diff --git a/controllers/node.go b/controllers/node.go
index 65e60320..9d8e6a66 100644
--- a/controllers/node.go
+++ b/controllers/node.go
@@ -609,7 +609,8 @@ func deleteNode(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 func runUpdates(node *models.Node, nodeUpdate bool) error {
 	//don't publish to server node
-	if nodeUpdate && !isServer(node) {
+
+	if nodeUpdate && !isServer(node) && servercfg.IsMessageQueueBackend() {
 		if err := mq.NodeUpdate(node); err != nil {
 			logger.Log(1, "error publishing node update", err.Error())
 			return err