diff --git a/IxianDLT/Block/BlockProcessor.cs b/IxianDLT/Block/BlockProcessor.cs
index 133f842f..6922e6e5 100644
--- a/IxianDLT/Block/BlockProcessor.cs
+++ b/IxianDLT/Block/BlockProcessor.cs
@@ -860,7 +860,9 @@ public BlockVerifyStatus verifyBlockBasic(Block b, bool verify_sig = true, Remot
                 return BlockVerifyStatus.PotentiallyForkedBlock;
             }
 
-            if (verify_sig)
+            ulong lastBlockNum = IxianHandler.getLastBlockHeight();
+
+            if (b.blockNum <= lastBlockNum + 1 && verify_sig)
             {
                 bool skip_sig_verification = false;
                 if(pendingSuperBlocks.Count() > 0 && pendingSuperBlocks.OrderBy(x=> x.Key).Last().Key > b.blockNum)
@@ -888,8 +890,6 @@ public BlockVerifyStatus verifyBlockBasic(Block b, bool verify_sig = true, Remot
                 }
             }
 
-            ulong lastBlockNum = IxianHandler.getLastBlockHeight();
-
             if (prevBlock == null && lastBlockNum > 1) // block not found but blockChain is not empty, request the missing blocks
             {
                 if (!Node.blockSync.synchronizing)