diff --git a/pubsub.go b/pubsub.go
index 220bba1..b21e5ab 100644
--- a/pubsub.go
+++ b/pubsub.go
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ func (p *PubSub) processLoop(ctx context.Context) {
 			p.pushMsg(vals, p.host.ID(), msg)
 
 		case req := <-p.sendMsg:
-			p.maybePublishMessage(req.from, req.msg.Message)
+			p.publishMessage(req.from, req.msg.Message)
 
 		case req := <-p.addVal:
 			p.addValidator(req)
@@ -409,6 +409,12 @@ func msgID(pmsg *pb.Message) string {
 
 // pushMsg pushes a message performing validation as necessary
 func (p *PubSub) pushMsg(vals []*topicVal, src peer.ID, msg *Message) {
+	id := msgID(msg.Message)
+	if p.seenMessage(id) {
+		return
+	}
+	p.markSeen(id)
+
 	if len(vals) > 0 {
 		// validation is asynchronous and globally throttled with the throttleValidate semaphore.
 		// the purpose of the global throttle is to bound the goncurrency possible from incoming
@@ -426,7 +432,7 @@ func (p *PubSub) pushMsg(vals []*topicVal, src peer.ID, msg *Message) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	p.maybePublishMessage(src, msg.Message)
+	p.publishMessage(src, msg.Message)
 }
 
 // validate performs validation and only sends the message if all validators succeed
@@ -476,13 +482,7 @@ loop:
 	}
 }
 
-func (p *PubSub) maybePublishMessage(from peer.ID, pmsg *pb.Message) {
-	id := msgID(pmsg)
-	if p.seenMessage(id) {
-		return
-	}
-
-	p.markSeen(id)
+func (p *PubSub) publishMessage(from peer.ID, pmsg *pb.Message) {
 	p.notifySubs(pmsg)
 	p.rt.Publish(from, pmsg)
 }
@@ -580,7 +580,8 @@ type listPeerReq struct {
 	topic string
 }
 
-// sendReq is a request to call maybePublishMessage. It is issued after the subscription verification is done.
+// sendReq is a request to call publishMessage.
+// It is issued after message validation is done.
 type sendReq struct {
 	from peer.ID
 	msg  *Message