diff --git a/lib/contracts/blockchain.js b/lib/contracts/blockchain.js
index 6f6e4e15e..6ae0c9c76 100644
--- a/lib/contracts/blockchain.js
+++ b/lib/contracts/blockchain.js
@@ -256,45 +256,8 @@ class Blockchain {
         if (!self.contractsConfig || !self.contractsConfig.deployment || !self.contractsConfig.deployment.host) {
           return next();
         }
-        const origin = self.blockchainConfig.wsOrigins.split(',')[0];
-        const options = {
-          protocolVersion: 13,
-          perMessageDeflate: true,
-          origin: origin,
-          host: self.contractsConfig.deployment.host,
-          port: self.contractsConfig.deployment.port
-        };
-        if (self.contractsConfig.deployment.type === 'ws') {
-          options.headers = {
-            'Sec-WebSocket-Version': 13,
-            Connection: 'Upgrade',
-            Upgrade: 'websocket',
-            'Sec-WebSocket-Extensions': 'permessage-deflate; client_max_window_bits',
-            Origin: origin
-          };
-        }
-        let req;
-        // remove trailing api key from infura, ie rinkeby.infura.io/nmY8WtT4QfEwz2S7wTbl
-        if(options.host.indexOf('/') > -1){
-          options.host = options.host.split('/')[0];
-        }
-        if((self.contractsConfig.deployment.protocol || 'http') === 'https'){
-          req = require('https').get(options);          
-        }else{
-          req = require('http').get(options);
-        }
-        
-        req.on('error', (err) => {
-          next(err);
-        });
-
-        req.on('response', (_response) => {
-          next();
-        });
-
-        req.on('upgrade', (_res, _socket, _head) => {
-          next();
-        });
+        const {host, port, type, protocol}  = self.contractsConfig.deployment;
+        utils.pingEndpoint(host, port, type, protocol, self.blockchainConfig.wsOrigins.split(',')[0], next);
       }
     ], function (err) {
       if (!noLogs && err === NO_NODE_ERROR) {
diff --git a/lib/utils/utils.js b/lib/utils/utils.js
index c09dfa767..67de52126 100644
--- a/lib/utils/utils.js
+++ b/lib/utils/utils.js
@@ -73,6 +73,48 @@ function httpsGetJson(url, callback) {
   });
 }
 
+function pingEndpoint(host, port, type, protocol, wsOrigins, callback) {
+  const origin = wsOrigins.split(',')[0];
+  const options = {
+    protocolVersion: 13,
+    perMessageDeflate: true,
+    origin: origin,
+    host: host,
+    port: port
+  };
+  if (type === 'ws') {
+    options.headers = {
+      'Sec-WebSocket-Version': 13,
+      Connection: 'Upgrade',
+      Upgrade: 'websocket',
+      'Sec-WebSocket-Extensions': 'permessage-deflate; client_max_window_bits',
+      Origin: origin
+    };
+  }
+  let req;
+  // remove trailing api key from infura, ie rinkeby.infura.io/nmY8WtT4QfEwz2S7wTbl
+  if(options.host.indexOf('/') > -1){
+    options.host = options.host.split('/')[0];
+  }
+  if(protocol === 'https') {
+    req = require('https').get(options);
+  } else {
+    req = require('http').get(options);
+  }
+
+  req.on('error', (err) => {
+    callback(err);
+  });
+
+  req.on('response', (_response) => {
+    callback();
+  });
+
+  req.on('upgrade', (_res, _socket, _head) => {
+    callback();
+  });
+}
+
 function runCmd(cmd, options) {
   const shelljs = require('shelljs');
   let result = shelljs.exec(cmd, options || {silent: true});
@@ -267,6 +309,7 @@ module.exports = {
   httpGetJson: httpGetJson,
   httpsGetJson: httpsGetJson,
   hexToNumber: hexToNumber,
+  pingEndpoint,
   decodeParams: decodeParams,
   runCmd: runCmd,
   cd: cd,