diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d83588
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+NODE_AUTH_KEY=ay1234
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3c3629e..6ed48a9 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
+.env
 node_modules
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 67a130d..480f429 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
       "license": "ISC",
       "dependencies": {
         "axios": "^1.2.2",
+        "dotenv": "^16.1.4",
         "express": "^4.18.2",
         "uuid": "^9.0.0",
         "ws": "^8.13.0"
@@ -258,6 +259,17 @@
         "npm": "1.2.8000 || >= 1.4.16"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/dotenv": {
+      "version": "16.1.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dotenv/-/dotenv-16.1.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-m55RtE8AsPeJBpOIFKihEmqUcoVncQIwo7x9U8ZwLEZw9ZpXboz2c+rvog+jUaJvVrZ5kBOeYQBX5+8Aa/OZQw==",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://github.com/motdotla/dotenv?sponsor=1"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/ee-first": {
       "version": "1.1.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ee-first/-/ee-first-1.1.1.tgz",
@@ -1245,6 +1257,11 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/destroy/-/destroy-1.2.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-2sJGJTaXIIaR1w4iJSNoN0hnMY7Gpc/n8D4qSCJw8QqFWXf7cuAgnEHxBpweaVcPevC2l3KpjYCx3NypQQgaJg=="
     },
+    "dotenv": {
+      "version": "16.1.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dotenv/-/dotenv-16.1.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-m55RtE8AsPeJBpOIFKihEmqUcoVncQIwo7x9U8ZwLEZw9ZpXboz2c+rvog+jUaJvVrZ5kBOeYQBX5+8Aa/OZQw=="
+    },
     "ee-first": {
       "version": "1.1.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ee-first/-/ee-first-1.1.1.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 5a82677..ae3ddd0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
   "license": "ISC",
   "dependencies": {
     "axios": "^1.2.2",
+    "dotenv": "^16.1.4",
     "express": "^4.18.2",
     "uuid": "^9.0.0",
     "ws": "^8.13.0"
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 02210ed..7e8bdb0 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+require('dotenv').config()
 const express = require("express");
 var crypto = require('crypto');
 const { finished } = require("stream");
@@ -82,6 +83,11 @@ wss.on('connection', function connection(ws) {
     console.log('received: %s', data);
 
     if(request["register"]){
+      if(request["register"]["auth_key"] !== process.env.NODE_AUTH_KEY) {
+        console.log("INVALID AUTH KEY. Disconnecting ", nodeID);
+        ws.close(4000, "Invalid auth key");
+        return;
+      }
       ws.send(JSON.stringify({"welcome": { "clientId": nodeID }}));
       console.log("Node registered", nodeID);
     }