diff --git a/onionr/onionrutils.py b/onionr/onionrutils.py
index 5ecf14bc..64717a57 100644
--- a/onionr/onionrutils.py
+++ b/onionr/onionrutils.py
@@ -256,7 +256,8 @@ class OnionrUtils:
             Read metadata from a block and cache it to the block database
         '''
         myBlock = Block(blockHash, self._core)
-        myBlock.decrypt()
+        if myBlock.isEncrypted:
+            myBlock.decrypt()
         blockType = myBlock.getMetadata('type') # we would use myBlock.getType() here, but it is bugged with encrypted blocks
         try:
             if len(blockType) <= 10: