diff --git a/apps/api/src/account/account.service.ts b/apps/api/src/account/account.service.ts
index d1b123b..235ad32 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/account/account.service.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/account/account.service.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { CreateAccountDto } from './dto/create-account.dto';
-import { Injectable, UnauthorizedException } from '@nestjs/common';
+import { BadRequestException, Injectable, UnauthorizedException } from '@nestjs/common';
 import { JwtService } from '@nestjs/jwt';
 import { InjectModel } from '@nestjs/mongoose';
 import * as bcrypt from 'bcrypt';
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ export class AccountService {
   ) {}
 
   public async create(createAccountDto: CreateAccountDto): Promise<Account> {
+    if (this.accountModel.exists({ username: createAccountDto.username })) {
+      throw new BadRequestException('Account already exists');
+    }
+
     const password = createAccountDto.password || generatePassword();
 
     const createdAccount = new this.accountModel({ ...createAccountDto, password });