+# set the host URI
+URI="ssh://${HOST}"
+if [ "$PORT" != '22' ] ; then
+ URI="${URI}:$PORT"
+fi
+
+# if the host is in the gpg keyring...
+if gpg --list-key ="${URI}" 2>&1 >/dev/null ; then
+ # do not check the keyserver
+ CHECK_KEYSERVER="false"
+# if the host is NOT in the keyring...
+else
+ # if the host key is found in the known_hosts file...
+ # FIXME: this only works for default known_hosts location
+ hostKey=$(ssh-keygen -F "$HOST")
+ if [ "$hostKey" ] ; then
+ # do not check the keyserver
+ # FIXME: more nuanced checking should be done here to properly
+ # take into consideration hosts that join monkeysphere by
+ # converting an existing and known ssh key
+ CHECK_KEYSERVER="false"