diff --git a/src/server.c b/src/server.c
index 1b254d96..eab510ef 100644
--- a/src/server.c
+++ b/src/server.c
@@ -802,7 +802,7 @@ server_recv_cb(EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
                 close_and_free_server(EV_A_ server);
                 return;
             }
-            if (outbound_block_match_host(host) == 1) {
+            if (acl && outbound_block_match_host(host) == 1) {
                 if (verbose)
                     LOGI("outbound blocked %s", host);
                 close_and_free_server(EV_A_ server);