diff --git a/client/helpers/backgroundHelper.go b/client/helpers/backgroundHelper.go
index 2512737..935a8c4 100644
--- a/client/helpers/backgroundHelper.go
+++ b/client/helpers/backgroundHelper.go
@@ -53,8 +53,15 @@ func CheckForMessages(storage_path string, job *client.RequestsJob) (int, string
 			//cr.LookupSignature =
 			crl = append(crl, &cr)
 		}
+		// get server public key
+		if job.Server.PublicKey == "" {
+			key, err := meowlib.HttpGetId(job.Server.Url)
+			if err != nil {
+				return -1, "CheckMessages: HttpGetId", err
+			}
+			job.Server.PublicKey = key["publicKey"]
+		}
 		// build server message
-
 		var toSrv meowlib.ToServerMessage
 		toSrv.PullRequest = crl
 		toSrv.From = job.Server.UserKp.Public