diff --git a/server/controllers/api/claim/publish/index.js b/server/controllers/api/claim/publish/index.js
index d636de8d..4f551053 100644
--- a/server/controllers/api/claim/publish/index.js
+++ b/server/controllers/api/claim/publish/index.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const logger = require('winston');
 const { details: { host }, publishing: { disabled, disabledMessage } } = require('@config/siteConfig');
 
 const { sendGATimingEvent } = require('../../../../utils/googleAnalytics.js');
+const { publishing: { publishOnlyApproved, approvedChannels } } = require('@config/siteConfig');
 
 const { handleErrorResponse } = require('../../../utils/errorHandlers.js');
 
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ const parsePublishApiRequestFiles = require('./parsePublishApiRequestFiles.js');
 const authenticateUser = require('./authentication.js');
 
 const CLAIM_TAKEN = 'CLAIM_TAKEN';
+const UNAPPROVED_CHANNEL = 'UNAPPROVED_CHANNEL';
 
 /*
 
@@ -54,6 +56,13 @@ const claimPublish = ({ body, files, headers, ip, originalUrl, user, tor }, res)
   // check channel authorization
   authenticateUser(channelName, channelId, channelPassword, user)
     .then(({ channelName, channelClaimId }) => {
+      if (publishOnlyApproved && approvedChannels && !approvedChannels.includes(channelClaimId)) {
+        const error = {
+          name   : UNAPPROVED_CHANNEL,
+          message: 'This spee.ch instance only allows publishing to approved channels',
+        };
+        throw error;
+      }
       return Promise.all([
         checkClaimAvailability(name),
         createPublishParams(filePath, name, title, description, license, nsfw, thumbnail, channelName, channelClaimId),
@@ -98,6 +107,12 @@ const claimPublish = ({ body, files, headers, ip, originalUrl, user, tor }, res)
           message: error.message,
         });
       }
+      if (error.name === UNAPPROVED_CHANNEL) {
+        res.status(400).json({
+          success: false,
+          message: error.message,
+        });
+      }
       handleErrorResponse(originalUrl, ip, error, res);
     });
 };