diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 0d790c8..2509959 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -319,11 +319,13 @@ export default class DHTCache extends EventEmitter {
 
       let bufId = b4a.from(toId as Uint8Array) as Buffer;
 
-      if (signature && crypto.verify(bufData, signature, id)) {
-        this._addEntityConnection(id, bufId as Buffer);
-        this._setEntity(bufId as Buffer, { heartbeat: Date.now() });
+      if (!(signature && crypto.verify(bufData, signature, id))) {
+        return;
       }
 
+      this._addEntityConnection(id, bufId as Buffer);
+      this._setEntity(bufId as Buffer, { heartbeat: Date.now() });
+
       this.log.debug(
         `Bootstrap response received from ${bufId.toString("hex")}`
       );