cd0b9..b4c31df9 100644
--- a/server/routes/api/index.js
+++ b/server/routes/api/index.js
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+const fs = require('fs');
+
 // middleware
 const multipartMiddleware = require('../../middleware/multipartMiddleware');
 const torCheckMiddleware = require('../../middleware/torCheckMiddleware');
@@ -22,17 +24,28 @@ const getBlockedList = require('../../controllers/api/blocked');
 const getOEmbedData = require('../../controllers/api/oEmbed');
 
 const logger = require('winston');
-
+const ipBanFile = '../../../config/ipBan.txt';
 const forbiddenMessage = '<h1>Forbidden</h1>If you are seeing this by mistake, please contact us using <a href="https://chat.lbry.io/">https://chat.lbry.io/</a>';
 
 let ipCounts = {};
 let blockedAddresses = [];
 
+if(fs.existsSync(ipBanFile)) {
+  const lineReader = require('readline').createInterface({
+    input: require('fs').createReadStream(ipBanFile),
+  });
+
+  lineReader.on('line', (line) => {
+    if(line && line !== '') {
+      blockedAddresses.push(line);
+    }
+  });
+}
+
 const autoblockPublishMiddleware = (req, res, next) => {
   let ip = (req.headers['x-forwarded-for'] || req.connection.remoteAddress).split(/,\s?/)[0];
 
   if(blockedAddresses.indexOf(ip) !== -1) {
-    logger.warn(`Banned IP publish attempt: ${ip}`);
     res.status(403).send(forbiddenMessage);
     res.end();
 
@@ -53,6 +66,8 @@ const autoblockPublishMiddleware = (req, res, next) => {
     blockedAddresses.push(ip);
     res.status(403).send(forbiddenMessage);
     res.end();
+
+    fs.appendFile(ipBanFile, ip + '\n', () => {});
   } else {
     next();
   }