diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index bc9eb3b61e..4f9818abe9 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -480,7 +480,10 @@ func NewBlockChain(db ethdb.Database, cacheConfig *CacheConfig, genesis *Genesis
 	// The first thing the node will do is reconstruct the verification data for
 	// the head block (ethash cache or clique voting snapshot). Might as well do
 	// it in advance.
-	bc.engine.VerifyHeader(bc, bc.CurrentHeader())
+	err = bc.engine.VerifyHeader(bc, bc.CurrentHeader())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 
 	// Start tx indexer if it's enabled.
 	if txLookupLimit != nil {