diff --git a/apiserver/feed.py b/apiserver/feed.py
index 554485d..327f133 100644
--- a/apiserver/feed.py
+++ b/apiserver/feed.py
@@ -54,8 +54,12 @@ def get_article(url):
 
     logging.info('Trying our server instead...')
 
+    if not settings.READER_URL:
+        logging.info('Readerserver not configured, aborting.')
+        return ''
+
     try:
-        r = requests.post(READ_API, data=dict(url=url), timeout=20)
+        r = requests.post(settings.READER_URL, data=dict(url=url), timeout=20)
         if r.status_code != 200:
             raise Exception('Bad response code ' + str(r.status_code))
         return r.text
diff --git a/apiserver/settings.py.example b/apiserver/settings.py.example
index 3064e5d..391d751 100644
--- a/apiserver/settings.py.example
+++ b/apiserver/settings.py.example
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ NUM_TILDES = 5
 #MEILI_URL = 'http://127.0.0.1:7700/'
 MEILI_URL = ''
 
+# Readerserver URL
+# Leave blank if not using, but that defeats the whole point
+READER_URL = 'http://127.0.0.1:33843/'
+
 # Reddit account info
 # leave blank if not using Reddit
 REDDIT_CLIENT_ID = ''