diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index ebb07c8d3a0..2b046fc2af9 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -1807,7 +1807,7 @@ bool AppInitMain(NodeContext& node, interfaces::BlockAndHeaderTipInfo* tip_info)
     {
         WAIT_LOCK(kernel_notifications.m_tip_block_mutex, lock);
         kernel_notifications.m_tip_block_cv.wait(lock, [&]() EXCLUSIVE_LOCKS_REQUIRED(kernel_notifications.m_tip_block_mutex) {
-            return kernel_notifications.m_tip_block || ShutdownRequested(node);
+            return kernel_notifications.TipBlock() || ShutdownRequested(node);
         });
     }
 
diff --git a/src/node/interfaces.cpp b/src/node/interfaces.cpp
index 03e8028d195..212f0365bb7 100644
--- a/src/node/interfaces.cpp
+++ b/src/node/interfaces.cpp
@@ -975,7 +975,7 @@ public:
             notifications().m_tip_block_cv.wait_for(lock, timeout, [&]() EXCLUSIVE_LOCKS_REQUIRED(notifications().m_tip_block_mutex) {
                 // We need to wait for m_tip_block to be set AND for the value
                 // to differ from the current_tip value.
-                return (notifications().m_tip_block && notifications().m_tip_block != current_tip) || chainman().m_interrupt;
+                return (notifications().TipBlock() && notifications().TipBlock() != current_tip) || chainman().m_interrupt;
             });
         }
         // Must release m_tip_block_mutex before locking cs_main, to avoid deadlocks.
diff --git a/src/node/kernel_notifications.cpp b/src/node/kernel_notifications.cpp
index a09803165ca..550ffe74c4a 100644
--- a/src/node/kernel_notifications.cpp
+++ b/src/node/kernel_notifications.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ kernel::InterruptResult KernelNotifications::blockTip(SynchronizationState state
 {
     {
         LOCK(m_tip_block_mutex);
+        Assume(index.GetBlockHash() != uint256::ZERO);
         m_tip_block = index.GetBlockHash();
         m_tip_block_cv.notify_all();
     }
@@ -99,6 +100,13 @@ void KernelNotifications::fatalError(const bilingual_str& message)
                     m_exit_status, message, &m_warnings);
 }
 
+std::optional<uint256> KernelNotifications::TipBlock()
+{
+    AssertLockHeld(m_tip_block_mutex);
+    return m_tip_block;
+};
+
+
 void ReadNotificationArgs(const ArgsManager& args, KernelNotifications& notifications)
 {
     if (auto value{args.GetIntArg("-stopatheight")}) notifications.m_stop_at_height = *value;
diff --git a/src/node/kernel_notifications.h b/src/node/kernel_notifications.h
index 8a473977eb9..f4174381daf 100644
--- a/src/node/kernel_notifications.h
+++ b/src/node/kernel_notifications.h
@@ -59,12 +59,14 @@ public:
     //! The block for which the last blockTip notification was received.
     //! It's first set when the tip is connected during node initialization.
     //! Might be unset during an early shutdown.
-    std::optional<uint256> m_tip_block GUARDED_BY(m_tip_block_mutex);
+    std::optional<uint256> TipBlock() EXCLUSIVE_LOCKS_REQUIRED(m_tip_block_mutex);
 
 private:
     const std::function<bool()>& m_shutdown_request;
     std::atomic<int>& m_exit_status;
     node::Warnings& m_warnings;
+
+    std::optional<uint256> m_tip_block GUARDED_BY(m_tip_block_mutex);
 };
 
 void ReadNotificationArgs(const ArgsManager& args, KernelNotifications& notifications);
diff --git a/src/test/validation_chainstate_tests.cpp b/src/test/validation_chainstate_tests.cpp
index 0ae0363aaa2..bf8cd819f28 100644
--- a/src/test/validation_chainstate_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/validation_chainstate_tests.cpp
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE(chainstate_update_tip, TestChain100Setup)
     ChainstateManager& chainman = *Assert(m_node.chainman);
     const auto get_notify_tip{[&]() {
         LOCK(m_node.notifications->m_tip_block_mutex);
-        BOOST_REQUIRE(m_node.notifications->m_tip_block);
-        return *m_node.notifications->m_tip_block;
+        BOOST_REQUIRE(m_node.notifications->TipBlock());
+        return *m_node.notifications->TipBlock();
     }};
     uint256 curr_tip = get_notify_tip();