diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
index 31e4e0414..545831199 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
@@ -1656,10 +1656,6 @@ namespace cryptonote
     if (((size_t)-1) <= 0xffffffff && block_blob.size() >= 0x3fffffff)
       MWARNING("This block's size is " << block_blob.size() << ", closing on the 32 bit limit");
 
-    // load json & DNS checkpoints every 10min/hour respectively,
-    // and verify them with respect to what blocks we already have
-    CHECK_AND_ASSERT_MES(update_checkpoints(), false, "One or more checkpoints loaded from json or dns conflicted with existing checkpoints.");
-
     block lb;
     if (!b)
     {
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_protocol/cryptonote_protocol_handler.inl b/src/cryptonote_protocol/cryptonote_protocol_handler.inl
index af3031263..bd2f8ce85 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_protocol/cryptonote_protocol_handler.inl
+++ b/src/cryptonote_protocol/cryptonote_protocol_handler.inl
@@ -537,6 +537,10 @@ namespace cryptonote
       MLOG_PEER_STATE("requesting chain");
     }
 
+    // load json & DNS checkpoints every 10min/hour respectively,
+    // and verify them with respect to what blocks we already have
+    CHECK_AND_ASSERT_MES(m_core.update_checkpoints(), 1, "One or more checkpoints loaded from json or dns conflicted with existing checkpoints.");
+
     return 1;
   }
   //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -819,6 +823,10 @@ namespace cryptonote
           post_notify<NOTIFY_REQUEST_CHAIN>(r, context);
           MLOG_PEER_STATE("requesting chain");
         }            
+
+        // load json & DNS checkpoints every 10min/hour respectively,
+        // and verify them with respect to what blocks we already have
+        CHECK_AND_ASSERT_MES(m_core.update_checkpoints(), 1, "One or more checkpoints loaded from json or dns conflicted with existing checkpoints.");
       }
     } 
     else
diff --git a/tests/core_proxy/core_proxy.h b/tests/core_proxy/core_proxy.h
index fe10dde6e..6d0597ad9 100644
--- a/tests/core_proxy/core_proxy.h
+++ b/tests/core_proxy/core_proxy.h
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ namespace tests
     bool get_test_drop_download_height() {return true;}
     bool prepare_handle_incoming_blocks(const std::vector<cryptonote::block_complete_entry>  &blocks_entry, std::vector<cryptonote::block> &blocks) { return true; }
     bool cleanup_handle_incoming_blocks(bool force_sync = false) { return true; }
+    bool update_checkpoints(const bool skip_dns = false) { return true; }
     uint64_t get_target_blockchain_height() const { return 1; }
     size_t get_block_sync_size(uint64_t height) const { return BLOCKS_SYNCHRONIZING_DEFAULT_COUNT; }
     virtual void on_transactions_relayed(epee::span<const cryptonote::blobdata> tx_blobs, cryptonote::relay_method tx_relay) {}
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/node_server.cpp b/tests/unit_tests/node_server.cpp
index 6c8cd9f8d..584f98f7a 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/node_server.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/node_server.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ public:
   bool get_test_drop_download_height() const {return true;}
   bool prepare_handle_incoming_blocks(const std::vector<cryptonote::block_complete_entry>  &blocks_entry, std::vector<cryptonote::block> &blocks) { return true; }
   bool cleanup_handle_incoming_blocks(bool force_sync = false) { return true; }
+  bool update_checkpoints(const bool skip_dns = false) { return true; }
   uint64_t get_target_blockchain_height() const { return 1; }
   size_t get_block_sync_size(uint64_t height) const { return BLOCKS_SYNCHRONIZING_DEFAULT_COUNT; }
   virtual void on_transactions_relayed(epee::span<const cryptonote::blobdata> tx_blobs, cryptonote::relay_method tx_relay) {}