diff --git a/src/pow.cpp b/src/pow.cpp
index f0d83c214..a3a0e7260 100644
--- a/src/pow.cpp
+++ b/src/pow.cpp
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ extern std::string NOTARY_PUBKEY;
 bool CheckProofOfWork(int32_t height,uint8_t *pubkey33,uint256 hash, unsigned int nBits, const Consensus::Params& params)
 {
     extern int32_t KOMODO_REWIND;
-    bool fNegative,fOverflow; int32_t i,nonzpkeys=0,nonz=0,special=0,special2=0,notaryid=-1,flag = 0, mids[66]; uint32_t timestamp = 0; CBlockIndex *pindex;
+    bool fNegative,fOverflow; int32_t i,nonzpkeys=0,nonz=0,special=0,special2=0,notaryid=-1,flag = 0, mids[66]; uint32_t timestamp = 0; CBlockIndex *pindex=0;
     arith_uint256 bnTarget; uint8_t pubkeys[66][33];
     timestamp = komodo_chainactive_timestamp();
     bnTarget.SetCompact(nBits, &fNegative, &fOverflow);
@@ -146,8 +146,6 @@ bool CheckProofOfWork(int32_t height,uint8_t *pubkey33,uint256 hash, unsigned in
     }
     if ( height > 34000 && ASSETCHAINS_SYMBOL[0] == 0 ) // 0 -> non-special notary
     {
-        if ( KOMODO_LOADINGBLOCKS != 0 )
-            return(true);
         if ( (pindex= komodo_chainactive(height)) != 0 )
         {
             komodo_pindex_init(pindex,height);
@@ -208,7 +206,8 @@ bool CheckProofOfWork(int32_t height,uint8_t *pubkey33,uint256 hash, unsigned in
         for (i=0; i<66; i++)
             printf("%d ",mids[i]);
         printf(" minerids from ht.%d pindex.%p\n",height,pindex);
-        return false;
+        if ( KOMODO_LOADINGBLOCKS == 0 )
+            return false;
     }
     return true;
 }