diff --git a/src/pinnwand/defensive.py b/src/pinnwand/defensive.py
index df412f3..4a5ebd5 100644
--- a/src/pinnwand/defensive.py
+++ b/src/pinnwand/defensive.py
@@ -15,9 +15,7 @@
 ratelimit_area: Dict[str, token_bucket.Limiter] = {}
 
 
-def should_be_ratelimited(
-    request: HTTPServerRequest, area: str = "global"
-) -> bool:
+def should_be_ratelimited(ip_address: str, area: str = "global") -> bool:
     """Test if a requesting IP is ratelimited for a certain area. Areas are
     different functionalities of the website, for example 'view' or 'input' to
     differentiate between creating new pastes (low volume) or high volume
@@ -38,10 +36,10 @@ def should_be_ratelimited(
         )
 
     if not ratelimit_area[area].consume(
-        request.remote_ip.encode("utf-8"),
+        ip_address.encode("utf-8"),
         configuration.ratelimit[area]["consume"],
     ):
-        log.warning("%s hit rate limit for %r", request.remote_ip, area)
+        log.warning("%s hit rate limit for %r", ip_address, area)
         return True
 
     return False
@@ -53,7 +51,7 @@ def ratelimit(area: str):
     def wrapper(func):
         @wraps(func)
         def inner(request_handler: RequestHandler, *args, **kwargs):
-            if should_be_ratelimited(request_handler.request, area):
+            if should_be_ratelimited(request_handler.request.remote_ip, area):
                 raise error.RatelimitError()
             return func(request_handler, *args, **kwargs)