diff --git a/markdown.py b/markdown.py
index 1727f90fc..b43e53ce2 100644
--- a/markdown.py
+++ b/markdown.py
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ def _markdown_replace_code(markdown: str) -> str:
     line_ctr = 0
     changed = False
     section_active = False
-    urlencode = False
+    url_encode = False
     html_escape_table = {
         "&": "&",
         '"': """,
@@ -291,22 +291,22 @@ def _markdown_replace_code(markdown: str) -> str:
         if line.startswith('```'):
             if not section_active:
                 if 'html' in line or 'xml' in line or 'rdf' in line:
-                    urlencode = True
+                    url_encode = True
                 start_line = line_ctr
                 section_active = True
             else:
                 lines[start_line] = '<code>'
                 lines[line_ctr] = '</code>'
-                if urlencode:
+                if url_encode:
                     lines[start_line] = '<pre>\n<code>'
                     lines[line_ctr] = '</code>\n</pre>'
-                for line_num in range(start_line + 1, line_ctr):
-                    lines[line_num] = \
-                        "".join(html_escape_table.get(char, char)
-                                for char in lines[line_num])
+                    for line_num in range(start_line + 1, line_ctr):
+                        lines[line_num] = \
+                            "".join(html_escape_table.get(char, char)
+                                    for char in lines[line_num])
                 section_active = False
                 changed = True
-                urlencode = False
+                url_encode = False
         line_ctr += 1
 
     if not changed:
diff --git a/session.py b/session.py
index 664a553b9..78998fe35 100644
--- a/session.py
+++ b/session.py
@@ -396,6 +396,17 @@ def verify_html(session, url: str, debug: bool,
                   url)
         return False
     verification_site_html = verification_site_html.decode()
+
+    # does the site contain rel="me" links?
+    if ' rel="me" ' not in verification_site_html:
+        return False
+
+    # ensure that there are not too many rel="me" links
+    sections = verification_site_html.split(' rel="me" ')
+    me_links_count = len(sections) - 1
+    if me_links_count > 5:
+        return False
+
     actor_links = [
         domain + '/@' + nickname,
         domain + '/users/' + nickname