diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index db08d79..d81b3aa 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -45,8 +45,6 @@ This service depends on the following environment variables:
 * `API_HOST`, defaults to `sia`
 * `API_PORT`, defaults to `9980`
 * `SIA_API_PASSWORD`
-* `NGINX_HOST`, defaults to `10.10.10.30`
-* `NGINX_PORT`, defaults to `8000`
 * `SKYNET_DB_HOST`
 * `SKYNET_DB_PORT`
 * `SKYNET_DB_USER`
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 20b09b9..f124f09 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -28,14 +28,6 @@ const (
 	// defaultSkydPort is where we connect to skyd unless overwritten by
 	// "API_PORT" environment variables.
 	defaultSkydPort = 9980
-
-	// defaultNginxHost is where we connect to nginx unless overwritten by
-	// "NGINX_HOST" environment variables.
-	defaultNginxHost = "10.10.10.30"
-
-	// defaultNginxPort is where we connect to nginx unless overwritten by
-	// "NGINX_PORT" environment variables.
-	defaultNginxPort = 8000
 )
 
 func main() {
@@ -80,15 +72,6 @@ func main() {
 	if skydHostEnv := os.Getenv("API_HOST"); skydHostEnv != "" {
 		skydHost = skydHostEnv
 	}
-	nginxPort := defaultNginxPort
-	nginxPortEnv, err := strconv.Atoi(os.Getenv("NGINX_PORT"))
-	if err == nil && nginxPortEnv > 0 {
-		nginxPort = nginxPortEnv
-	}
-	nginxHost := defaultNginxHost
-	if nginxHostEnv := os.Getenv("NGINX_HOST"); nginxHostEnv != "" {
-		nginxHost = nginxHostEnv
-	}
 	skydAPIPassword := os.Getenv("SIA_API_PASSWORD")
 	if skydAPIPassword == "" {
 		log.Fatal(errors.New("SIA_API_PASSWORD is empty, exiting"))
@@ -114,12 +97,8 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatal(errors.New("skyd down, exiting"))
 	}
 
-	// Create a skyd client that actually talks to Nginx for the blocker
-	nginxUrl := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s:%d", nginxHost, nginxPort)
-	nginxClient := api.NewSkydClient(nginxUrl, headers)
-
 	// Create the blocker.
-	bl, err := blocker.New(ctx, nginxClient, db, logger)
+	bl, err := blocker.New(ctx, skydClient, db, logger)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(errors.AddContext(err, "failed to instantiate blocker"))
 	}
diff --git a/skyd/api.go b/skyd/api.go
index 7456cfa..16ce01e 100644
--- a/skyd/api.go
+++ b/skyd/api.go
@@ -37,9 +37,6 @@ type (
 	// api is a helper struct that exposes some methods that allow making skyd
 	// API calls used by both the API and the blocker
 	api struct {
-		staticNginxHost string
-		staticNginxPort int
-
 		staticSkydHost        string
 		staticSkydPort        int
 		staticSkydAPIPassword string
@@ -82,7 +79,7 @@ func (br *blockResponse) InvalidHashes() ([]database.Hash, error) {
 }
 
 // NewAPI creates a new API instance.
-func NewAPI(nginxHost string, nginxPort int, skydHost, skydPassword string, skydPort int, db *database.DB, logger *logrus.Logger) (API, error) {
+func NewAPI(skydHost, skydPassword string, skydPort int, db *database.DB, logger *logrus.Logger) (API, error) {
 	if db == nil {
 		return nil, errors.New("no DB provided")
 	}
@@ -91,9 +88,6 @@ func NewAPI(nginxHost string, nginxPort int, skydHost, skydPassword string, skyd
 	}
 
 	return &api{
-		staticNginxHost: nginxHost,
-		staticNginxPort: nginxPort,
-
 		staticSkydHost:        skydHost,
 		staticSkydPort:        skydPort,
 		staticSkydAPIPassword: skydPassword,
@@ -126,7 +120,7 @@ func (api *api) BlockHashes(hashes []database.Hash) ([]database.Hash, []database
 	}
 
 	// execute the request
-	url := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s:%d/skynet/blocklist?timeout=%s", api.staticNginxHost, api.staticNginxPort, skydTimeout)
+	url := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s:%d/skynet/blocklist?timeout=%s", api.staticSkydHost, api.staticSkydPort, skydTimeout)
 	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, url, bytes.NewBuffer(reqBody))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, errors.AddContext(err, "failed to build request to skyd")