diff --git a/api.py b/api.py
index 271e2b8..9c09572 100644
--- a/api.py
+++ b/api.py
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ app = FastAPI(lifespan=lifespan)
 # Routes
 @app.post("/heroes/create", response_model=HeroPublic)
 def create_hero(hero: HeroCreate, session: SessionDep):
+    existing_hero = session.query(Hero).filter(Hero.email == hero.email).first()
+    if existing_hero:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Email already registered")
+
     db_hero = Hero.model_validate(hero)
     session.add(db_hero)
     session.commit()
diff --git a/sql.py b/sql.py
index 9447238..8d336d6 100644
--- a/sql.py
+++ b/sql.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 from typing import Annotated
 from fastapi import Depends
 from sqlmodel import Field, Session, SQLModel, create_engine
+from sqlalchemy import String
+from sqlalchemy.sql.schema import Column
 
 # The base hero class
 class HeroBase(SQLModel):
@@ -12,7 +14,7 @@ class HeroBase(SQLModel):
 # The main hero class. It inherits the name, gold, and health
 class Hero(HeroBase, table=True):
     id: int | None = Field(default=None, primary_key=True, index=True)
-    email: str = Field(index=True)
+    email: str = Field(index=True, unique=True)
     password: str
     salt: int