diff --git a/llm_server/workers/inferencer.py b/llm_server/workers/inferencer.py
index 26028ab..178bfd6 100644
--- a/llm_server/workers/inferencer.py
+++ b/llm_server/workers/inferencer.py
@@ -12,17 +12,10 @@ def worker():
         (request_json_body, client_ip, token, parameters, backend_url), event_id, selected_model = priority_queue.get()
         if not backend_url:
             backend_url = get_a_cluster_backend(selected_model)
+        else:
+            backend_url = cluster_config.validate_backend(backend_url)
         backend_info = cluster_config.get_backend(backend_url)
 
-        # The backend could have died between when the request was
-        # submitted and now, so let's double check it's still online.
-        if not backend_info['online']:
-            old = backend_url
-            backend_url = get_a_cluster_backend()
-            backend_info = cluster_config.get_backend(backend_url)
-            print(f'Backend {old} offline. Request was redirected to {backend_url}')
-            del old  # gc
-
         if not selected_model:
             selected_model = backend_info['model']
 
@@ -67,7 +60,7 @@ def need_to_wait(backend_url: str):
     active_workers = redis.get(f'active_gen_workers:{backend_url}', 0, dtype=int)
     concurrent_gens = cluster_config.get_backend(backend_url).get('concurrent_gens', 1)
     s = time.time()
-    print(active_workers >= concurrent_gens, active_workers, concurrent_gens)
+    print(active_workers)
     while active_workers >= concurrent_gens:
         time.sleep(0.01)
     e = time.time()
diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 37c254b..c3ed4a2 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ from llm_server.routes.v1 import bp
 from llm_server.routes.v1.generate_stats import generate_stats
 from llm_server.sock import init_socketio
 
+# TODO: queue item timeout
 # TODO: return an `error: True`, error code, and error message rather than just a formatted message
 # TODO: what happens when all backends are offline? What about the "online" key in the stats page?
 # TODO: redis SCAN vs KEYS??