diff --git a/utils.ts b/utils.ts
index 59a8dec..3c55f7f 100644
--- a/utils.ts
+++ b/utils.ts
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ export function mergeReverseSortedLists(list1: NostrEvent[], list2: NostrEvent[]
  * Checks if a string is a 64-char lowercase hex string as most Nostr ids and pubkeys.
  */
 export function isHex32(input: string): boolean {
+  if (input.length !== 64) return false
   for (let i = 0; i < 64; i++) {
     let cc = input.charCodeAt(i)
     if (isNaN(cc) || cc < 48 || cc > 102 || (cc > 57 && cc < 97)) {