diff --git a/src/lib/stores/repo.ts b/src/lib/stores/repo.ts
index 2382481..ebba0a4 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/repo.ts
+++ b/src/lib/stores/repo.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ let selected_unsubscriber: Unsubscriber
 
 export const ensureSelectedRepoCollection = (
   a: string,
-  naddr_relays: string[] | undefined = undefined,
+  naddr_relays: string[] | undefined = undefined
 ): Writable<RepoCollection> => {
   if (selected_repo_a !== a) {
     let loading = true
@@ -106,11 +106,16 @@ const ensureRepoReadme = async (clone: string[], a: string): Promise<void> => {
     ]
     for (let i = 0; i < readme_urls.length; i++) {
       try {
+        // temporarily disable using proxy
+        if (!readme_urls[i].includes('raw.githubusercontent.com')) {
+          continue
+        }
         const res = await fetch(
-          readme_urls[i].includes('raw.githubusercontent.com')
-            ? readme_urls[i]
-            : // use proxy as most servers produce a CORS error
-              `/git_proxy/readme/${encodeURIComponent(readme_urls[i])}`
+          readme_urls[i]
+          // readme_urls[i].includes('raw.githubusercontent.com')
+          //   ? readme_urls[i]
+          //   : // use proxy as most servers produce a CORS error
+          //     `/git_proxy/readme/${encodeURIComponent(readme_urls[i])}`
         )
         if (res.ok) {
           text = await res.text()
diff --git a/src/routes/git_proxy/readme/[readme_url]/+server.ts b/src/routes/git_proxy/readme/[readme_url]/+server.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index e76d76f..0000000
--- a/src/routes/git_proxy/readme/[readme_url]/+server.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,44 +0,0 @@
-import { error } from '@sveltejs/kit'
-
-export const GET = async ({ params }: { params: { readme_url: string } }) => {
-  // prevent abuse of the proxy by ensuring the url contains 'readme.md'
-  if (
-    !(
-      params.readme_url.includes('readme.md') ||
-      params.readme_url.includes('README.md')
-    )
-  )
-    return new Response(null)
-
-  let text: string | undefined
-  try {
-    const res = await fetch(params.readme_url, {
-      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(5000),
-    })
-    if (res.ok) {
-      text = await res.text()
-    } else {
-      return error(res.status, res.statusText)
-    }
-  } catch {
-    return error(408, 'timeout')
-  }
-  return new Response(text || null)
-
-  // `https://raw.githubusercontent.com/${github_details.org}/${github_details.repo_name}/HEAD/README.md`
-  // alternative approaches:
-  //  * add a worker that can use 'git archive' to get specific files
-  //    * unfortunately the two options that can easily embeded within this
-  //      sveltekit backend (wasm-git and isomorphicgit) don't support the
-  //      'archive' command
-  //      https://github.com/petersalomonsen/wasm-git/
-  //      https://github.com/isomorphic-git
-  //    * 'git clone' is too expensive for retrieving single files. even when
-  //      done using treeless or blobless flags. see:
-  //      https://noise.getoto.net/2020/12/21/get-up-to-speed-with-partial-clone-and-shallow-clone/
-  // files can be listed at:
-  //  * gitea / forgejo https://codeberg.org/api/v1/repos/DanConwayDev/ngit-cli/git/trees/HEAD
-  //  * github - https://api.github.com/repos/DanConwayDev/ngit-cli/git/trees/HEAD?recursive=1
-  //  * gitlab - tbc
-  //  * gogs - needs testing - https://github.com/gogs/docs-api/
-}