diff --git a/handlers/middleware.go b/handlers/middleware.go
index 81ae497..4b8ce60 100644
--- a/handlers/middleware.go
+++ b/handlers/middleware.go
@@ -16,7 +16,16 @@ var (
 	memcache cache.Cache
 )
 
-// add middleware to login http requests; ai!
+// RequireLogin redirects unauthenticated users to the login page
+func RequireLogin(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
+	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if r.Context().Value("username") == nil {
+			http.Redirect(w, r, "/login", http.StatusFound)
+			return
+		}
+		next.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+	})
+}
 
 func GetSession(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
 	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {