diff --git a/server/controllers/assets/serveByClaim/index.js b/server/controllers/assets/serveByClaim/index.js
index 208bc46a..fdabdc96 100644
--- a/server/controllers/assets/serveByClaim/index.js
+++ b/server/controllers/assets/serveByClaim/index.js
@@ -16,6 +16,16 @@ const { SHOW } = require('../constants/request_types.js');
 
 const serveByClaim = (req, res) => {
   const { headers, ip, originalUrl, params } = req;
+  // return early if channel request
+  let isChannel = false;
+  try {
+    ({ isChannel } = lbryUri.parseIdentifier(params.claim));
+  } catch (error) {
+    return res.status(400).json({success: false, message: error.message});
+  }
+  if (isChannel) {
+    return handleShowRender(req, res);
+  }
   // decide if this is a show request
   let hasFileExtension;
   try {
diff --git a/server/controllers/assets/utils/determineRequestType.js b/server/controllers/assets/utils/determineRequestType.js
index 4ca2b4ed..e3ee5448 100644
--- a/server/controllers/assets/utils/determineRequestType.js
+++ b/server/controllers/assets/utils/determineRequestType.js
@@ -8,10 +8,13 @@ function clientWantsAsset ({accept, range}) {
 }
 
 const determineRequestType = (hasFileExtension, headers) => {
+  logger.debug('hasFileExtension:', hasFileExtension);
   logger.debug('headers:', headers);
   if (hasFileExtension || clientWantsAsset(headers)) {
+    logger.debug('client wants direct asset');
     return EMBED;
   }
+  logger.debug('client wants show page');
   return SHOW;
 };