diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index 559358ea..35d59565 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ from webapp_timeline import htmlInboxBlogs
 from webapp_timeline import htmlInboxNews
 from webapp_timeline import htmlInboxFeatures
 from webapp_timeline import htmlOutbox
+from webapp_media import loadPeertubeInstances
 from webapp_moderation import htmlAccountInfo
 from webapp_moderation import htmlModeration
 from webapp_moderation import htmlModerationInfo
@@ -13637,13 +13638,7 @@ def runDaemon(sendThreadsTimeoutMins: int,
 
     # load peertube instances from file into a list
     httpd.peertubeInstances = []
-    peertubeInstancesFilename = baseDir + '/accounts/peertube.txt'
-    if os.path.isfile(peertubeInstancesFilename):
-        with open(peertubeInstancesFilename, 'r') as fp:
-            peertubeStr = fp.read()
-            if peertubeStr:
-                peertubeStr = peertubeStr.replace('\r', '')
-                httpd.peertubeInstances = peertubeStr.split('\n')
+    loadPeertubeInstances(baseDir, httpd.peertubeInstances)
 
     createInitialLastSeen(baseDir, httpPrefix)
 
diff --git a/webapp_media.py b/webapp_media.py
index 052061ea..dac29749 100644
--- a/webapp_media.py
+++ b/webapp_media.py
@@ -6,6 +6,26 @@ __maintainer__ = "Bob Mottram"
 __email__ = "bob@freedombone.net"
 __status__ = "Production"
 
+import os
+
+
+def loadPeertubeInstances(baseDir: str, peertubeInstances: []) -> None:
+    """Loads peertube instances from file into the given list
+    """
+    peertubeList = None
+    peertubeInstancesFilename = baseDir + '/accounts/peertube.txt'
+    if os.path.isfile(peertubeInstancesFilename):
+        with open(peertubeInstancesFilename, 'r') as fp:
+            peertubeStr = fp.read()
+            if peertubeStr:
+                peertubeStr = peertubeStr.replace('\r', '')
+                peertubeList = peertubeStr.split('\n')
+    if peertubeList:
+        for url in peertubeList:
+            if url in peertubeInstances:
+                continue
+            peertubeInstances.append(url)
+
 
 def _addEmbeddedVideoFromSites(translate: {}, content: str,
                                peertubeInstances: [],