diff --git a/api/v1/redirector.go b/api/v1/redirector.go
index a376387..867dc02 100644
--- a/api/v1/redirector.go
+++ b/api/v1/redirector.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package v1
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
 
 	"github.com/boojack/shortify/store"
 	"github.com/labstack/echo/v4"
@@ -39,7 +40,10 @@ func (s *APIV1Service) registerRedirectorRoutes(g *echo.Group) {
 			return echo.NewHTTPError(http.StatusInternalServerError, "Failed to create activity").SetInternal(err)
 		}
 
-		return c.Redirect(http.StatusSeeOther, shortcut.Link)
+		if isValidURLString(shortcut.Link) {
+			return c.Redirect(http.StatusSeeOther, shortcut.Link)
+		}
+		return c.String(http.StatusOK, shortcut.Link)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -66,3 +70,8 @@ func (s *APIV1Service) createShortcutViewActivity(c echo.Context, shortcut *stor
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+func isValidURLString(s string) bool {
+	_, err := url.ParseRequestURI(s)
+	return err == nil
+}
diff --git a/api/v1/redirector_test.go b/api/v1/redirector_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e988a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/v1/redirector_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package v1
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestIsValidURLString(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		link     string
+		expected bool
+	}{
+		{
+			link:     "https://google.com",
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			link:     "http://google.com",
+			expected: true,
+		},
+		{
+			link:     "google.com",
+			expected: false,
+		},
+		{
+			link:     "mailto:email@example.com",
+			expected: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		if isValidURLString(test.link) != test.expected {
+			t.Errorf("isValidURLString(%s) = %v, expected %v", test.link, !test.expected, test.expected)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/api/v1/shortcut.go b/api/v1/shortcut.go
index dcc114a..9e2035f 100644
--- a/api/v1/shortcut.go
+++ b/api/v1/shortcut.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/boojack/shortify/internal/util"
 	"github.com/boojack/shortify/store"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
@@ -86,9 +85,6 @@ func (s *APIV1Service) registerShortcutRoutes(g *echo.Group) {
 		if err := json.NewDecoder(c.Request().Body).Decode(create); err != nil {
 			return echo.NewHTTPError(http.StatusBadRequest, "Malformatted post shortcut request").SetInternal(err)
 		}
-		if !validateLink(create.Link) {
-			return echo.NewHTTPError(http.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Sprintf("Invalid link: %s", create.Link))
-		}
 
 		shortcut, err := s.Store.CreateShortcut(ctx, &store.Shortcut{
 			CreatorID:   userID,
@@ -151,9 +147,6 @@ func (s *APIV1Service) registerShortcutRoutes(g *echo.Group) {
 			name := strings.ToLower(*patch.Name)
 			patch.Name = &name
 		}
-		if patch.Link != nil && !validateLink(*patch.Link) {
-			return echo.NewHTTPError(http.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Sprintf("Invalid link: %s", *patch.Link))
-		}
 
 		shortcutUpdate := &store.UpdateShortcut{
 			ID:          shortcutID,
@@ -369,7 +362,3 @@ func convertShortcutFromStore(shortcut *store.Shortcut) *Shortcut {
 		Tags:        tags,
 	}
 }
-
-func validateLink(link string) bool {
-	return util.HasPrefixes(link, "http://", "https://")
-}
diff --git a/web/src/components/ShortcutView.tsx b/web/src/components/ShortcutView.tsx
index 25a2ad1..9883558 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ShortcutView.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ShortcutView.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ const ShortcutView = (props: Props) => {
   const faviconStore = useFaviconStore();
   const [favicon, setFavicon] = useState<string | undefined>(undefined);
   const havePermission = user.role === "ADMIN" || shortcut.creatorId === user.id;
+  const shortifyLink = absolutifyLink(`/s/${shortcut.name}`);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     faviconStore.getOrFetchUrlFavicon(shortcut.link).then((url) => {
@@ -33,8 +34,8 @@ const ShortcutView = (props: Props) => {
     });
   }, [shortcut.link]);
 
-  const handleCopyButtonClick = (shortcut: Shortcut) => {
-    copy(absolutifyLink(`/s/${shortcut.name}`));
+  const handleCopyButtonClick = () => {
+    copy(shortifyLink);
     toast.success("Shortcut link copied to clipboard.");
   };
 
@@ -60,11 +61,11 @@ const ShortcutView = (props: Props) => {
               <Icon.Globe2 className="w-5 h-auto text-gray-500" />
             )}
           </div>
-          <button className="items-center cursor-pointer hover:opacity-80" onClick={() => handleCopyButtonClick(shortcut)}>
+          <button className="items-center cursor-pointer hover:opacity-80" onClick={() => handleCopyButtonClick()}>
             <span className="text-gray-400">s/</span>
             {shortcut.name}
           </button>
-          <a className="hidden group-hover:block ml-1 cursor-pointer hover:opacity-80" target="_blank" href={shortcut.link}>
+          <a className="hidden group-hover:block ml-1 cursor-pointer hover:opacity-80" target="_blank" href={shortifyLink}>
             <Icon.ExternalLink className="w-4 h-auto text-gray-500" />
           </a>
         </div>