diff --git a/src/routes/getTopCategoryUsers.ts b/src/routes/getTopCategoryUsers.ts
index 21bc9eb..877ed2e 100644
--- a/src/routes/getTopCategoryUsers.ts
+++ b/src/routes/getTopCategoryUsers.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ export async function getTopCategoryUsers(req: Request, res: Response): Promise<
         return res.sendStatus(400);
     }
 
+    if (db.highLoad()) {
+        return res.status(503).send("Disabled for load reasons");
+    }
+
     //setup which sort type to use
     let sortBy = "";
     if (sortType == 0) {
diff --git a/src/routes/getTopUsers.ts b/src/routes/getTopUsers.ts
index 552aaf9..f77bc8b 100644
--- a/src/routes/getTopUsers.ts
+++ b/src/routes/getTopUsers.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@ export async function getTopUsers(req: Request, res: Response): Promise<Response
         return res.sendStatus(400);
     }
 
+    if (db.highLoad()) {
+        return res.status(503).send("Disabled for load reasons");
+    }
+
     const stats = await getTopUsersWithCache(sortBy, categoryStatsEnabled);
 
     //send this result