diff --git a/lib/resolveurl/hmf.py b/lib/resolveurl/hmf.py
index 857f1f9a..1fe6e9f4 100644
--- a/lib/resolveurl/hmf.py
+++ b/lib/resolveurl/hmf.py
@@ -256,6 +256,8 @@ def __test_stream(self, stream_url):
         try:
             msg = ''
             request = urllib2.Request(stream_url.split('|')[0], headers=headers)
+            # only do a HEAD request. gujal
+            request.get_method = lambda : 'HEAD'
             #  set urlopen timeout to 15 seconds
             http_code = urllib2.urlopen(request, timeout=15).getcode()
         except urllib2.URLError as e: