diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 05b2ee3..44b4275 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
 /target
+/.idea
 ServerConfig.toml
+beammp_rust_server.iml
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index b4ac64d..899783e 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -43,3 +43,21 @@ pub struct GeneralSettings {
     #[serde(rename = "ResourceFolder")]
     pub resource_folder: String,
 }
+
+impl GeneralSettings {
+    pub fn is_auth_key_valid(&self) -> bool {
+        // Valid key format
+        // xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx
+        // -8--------4----4----4----12---------
+        if self.auth_key.is_none() {return false}
+        let key = self.auth_key.clone().unwrap();
+        let key_check: Vec<&str> = key.split("-").collect();
+        if key_check.len() != 5 {return false}
+        else if key_check[0].len() != 8 {return false}
+        else if key_check[1].len() != 4 {return false}
+        else if key_check[2].len() != 4 {return false}
+        else if key_check[3].len() != 4 {return false}
+        else if key_check[4].len() != 12 {return false}
+        true
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/heartbeat.rs b/src/heartbeat.rs
index daa2e83..cf02ae4 100644
--- a/src/heartbeat.rs
+++ b/src/heartbeat.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ struct HeartbeatInfo {
 }
 
 pub async fn backend_heartbeat(config: std::sync::Arc<crate::config::Config>, mut hb_rx: Receiver<crate::server::ServerStatus>) {
+    if !config.general.is_auth_key_valid() {
+        debug!{"auth_key has invalid format. canceling hearbeat init"};
+        return;
+    }
     let mut info = HeartbeatInfo {
         uuid: config.general.auth_key.clone().unwrap_or(String::from("Unknown name!")),
         players: 0,