diff --git a/lnd/lnd.go b/lnd/lnd.go
index 04979be..53ca8df 100644
--- a/lnd/lnd.go
+++ b/lnd/lnd.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package lnd
 import "github.com/davecgh/go-spew/spew"
 
 func Request(request []byte) (string, int, error) {
-	// https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/73869/rpc-call-to-lnd
 	spew.Dump(request)
 	return "x", 1, nil
 }
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 3dfcd9d..bc13f02 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ func main() {
 			Key:      "npub180cvv07tjdrrgpa0j7j7tmnyl2yr6yr7l8j4s3evf6u64th6gkwsyjh6w6",
 			Hostname: "devvul.com",
 		}
+		nostr.AddNostrAddr(nostrTest)
 	*/
-	nostr.AddNostrAddr(nostrTest)
 	// matrix endpoints
 	http.HandleFunc("/.well-known/matrix/server", matrix.MatrixServer)
 	http.HandleFunc("/.well-known/matrix/client", matrix.MatrixClient)
diff --git a/nostr/nostr.go b/nostr/nostr.go
index adad339..81d2e95 100644
--- a/nostr/nostr.go
+++ b/nostr/nostr.go
@@ -31,14 +31,28 @@ func RequestNostrAddr(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		http.ServeFile(w, r, "nostr/form.html")
 	case "POST":
 		r.ParseForm()
-		relays := make(map[string][]string)
-		npub := r.FormValue("Key")
-		// convert npub to hex
-		hexKey, err := convertNpubToHex(npub)
+		rKey := getRkey(r.FormValue("Name"), getHostname(r.Host))
+		// check if the user already exists
+		redis, err := redis.New("localhost:6379", "", redis.NostrDb)
+		if err != nil {
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+			return
+		}
+		exists := redis.Client.Exists(rKey)
+		if exists.Val() == 1 {
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusConflict)
+			return
+		}
+
+		// get the hexkey
+		hexKey, err := convertNpubToHex(r.FormValue("Key"))
 		if err != nil {
 			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusBadRequest)
 			return
 		}
+
+		// create the struct
+		relays := make(map[string][]string)
 		names := map[string]string{r.FormValue("Name"): hexKey}
 		user := nostrWellKnown{}
 		if r.FormValue("Relays") != "" {
@@ -50,6 +64,8 @@ func RequestNostrAddr(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			user = nostrWellKnown{Names: names}
 		}
 		jsonUser, _ := json.Marshal(user)
+
+		// generate the payment request
 		paymentReq, exp, err := lnd.Request(jsonUser)
 		if err != nil {
 			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusServiceUnavailable)
@@ -74,7 +90,7 @@ func GetNostrAddr(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 	requestedName := r.FormValue("name")
 	// search for user@domain
-	search := fmt.Sprintf("%s@%s", requestedName, getHostname(r.Host))
+	search := getRkey(requestedName, getHostname(r.Host))
 	addr, err := redis.Client.Get(search).Result()
 	if err != nil {
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
@@ -108,7 +124,7 @@ func AddNostrAddr(n NostrRequest) {
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("FAILED")
 	}
-	nameKey := fmt.Sprintf("%s@%s", n.Name, n.Hostname)
+	nameKey := getRkey(n.Name, n.Hostname)
 	err = r.Client.Set(nameKey, jsonUser, redis.NostrDb).Err()
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("FAILED")
@@ -117,9 +133,6 @@ func AddNostrAddr(n NostrRequest) {
 
 func getHostname(hostname string) string {
 	// remove port for local testing
-	if strings.Contains(hostname, ":") {
-		hostname = strings.Split(hostname, ":")[0]
-	}
 	return hostname
 }
 
@@ -135,3 +148,10 @@ func convertNpubToHex(npub string) (string, error) {
 	return hex.(string), nil
 
 }
+
+func getRkey(user string, hostname string) string {
+	if strings.Contains(hostname, ":") {
+		hostname = strings.Split(hostname, ":")[0]
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s@%s", user, hostname)
+}