diff --git a/server/.env.sample b/server/.env.sample
index a238994..aaa4f3f 100644
--- a/server/.env.sample
+++ b/server/.env.sample
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # Server port
 DISPLAY_SERVER_PORT=3030
 
+# Require Tor for outside API calls
+DISPLAY_FORCE_TOR=false
+
 # Bitcoin RPC credentials for getting the blockcount.
 # Omit these setting to use blockchain.info as a fallback.
 # DISPLAY_BITCOIN_RPC_USER="bitcoin-rpc-user"
diff --git a/server/data.sh b/server/data.sh
index 84c0b1e..435d960 100755
--- a/server/data.sh
+++ b/server/data.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ torCheck=$(torsocks curl -s https://check.torproject.org/ 2>/dev/null | grep -c
 if [ ${torCheck} -gt 0 ]; then
   tor="torsocks"
 fi
+if [[ -z "${tor}" && ${DISPLAY_FORCE_TOR} = true ]]; then
+  echo >&2 'Tor is required, but not available.'
+  exit 1
+fi
 
 # Get block height using RPC connection or Blockchain.info as fallback
 if [[ "${DISPLAY_BITCOIN_RPC_USER}" && "${DISPLAY_BITCOIN_RPC_PASS}" ]]; then