diff --git a/server/controllers/api/claim/publish/index.js b/server/controllers/api/claim/publish/index.js
index d5f6a312..ca958e4b 100644
--- a/server/controllers/api/claim/publish/index.js
+++ b/server/controllers/api/claim/publish/index.js
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+const logger = require('winston');
+
 const { details: { host }, publishing: { disabled, disabledMessage } } = require('@config/siteConfig');
 
 const { sendGATimingEvent } = require('../../../../utils/googleAnalytics.js');
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@ const authenticateUser = require('./authentication.js');
 
 */
 
-const claimPublish = ({ body, files, headers, ip, originalUrl, user }, res) => {
+const claimPublish = ({ body, files, headers, ip, originalUrl, user, tor }, res) => {
   // check for disabled publishing
   if (disabled) {
     return res.status(503).json({
@@ -27,6 +29,16 @@ const claimPublish = ({ body, files, headers, ip, originalUrl, user }, res) => {
       message: disabledMessage
     });
   }
+  // check for tor
+  logger.debug('tor:', tor);
+  if (tor) {
+    const failureResponse = {
+      success: 'false',
+      message: 'Unfortunately this api route is not currently available for tor users.  We are working on a solution that will allow tor users to use this endpoint in the future.',
+    };
+    return res.status(400).json(failureResponse);
+  }
+
   // define variables
   let  channelName, channelId, channelPassword, description, fileName, filePath, fileType, gaStartTime, license, name, nsfw, thumbnail, thumbnailFileName, thumbnailFilePath, thumbnailFileType, title;
   // record the start time of the request
diff --git a/server/middleware/torCheckMiddleware.js b/server/middleware/torCheckMiddleware.js
index bb4d9840..3d415417 100644
--- a/server/middleware/torCheckMiddleware.js
+++ b/server/middleware/torCheckMiddleware.js
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 const logger = require('winston');
 const db = require('../models');
 
-const torCheck = ({ ip, headers, body }, res, next) => {
+const torCheck = (req, res, next) => {
+  const { ip } = req;
   logger.debug(`tor check for: ${ip}`);
   return db.Tor.findAll(
     {
@@ -12,17 +13,8 @@ const torCheck = ({ ip, headers, body }, res, next) => {
     })
     .then(result => {
       logger.debug('tor check results:', result);
-      if (result.length >= 1) {
-        logger.debug('this is a tor ip');
-        const failureResponse = {
-          success: 'false',
-          message: 'Unfortunately this api route is not currently available for tor users.  We are working on a solution that will allow tor users to use this endpoint in the future.',
-        };
-        return res.status(400).json(failureResponse);
-      } else {
-        logger.debug('this is not a tor ip');
-        return next();
-      }
+      req['tor'] = (result.length >= 1); // add this to the req object
+      next();
     })
     .catch(error => {
       logger.error(error);