diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
index eaefa95411..9fd6bee2aa 100644
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -2294,6 +2294,7 @@ bool ActivateBestChain(CValidationState &state, const CChainParams& chainparams,
 
     CBlockIndex *pindexMostWork = NULL;
     CBlockIndex *pindexNewTip = NULL;
+    int nStopAtHeight = GetArg("-stopatheight", DEFAULT_STOPATHEIGHT);
     do {
         boost::this_thread::interruption_point();
         if (ShutdownRequested())
@@ -2343,6 +2344,8 @@ bool ActivateBestChain(CValidationState &state, const CChainParams& chainparams,
         if (pindexFork != pindexNewTip) {
             uiInterface.NotifyBlockTip(fInitialDownload, pindexNewTip);
         }
+
+        if (nStopAtHeight && pindexNewTip && pindexNewTip->nHeight >= nStopAtHeight) StartShutdown();
     } while (pindexNewTip != pindexMostWork);
     CheckBlockIndex(chainparams.GetConsensus());
 
@@ -2351,9 +2354,6 @@ bool ActivateBestChain(CValidationState &state, const CChainParams& chainparams,
         return false;
     }
 
-    int nStopAtHeight = GetArg("-stopatheight", DEFAULT_STOPATHEIGHT);
-    if (nStopAtHeight && pindexNewTip && pindexNewTip->nHeight >= nStopAtHeight) StartShutdown();
-
     return true;
 }