diff --git a/squeaknode/main.py b/squeaknode/main.py
index 9e45b8cd..b016e500 100644
--- a/squeaknode/main.py
+++ b/squeaknode/main.py
@@ -199,6 +199,9 @@ def main():
 def run_server(config):
     # load the network
     network = load_network(config)
+    if network == "mainnet":
+        logger.error("Squeaknode is not ready for mainnet.")
+        sys.exit(1)
     SelectParams(network)
 
     # load the db