diff --git a/server/handlers.go b/server/handlers.go
index 71f05f4..79f3098 100644
--- a/server/handlers.go
+++ b/server/handlers.go
@@ -41,6 +41,15 @@ func eventsHandlerJson(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	headerName := "X-Correlation-Id"
  	substring := "abcdabcd-1234"
 	headerValue, ok := r.Header[headerName]
+	if ok {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(headerValue[0], substring) {
+			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+			var rsp = CustomResponse{Code: 200, Message: "OK"}
+			json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(rsp)
+			fmt.Println("Dropped blacklisted request")
+			return
+	  	}
+	}
 	
 	var reader io.Reader
 	// check if body is gzip compressed
@@ -67,17 +76,6 @@ func eventsHandlerJson(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 	
-	if ok {
-		if strings.HasPrefix(headerValue[0], substring) {
-			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
-			lib.JsonRequestChannel <- &lib.RequestObject{Body: body, Header: r.Header}
-			var rsp = CustomResponse{Code: 200, Message: "OK"}
-			json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(rsp)
-			fmt.Println("Dropped blacklisted request")
-			return
-	  	}
-	}
-
 	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
 	lib.JsonRequestChannel <- &lib.RequestObject{Body: body, Header: r.Header}
 	var rsp = CustomResponse{Code: 200, Message: "OK"}