+MS_HOME=${MS_HOME:-"${HOME}/.config/monkeysphere"}
+
+if [ -z "$HOST" ] ; then
+ echo "Host not specified." >&2
+ usage
+ exit 255
+fi
+if [ -z "$PORT" ] ; then
+ PORT=22
+fi
+
+# set the host URI
+if [ "$PORT" != '22' ] ; then
+ HOSTP="${HOST}:${PORT}"
+else
+ HOSTP="${HOST}"
+fi
+URI="ssh://${HOSTP}"
+
+# if the host is in the gpg keyring...
+if gpg --list-key ="${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" 2>/dev/null)
+
+ if [ "$hostKey" ] ; then
+ # do not check the keyserver
+ # FIXME: more nuanced checking should be done here to properly
+ # take into consideration hosts that join monkeysphere by
+ # converting an existing and known ssh key
+ CHECK_KEYSERVER="false"
+
+ # if the host key is not found in the known_hosts file...
+ else
+ # check the keyserver
+ CHECK_KEYSERVER="true"
+ fi
+fi
+
+MONKEYSPHERE_CHECK_KEYSERVER=${MONKEYSPHERE_CHECK_KEYSERVER:="$CHECK_KEYSERVER"}
+export MONKEYSPHERE_CHECK_KEYSERVER
+