diff --git a/sqlx-data.json b/sqlx-data.json
index e80528e..cd3f69f 100644
--- a/sqlx-data.json
+++ b/sqlx-data.json
@@ -77,6 +77,26 @@
     },
     "query": "UPDATE librepages_users set name = $1\n            WHERE name = $2"
   },
+  "3705b8869aab99d749c08d9c9633931f0b74216957b6a2881bd56a33c33a8c47": {
+    "describe": {
+      "columns": [
+        {
+          "name": "exists",
+          "ordinal": 0,
+          "type_info": "Bool"
+        }
+      ],
+      "nullable": [
+        null
+      ],
+      "parameters": {
+        "Left": [
+          "Text"
+        ]
+      }
+    },
+    "query": "SELECT EXISTS (SELECT 1 from librepages_sites WHERE hostname = $1)"
+  },
   "416b9f0412f0d7ee05d4a350839c5a6d1e06c1d7f8942744f6d806ddc47084c2": {
     "describe": {
       "columns": [],
diff --git a/src/db.rs b/src/db.rs
index d69c2d3..72379e0 100644
--- a/src/db.rs
+++ b/src/db.rs
@@ -365,6 +365,24 @@ impl Database {
         .map_err(|e| map_row_not_found_err(e, ServiceError::WebsiteNotFound))?;
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    /// check if hostname exists
+    pub async fn hostname_exists(&self, hostname: &str) -> ServiceResult<bool> {
+        let res = sqlx::query!(
+            "SELECT EXISTS (SELECT 1 from librepages_sites WHERE hostname = $1)",
+            hostname,
+        )
+        .fetch_one(&self.pool)
+        .await
+        .map_err(map_register_err)?;
+
+        let mut resp = false;
+        if let Some(x) = res.exists {
+            resp = x;
+        }
+
+        Ok(resp)
+    }
 }
 struct InnerSite {
     site_secret: String,
@@ -635,7 +653,6 @@ mod tests {
 
         db.register(&p).await.unwrap();
 
-        // testing adding site
         let site = Site {
             site_secret: "foobar".into(),
             repo_url: "https://git.batsense.net/LibrePages/librepages.git".into(),
@@ -643,8 +660,16 @@ mod tests {
             hostname: "db_works.tests.librepages.librepages.org".into(),
             owner: p.username.into(),
         };
+
+        // test if hostname exists. Should be false
+        assert!(!db.hostname_exists(&site.hostname).await.unwrap());
+
+        // testing adding site
         db.add_site(&site).await.unwrap();
 
+        // test if hostname exists. Should be true
+        assert!(db.hostname_exists(&site.hostname).await.unwrap());
+
         // get site
         let db_site = db.get_site(p.username, &site.hostname).await.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(db_site, site);
@@ -662,6 +687,8 @@ mod tests {
 
         // delete site
         db.delete_site(p.username, &site.hostname).await.unwrap();
-        assert!(db.list_all_sites(p.username).await.unwrap().is_empty());
+
+        // test if hostname exists. Should be false
+        assert!(!db.hostname_exists(&site.hostname).await.unwrap());
     }
 }