diff --git a/src/komodo_bitcoind.h b/src/komodo_bitcoind.h
index d4364a3ea..76f6765ad 100644
--- a/src/komodo_bitcoind.h
+++ b/src/komodo_bitcoind.h
@@ -814,16 +814,17 @@ int32_t komodo_checkpoint(int32_t *notarized_heightp,int32_t nHeight,uint256 has
         {
             if ( nHeight < notarized_height )
             {
-                fprintf(stderr,"nHeight.%d < NOTARIZED_HEIGHT.%d\n",nHeight,notarized_height);
+                //fprintf(stderr,"[%s] nHeight.%d < NOTARIZED_HEIGHT.%d\n",ASSETCHAINS_SYMBOL,nHeight,notarized_height);
                 return(-1);
             }
             else if ( nHeight == notarized_height && memcmp(&hash,&notarized_hash,sizeof(hash)) != 0 )
             {
-                fprintf(stderr,"nHeight.%d == NOTARIZED_HEIGHT.%d, diff hash\n",nHeight,notarized_height);
+                fprintf(stderr,"[%s] nHeight.%d == NOTARIZED_HEIGHT.%d, diff hash\n",ASSETCHAINS_SYMBOL,nHeight,notarized_height);
                 return(-1);
             }
-        } else fprintf(stderr,"unexpected error notary_hash %s ht.%d at ht.%d\n",notarized_hash.ToString().c_str(),notarized_height,notary->nHeight);
-    } else if ( notarized_height > 0 && notarized_height != 73880 && notarized_height >= 170000 )
+        } else fprintf(stderr,"[%s] unexpected error notary_hash %s ht.%d at ht.%d\n",ASSETCHAINS_SYMBOL,notarized_hash.ToString().c_str(),notarized_height,notary->nHeight);
+    }
+    else if ( notarized_height > 0 && notarized_height != 73880 && notarized_height >= 170000 )
         fprintf(stderr,"[%s] couldnt find notarized.(%s %d) ht.%d\n",ASSETCHAINS_SYMBOL,notarized_hash.ToString().c_str(),notarized_height,pindex->nHeight);
     return(0);
 }
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 4277beabd..9cfc4e5b6 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -3372,7 +3372,14 @@ bool ContextualCheckBlockHeader(const CBlockHeader& block, CValidationState& sta
         if (pcheckpoint && (nHeight < pcheckpoint->nHeight || nHeight == 1 && chainActive.Tip() != 0 && chainActive.Tip()->nHeight > 1) )
             return state.DoS(100, error("%s: forked chain older than last checkpoint (height %d) vs %d", __func__, nHeight,pcheckpoint->nHeight));
         else if ( komodo_checkpoint(&notarized_height,nHeight,hash) < 0 )
-            return state.DoS(100, error("%s: forked chain %d older than last notarized (height %d) vs %d", __func__,nHeight, notarized_height));
+        {
+            CBlockIndex *heightblock = chainActive[nHeight];
+            if ( heightblock != 0 && heightblock->GetBlockHash() == hash )
+            {
+                //fprintf(stderr,"got a pre notarization block that matches height.%d\n",(int32_t)nHeight);
+                return true;
+            } else return state.DoS(100, error("%s: forked chain %d older than last notarized (height %d) vs %d", __func__,nHeight, notarized_height));
+        }
     }
     // Reject block.nVersion < 4 blocks
     if (block.nVersion < 4)
@@ -3430,6 +3437,40 @@ bool AcceptBlockHeader(const CBlockHeader& block, CValidationState& state, CBloc
             *ppindex = pindex;
         if (pindex != 0 && pindex->nStatus & BLOCK_FAILED_MASK)
             return state.Invalid(error("%s: block is marked invalid", __func__), 0, "duplicate");
+        if ( pindex != 0 && IsInitialBlockDownload() == 0 ) // jl777 debug test
+        {
+            if (!CheckBlockHeader(pindex->nHeight,pindex, block, state))
+            {
+                pindex->nStatus |= BLOCK_FAILED_MASK;
+                fprintf(stderr,"known block failing CheckBlockHeader %d\n",(int32_t)pindex->nHeight);
+                return false;
+            }
+            CBlockIndex* pindexPrev = NULL;
+            if (hash != chainparams.GetConsensus().hashGenesisBlock)
+            {
+                BlockMap::iterator mi = mapBlockIndex.find(block.hashPrevBlock);
+                if (mi == mapBlockIndex.end())
+                {
+                    pindex->nStatus |= BLOCK_FAILED_MASK;
+                    fprintf(stderr,"known block.%d failing to find prevblock\n",(int32_t)pindex->nHeight);
+                    return state.DoS(10, error("%s: prev block not found", __func__), 0, "bad-prevblk");
+                }
+                pindexPrev = (*mi).second;
+                if (pindexPrev == 0 || (pindexPrev->nStatus & BLOCK_FAILED_MASK) )
+                {
+                    pindex->nStatus |= BLOCK_FAILED_MASK;
+                    fprintf(stderr,"known block.%d found invalid prevblock\n",(int32_t)pindex->nHeight);
+                    return state.DoS(100, error("%s: prev block invalid", __func__), REJECT_INVALID, "bad-prevblk");
+                }
+            }
+            if (!ContextualCheckBlockHeader(block, state, pindexPrev))
+            {
+                pindex->nStatus |= BLOCK_FAILED_MASK;
+                fprintf(stderr,"known block.%d failing ContextualCheckBlockHeader\n",(int32_t)pindex->nHeight);
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+        
         return true;
     }
 
@@ -3441,7 +3482,9 @@ bool AcceptBlockHeader(const CBlockHeader& block, CValidationState& state, CBloc
     if (hash != chainparams.GetConsensus().hashGenesisBlock) {
         BlockMap::iterator mi = mapBlockIndex.find(block.hashPrevBlock);
         if (mi == mapBlockIndex.end())
+        {
             return state.DoS(10, error("%s: prev block not found", __func__), 0, "bad-prevblk");
+        }
         pindexPrev = (*mi).second;
         if (pindexPrev == 0 || (pindexPrev->nStatus & BLOCK_FAILED_MASK) )
             return state.DoS(100, error("%s: prev block invalid", __func__), REJECT_INVALID, "bad-prevblk");