diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index b1fe8e7d3c8..8fec69c2b87 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -1442,7 +1442,15 @@ bool AppInitMain(boost::thread_group& threadGroup, CScheduler& scheduler)
                     break;
                 }
                 pcoinsTip = new CCoinsViewCache(pcoinscatcher);
-                LoadChainTip(chainparams);
+
+                if (!fReindex && !fReindexChainState) {
+                    // LoadChainTip sets chainActive based on pcoinsTip's best block
+                    if (!LoadChainTip(chainparams)) {
+                        strLoadError = _("Error initializing block database");
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    assert(chainActive.Tip() != NULL);
+                }
 
                 if (!fReindex && chainActive.Tip() != NULL) {
                     uiInterface.InitMessage(_("Rewinding blocks..."));
diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
index ebbdb7e651d..91982ead90f 100644
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -3538,14 +3538,24 @@ bool static LoadBlockIndexDB(const CChainParams& chainparams)
     return true;
 }
 
-void LoadChainTip(const CChainParams& chainparams)
+bool LoadChainTip(const CChainParams& chainparams)
 {
-    if (chainActive.Tip() && chainActive.Tip()->GetBlockHash() == pcoinsTip->GetBestBlock()) return;
+    if (chainActive.Tip() && chainActive.Tip()->GetBlockHash() == pcoinsTip->GetBestBlock()) return true;
+
+    if (pcoinsTip->GetBestBlock().IsNull() && mapBlockIndex.size() == 1) {
+        // In case we just added the genesis block, connect it now, so
+        // that we always have a chainActive.Tip() when we return.
+        LogPrintf("%s: Connecting genesis block...\n", __func__);
+        CValidationState state;
+        if (!ActivateBestChain(state, chainparams)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
 
     // Load pointer to end of best chain
     BlockMap::iterator it = mapBlockIndex.find(pcoinsTip->GetBestBlock());
     if (it == mapBlockIndex.end())
-        return;
+        return false;
     chainActive.SetTip(it->second);
 
     PruneBlockIndexCandidates();
@@ -3554,6 +3564,7 @@ void LoadChainTip(const CChainParams& chainparams)
         chainActive.Tip()->GetBlockHash().ToString(), chainActive.Height(),
         DateTimeStrFormat("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", chainActive.Tip()->GetBlockTime()),
         GuessVerificationProgress(chainparams.TxData(), chainActive.Tip()));
+    return true;
 }
 
 CVerifyDB::CVerifyDB()
diff --git a/src/validation.h b/src/validation.h
index 3ce5023f0ac..b1d482cbfbd 100644
--- a/src/validation.h
+++ b/src/validation.h
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ bool LoadGenesisBlock(const CChainParams& chainparams);
  * initializing state if we're running with -reindex. */
 bool LoadBlockIndex(const CChainParams& chainparams);
 /** Update the chain tip based on database information. */
-void LoadChainTip(const CChainParams& chainparams);
+bool LoadChainTip(const CChainParams& chainparams);
 /** Unload database information */
 void UnloadBlockIndex();
 /** Run an instance of the script checking thread */