diff --git a/protocol/connections/engine.go b/protocol/connections/engine.go
index e3153e1..72c7d97 100644
--- a/protocol/connections/engine.go
+++ b/protocol/connections/engine.go
@@ -135,6 +135,10 @@ func (e *engine) eventHandler() {
 
 func (e *engine) createPeerTemplate() *PeerApp {
 	peerAppTemplate := new(PeerApp)
+	peerAppTemplate.IsBlocked = func(onion string) bool {
+		_, blocked := e.blocked.Load(onion)
+		return blocked
+	}
 	peerAppTemplate.MessageHandler = e.handlePeerMessage
 	peerAppTemplate.OnAcknowledgement = e.ignoreOnShutdown2(e.peerAck)
 	peerAppTemplate.OnAuth = e.ignoreOnShutdown(e.peerAuthed)
@@ -163,11 +167,14 @@ func (e *engine) Shutdown() {
 // peerWithOnion is the entry point for cwtchPeer relationships
 // needs to be run in a goroutine as will block on Open.
 func (e *engine) peerWithOnion(onion string) {
-	e.ignoreOnShutdown(e.peerConnecting)(onion)
-	connected, err := e.service.Connect(onion, e.createPeerTemplate())
-	// Only issue a disconnected error if we are disconnected (Connect will fail if a connection already exists)
-	if !connected && err != nil {
-		e.ignoreOnShutdown(e.peerDisconnected)(onion)
+	_, blocked := e.blocked.Load(onion)
+	if !blocked {
+		e.ignoreOnShutdown(e.peerConnecting)(onion)
+		connected, err := e.service.Connect(onion, e.createPeerTemplate())
+		// Only issue a disconnected error if we are disconnected (Connect will fail if a connection already exists)
+		if !connected && err != nil {
+			e.ignoreOnShutdown(e.peerDisconnected)(onion)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/protocol/connections/peerapp.go b/protocol/connections/peerapp.go
index 581bde5..086e5bb 100644
--- a/protocol/connections/peerapp.go
+++ b/protocol/connections/peerapp.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ type PeerApp struct {
 	applications.AuthApp
 	connection        *tapir.Connection
 	MessageHandler    func(string, string, []byte)
+	IsBlocked         func(string) bool
 	OnAcknowledgement func(string, string)
 	OnAuth            func(string)
 	OnClose           func(string)
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ type PeerMessage struct {
 func (pa PeerApp) NewInstance() tapir.Application {
 	newApp := new(PeerApp)
 	newApp.MessageHandler = pa.MessageHandler
+	newApp.IsBlocked = pa.IsBlocked
 	newApp.OnAcknowledgement = pa.OnAcknowledgement
 	newApp.OnAuth = pa.OnAuth
 	newApp.OnClose = pa.OnClose
@@ -44,9 +46,16 @@ func (pa *PeerApp) Init(connection *tapir.Connection) {
 	pa.AuthApp.Init(connection)
 
 	if connection.HasCapability(applications.AuthCapability) {
+
 		pa.connection = connection
-		pa.OnAuth(connection.Hostname)
-		go pa.listen()
+
+		if pa.IsBlocked(connection.Hostname) {
+			pa.connection.Close()
+			pa.OnClose(connection.Hostname)
+		} else {
+			pa.OnAuth(connection.Hostname)
+			go pa.listen()
+		}
 	} else {
 		pa.OnClose(connection.Hostname)
 	}