diff --git a/js/src/dapps/dappreg/utils.js b/js/src/dapps/dappreg/utils.js
index 4e13373e1..74ece1b95 100644
--- a/js/src/dapps/dappreg/utils.js
+++ b/js/src/dapps/dappreg/utils.js
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ import { api } from './parity';
 export const INVALID_URL_HASH = '0xc5d2460186f7233c927e7db2dcc703c0e500b653ca82273b7bfad8045d85a470';
 export const ZERO_ADDRESS = '0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000';
 
+export function isContentHash (url) {
+  return /^0x[0-9a-f]{64}/.test(url);
+}
+
 /**
  * Convert the given URL to a content hash,
  * and checks if it is already registered in GHH
@@ -28,8 +32,11 @@ export const urlToHash = (api, instance, url) => {
     return Promise.resolve(null);
   }
 
-  return api.parity
-    .hashContent(url)
+  const hashPromise = isContentHash(url)
+    ? Promise.resolve(url)
+    : api.parity.hashContent(url);
+
+  return hashPromise
     .catch((error) => {
       const message = error.text || error.message || error.toString();
 
@@ -181,4 +188,3 @@ export const updateDapp = (dappId, dappOwner, updates, dappRegInstance, ghhRegIn
 
   return promises;
 };
-
diff --git a/js/src/dapps/dappreg/utils.spec.js b/js/src/dapps/dappreg/utils.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6101ff976
--- /dev/null
+++ b/js/src/dapps/dappreg/utils.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// Copyright 2015-2017 Parity Technologies (UK) Ltd.
+// This file is part of Parity.
+
+// Parity is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+
+// Parity is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+// GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+// along with Parity.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+import { INVALID_URL_HASH, ZERO_ADDRESS, isContentHash } from './utils';
+
+describe('dapps/dappreg/utils', () => {
+  describe('isContentHash', () => {
+    it('returns true on valid hashes', () => {
+      expect(isContentHash(INVALID_URL_HASH)).to.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it('returns false on valid hex, invalid hash', () => {
+      expect(isContentHash(ZERO_ADDRESS)).to.be.false;
+    });
+
+    it('returns false on invalid hex', () => {
+      expect(isContentHash('something')).to.be.false;
+    });
+  });
+});