diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 4ea11d88..65c31d1c 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@ PEERS=["http://gun.shock.network:8765/gun"]
 MS_TO_TOKEN_EXPIRATION=4500000
 DISABLE_SHOCK_ENCRYPTION=false
 CACHE_HEADERS_MANDATORY=true
-SHOCK_CACHE=true
\ No newline at end of file
+SHOCK_CACHE=true
diff --git a/config/defaults.js b/config/defaults.js
index d30c9ad4..37cae17a 100644
--- a/config/defaults.js
+++ b/config/defaults.js
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ const parsePath = (filePath = "") => {
 
 const lndDirectory = getLndDirectory();
 
+const SHOCK_SUPER_PEER = "http://gun.shock.network:8765/gun"
+
 module.exports = (mainnet = false) => {
   const network = mainnet ? "mainnet" : "testnet";
 
@@ -48,7 +50,7 @@ module.exports = (mainnet = false) => {
     logfile: "shockapi.log",
     lndLogFile: parsePath(`${lndDirectory}/logs/bitcoin/${network}/lnd.log`),
     lndDirPath: lndDirectory,
-    peers: ["http://gun.shock.network:8765/gun"],
+    peers: [SHOCK_SUPER_PEER],
     useTLS: false,
     tokenExpirationMS: 4500000
   }; 
diff --git a/services/gunDB/Mediator/index.js b/services/gunDB/Mediator/index.js
index f8fc73ec..bfd8764b 100644
--- a/services/gunDB/Mediator/index.js
+++ b/services/gunDB/Mediator/index.js
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ require('gun/lib/open')
 // @ts-ignore
 require('gun/lib/load')
 const debounce = require('lodash/debounce')
-const Encryption = require('../../../utils/encryptionStore')
 
+const Encryption = require('../../../utils/encryptionStore')
 const Key = require('../contact-api/key')
 
 /** @type {import('../contact-api/SimpleGUN').ISEA} */
@@ -1275,6 +1275,56 @@ const register = async (alias, pass) => {
     )
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Peers provided to gun.
+   */
+  const peers = Object.values(gun._.opt.peers)
+
+  const theresPeers = peers.length > 0
+  const atLeastOneIsConnected = peers.some(
+    p => p.wire && p.wire.readyState === 1
+  )
+
+  if (theresPeers && !atLeastOneIsConnected) {
+    throw new Error(
+      'No connected to any peers for checking of duplicate aliases'
+    )
+  }
+
+  if (theresPeers && atLeastOneIsConnected) {
+    // this import is done here to avoid circular dependency hell
+    const { timeout5 } = require('../contact-api/utils')
+
+    let userData = await timeout5(
+      new Promise(res => {
+        gun.get(`~@${alias}`).once(ud => res(ud))
+      })
+    )
+
+    if (userData) {
+      throw new Error(
+        'The given alias has been used before, use an unique alias instead.'
+      )
+    }
+
+    await new Promise(res => setTimeout(res, 300))
+
+    userData = await timeout5(
+      new Promise(res => {
+        gun.get(`~@${alias}`).once(ud => res(ud), {
+          // https://github.com/amark/gun/pull/971#issue-438630761
+          wait: 1500
+        })
+      })
+    )
+
+    if (userData) {
+      throw new Error(
+        'The given alias has been used before, use an unique alias instead. (Caught at 2nd try)'
+      )
+    }
+  }
+
   _isRegistering = true
 
   /** @type {import('../contact-api/SimpleGUN').CreateAck} */
@@ -1282,6 +1332,13 @@ const register = async (alias, pass) => {
     user.create(alias, pass, ack => res(ack))
   )
 
+  // An empty ack object seems to be caused by a duplicate alias sign up
+  if ('{}' === JSON.stringify(ack)) {
+    throw new Error(
+      'The given alias has been used before, use an unique alias instead. (Empty ack)'
+    )
+  }
+
   _isRegistering = false
 
   if (typeof ack.err === 'string') {
diff --git a/services/gunDB/config.js b/services/gunDB/config.js
index 355581a1..44dab137 100644
--- a/services/gunDB/config.js
+++ b/services/gunDB/config.js
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ dotenv.config()
 // @ts-ignore Let it crash if undefined
 exports.DATA_FILE_NAME = process.env.DATA_FILE_NAME || defaults.dataFileName
 
-// @ts-ignore Let it crash if undefined
+/**
+ * @type {string[]}
+ */
 exports.PEERS = process.env.PEERS
   ? JSON.parse(process.env.PEERS)
   : defaults.peers
diff --git a/services/gunDB/contact-api/SimpleGUN.ts b/services/gunDB/contact-api/SimpleGUN.ts
index d7e54313..3a9cd77b 100644
--- a/services/gunDB/contact-api/SimpleGUN.ts
+++ b/services/gunDB/contact-api/SimpleGUN.ts
@@ -30,9 +30,20 @@ interface OpenListenerDataObj {
 export type Listener = (data: ListenerData, key: string) => void
 export type Callback = (ack: Ack) => void
 
+export interface Peer {
+  url: string
+  id: string
+  wire?: {
+    readyState: number
+  }
+}
+
 export interface Soul {
   get: string
   put: Primitive | null | object | undefined
+  opt: {
+    peers: Record<string, Peer>
+  }
 }
 
 export type OpenListenerData = Primitive | null | OpenListenerDataObj
diff --git a/src/routes.js b/src/routes.js
index 73222778..032cf5c3 100644
--- a/src/routes.js
+++ b/src/routes.js
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ module.exports = async (
           logger.error(err);
           return res.status(500).json({
             field: "unknown",
-            errorMessage: err
+            errorMessage: err.message || err
           })
         }
       });