diff --git a/bittensor/axon.py b/bittensor/axon.py
index 34ce9e51f1..be7711c611 100644
--- a/bittensor/axon.py
+++ b/bittensor/axon.py
@@ -466,27 +466,19 @@ def verify_custom(synapse: MyCustomSynapse):
             offered by this method allows developers to tailor the Axon's behavior to specific requirements and
             use cases.
         """
-
-        # Assert 'forward_fn' has exactly one argument
         forward_sig = signature(forward_fn)
-        assert (
-            len(list(forward_sig.parameters)) == 1
-        ), "The passed function must have exactly one argument"
-
-        # Obtain the class of the first argument of 'forward_fn'
-        request_class = forward_sig.parameters[
-            list(forward_sig.parameters)[0]
-        ].annotation
+        try:
+            first_param = next(iter(forward_sig.parameters.values()))
+        except StopIteration:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "The forward_fn first argument must be a subclass of bittensor.Synapse, but it has no arguments"
+            )
 
-        # Assert that the first argument of 'forward_fn' is a subclass of 'bittensor.Synapse'
+        param_class = first_param.annotation
         assert issubclass(
-            request_class, bittensor.Synapse
-        ), "The argument of forward_fn must inherit from bittensor.Synapse"
-
-        # Obtain the class name of the first argument of 'forward_fn'
-        request_name = forward_sig.parameters[
-            list(forward_sig.parameters)[0]
-        ].annotation.__name__
+            param_class, bittensor.Synapse
+        ), "The first argument of forward_fn must inherit from bittensor.Synapse"
+        request_name = param_class.__name__
 
         # Add the endpoint to the router, making it available on both GET and POST methods
         self.router.add_api_route(
@@ -497,58 +489,34 @@ def verify_custom(synapse: MyCustomSynapse):
         )
         self.app.include_router(self.router)
 
-        # Expected signatures for 'blacklist_fn', 'priority_fn' and 'verify_fn'
-        blacklist_sig = Signature(
-            [
-                Parameter(
-                    "synapse",
-                    Parameter.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD,
-                    annotation=forward_sig.parameters[
-                        list(forward_sig.parameters)[0]
-                    ].annotation,
-                )
-            ],
-            return_annotation=Tuple[bool, str],
-        )
-        priority_sig = Signature(
-            [
-                Parameter(
-                    "synapse",
-                    Parameter.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD,
-                    annotation=forward_sig.parameters[
-                        list(forward_sig.parameters)[0]
-                    ].annotation,
-                )
-            ],
-            return_annotation=float,
-        )
-        verify_sig = Signature(
-            [
-                Parameter(
-                    "synapse",
-                    Parameter.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD,
-                    annotation=forward_sig.parameters[
-                        list(forward_sig.parameters)[0]
-                    ].annotation,
-                )
-            ],
-            return_annotation=None,
-        )
-
         # Check the signature of blacklist_fn, priority_fn and verify_fn if they are provided
+        expected_params = [
+            Parameter(
+                "synapse",
+                Parameter.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD,
+                annotation=forward_sig.parameters[
+                    list(forward_sig.parameters)[0]
+                ].annotation,
+            )
+        ]
         if blacklist_fn:
+            blacklist_sig = Signature(
+                expected_params, return_annotation=Tuple[bool, str]
+            )
             assert (
                 signature(blacklist_fn) == blacklist_sig
             ), "The blacklist_fn function must have the signature: blacklist( synapse: {} ) -> Tuple[bool, str]".format(
                 request_name
             )
         if priority_fn:
+            priority_sig = Signature(expected_params, return_annotation=float)
             assert (
                 signature(priority_fn) == priority_sig
             ), "The priority_fn function must have the signature: priority( synapse: {} ) -> float".format(
                 request_name
             )
         if verify_fn:
+            verify_sig = Signature(expected_params, return_annotation=None)
             assert (
                 signature(verify_fn) == verify_sig
             ), "The verify_fn function must have the signature: verify( synapse: {} ) -> None".format(
@@ -556,9 +524,7 @@ def verify_custom(synapse: MyCustomSynapse):
             )
 
         # Store functions in appropriate attribute dictionaries
-        self.forward_class_types[request_name] = forward_sig.parameters[
-            list(forward_sig.parameters)[0]
-        ].annotation
+        self.forward_class_types[request_name] = param_class
         self.blacklist_fns[request_name] = blacklist_fn
         self.priority_fns[request_name] = priority_fn
         self.verify_fns[request_name] = (
@@ -567,7 +533,7 @@ def verify_custom(synapse: MyCustomSynapse):
         self.forward_fns[request_name] = forward_fn
 
         # Parse required hash fields from the forward function protocol defaults
-        required_hash_fields = request_class.__dict__["__fields__"][
+        required_hash_fields = param_class.__dict__["__fields__"][
             "required_hash_fields"
         ].default
         self.required_hash_fields[request_name] = required_hash_fields