diff --git a/ttbp/core.py b/ttbp/core.py
index b60fa3b..6382059 100644
--- a/ttbp/core.py
+++ b/ttbp/core.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ SETTINGS = {}
 HEADER = ""
 FOOTER = ""
 FILES = []
+NOPUBS = []
 
 def load(ttbprc={}):
     '''
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ def load(ttbprc={}):
     FOOTER = open(os.path.join(config.USER_CONFIG, "footer.txt")).read()
     SETTINGS = ttbprc
 
+    load_nopubs()
     load_files()
 
 def reload_ttbprc(ttbprc={}):
@@ -105,8 +107,23 @@ def load_files():
 
     global FILES
 
+    load_nopubs()
     FILES = get_files()
 
+def load_nopubs():
+    """Load a list of the user's nopub entries.
+    """
+
+    global NOPUBS
+
+    NOPUBS = []
+
+    if os.path.isfile(config.NOPUB):
+        for line in open(config.NOPUB, "r"):
+            if not re.match("^# ", line):
+                NOPUBS.append(line.rstrip())
+
+    return len(NOPUBS)
 
 ## html outputting
 
@@ -417,19 +434,45 @@ def nopub(filename):
     checks to see if given filename is in user's NOPUB
     '''
 
-    exclude = []
-
-    if os.path.isfile(config.NOPUB):
-        for line in open(config.NOPUB, "r"):
-            exclude.append(line.rstrip())
-
-    return os.path.basename(filename) in exclude
+    return os.path.basename(filename) in NOPUBS
 
 def toggle_nopub(filename):
     """toggles pub/nopub status for the given filename
+
+    if the file is to be unpublished, delete it from published locations
     """
 
-    pass
+    global NOPUBS
+
+    action = "unpublishing"
+
+    if nopub(filename):
+        NOPUBS.remove(filename)
+        live_html = os.path.join(config.WWW, filename.split(".")[0]+".html")
+        if os.path.exists(live_html):
+            subprocess.call(["rm", live_html])
+        live_gopher = os.path.join(config.GOPHER_PATH, filename)
+        if os.path.exists(live_gopher):
+            subprocess.call(["rm", live_gopher])
+    else:
+        action = "publishing"
+        NOPUBS.append(filename)
+
+    nopub_file = open(config.NOPUB, 'w')
+    nopub_file.write("""\
+# files that don't get published html/gopher. this file is
+# generated by ttbp; editing it directly may result in unexpected
+# behavior. if you have problems, back up this file, delete it, and
+# rebuild it from ttbp.\n""")
+    for entry in NOPUBS:
+        nopub_file.write(entry+"\n")
+    nopub_file.close()
+
+    load_files()
+    write("index.html")
+
+    return action
+
 
 #############
 #############
diff --git a/ttbp/ttbp.py b/ttbp/ttbp.py
index adbff30..ab3627a 100644
--- a/ttbp/ttbp.py
+++ b/ttbp/ttbp.py
@@ -820,23 +820,24 @@ def list_nopubs(user):
                 pub = "(nopub)"
             entries.append(""+entry[4]+" ("+p.no("word", entry[2])+") "+"\t"+pub)
 
-        return set_nopubs(metas, entries, "publishing status of your feels:")
+        return set_nopubs(metas, entries, user, "publishing status of your feels:")
     else:
         redraw("no feels recorded by ~"+user)
 
-def set_nopubs(metas, entries, prompt):
+def set_nopubs(metas, entries, user, prompt):
     """displays a list of entries for pub/nopub toggling.
     """
 
+
     choice = menu_handler(entries, "pick an entry from the list, or type 'q' to go back: ", 10, SETTINGS.get("rainbows", False), prompt)
 
     if choice is not False:
         target = os.path.basename(metas[choice][0])
-        core.toggle_nopub(target)
+        action = core.toggle_nopub(target)
         redraw(prompt)
-        print("setting {entry}".format(entry=target))
+        #print("{action} {entry}".format(action=action, entry=target))
 
-        return set_nopubs(metas, entries, prompt)
+        return list_nopubs(user)
 
     else:
         redraw()