diff --git a/build/validate_format.py b/build/validate_format.py
index 22fca30a..545fea2c 100755
--- a/build/validate_format.py
+++ b/build/validate_format.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ num_segments = 5
 
 errors = []
 title_links = []
-previous_links = []
 anchor_re = re.compile(anchor + '\s(.+)')
 section_title_re = re.compile('\*\s\[(.*)\]')
 link_re = re.compile('\[(.+)\]\((http.*)\)')
@@ -68,12 +67,6 @@ def check_entry(line_num, segments):
         title = title_re_match.group(1)
         if title.upper().endswith(' API'):
             add_error(line_num, 'Title should not end with "... API". Every entry is an API here!')
-        # do not allow duplicate links
-        link = title_re_match.group(2)
-        if link in previous_links:
-            add_error(line_num, 'Duplicate link - entries should only be included in one section')
-        else:
-            previous_links.append(link)
     # END Title
     # START Description
     # first character should be capitalized
diff --git a/build/validate_links.py b/build/validate_links.py
index ab36b0c8..eb5dfa30 100755
--- a/build/validate_links.py
+++ b/build/validate_links.py
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@ import re
 import socket
 import sys
 
+ignored_links = [
+    'https://github.com/public-apis/public-apis/actions?query=workflow%3A%22Run+tests%22', 
+    'https://github.com/public-apis/public-apis/workflows/Validate%20links/badge.svg?branch=master', 
+    'https://github.com/public-apis/public-apis/actions?query=workflow%3A%22Validate+links%22',
+    'https://github.com/davemachado/public-api',
+]
 
 def parse_links(filename):
     """Returns a list of URLs from text file"""
@@ -16,6 +22,30 @@ def parse_links(filename):
     links = [raw_link[0] for raw_link in raw_links]
     return links
 
+def dup_links(links):
+    """Check for duplicated links"""
+    print(f'Checking for duplicated links...')
+    hasError = False
+    seen = {}
+    dupes = []
+
+    for link in links:
+        link = link.rstrip('/')
+        if link in ignored_links:
+            continue
+
+        if link not in seen:
+            seen[link] = 1
+        else:
+            if seen[link] == 1:
+                dupes.append(link)
+
+    if not dupes:
+        print(f"No duplicate links")
+    else:
+        print(f"Found duplicate links: {dupes}")  
+        hasError = True  
+    return hasError
 
 def validate_links(links):
     """Checks each entry in JSON file for live link"""
@@ -58,6 +88,9 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     if num_args < 2:
         print("No .md file passed")
         sys.exit(1)
-    hasError = validate_links(parse_links(sys.argv[1]))
+    links = parse_links(sys.argv[1])
+    hasError = dup_links(links)
+    if not hasError:
+        hasError = validate_links(links)
     if hasError:
         sys.exit(1)