diff --git a/contracts/Proofs.sol b/contracts/Proofs.sol
index 7ca7e94..6a6c736 100644
--- a/contracts/Proofs.sol
+++ b/contracts/Proofs.sol
@@ -23,8 +23,16 @@ contract Proofs {
     return missed[id];
   }
 
+  // Checks that proof timeout is <= 128. Only the latest 256 blocks can be
+  // checked in a smart contract, so that leaves a period of at least 128 blocks
+  // after timeout for a validator to signal the absence of a proof.
+  function _checkTimeout(uint timeout) private pure {
+    require(timeout <= 128, "Invalid proof timeout, needs to be <= 128");
+  }
+
   function _expectProofs(bytes32 id, uint period, uint timeout) internal {
     require(!ids[id], "Proof id already in use");
+    _checkTimeout(timeout);
     ids[id] = true;
     periods[id] = period;
     timeouts[id] = timeout;
diff --git a/contracts/StorageContracts.sol b/contracts/StorageContracts.sol
index 5d57d5e..a8af7d8 100644
--- a/contracts/StorageContracts.sol
+++ b/contracts/StorageContracts.sol
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ contract StorageContracts is Proofs {
     bytes32 bidHash = hashBid(requestHash, _bidExpiry, _price);
     checkSignature(requestSignature, requestHash, msg.sender);
     checkSignature(bidSignature, bidHash, _host);
-    checkProofTimeout(_proofTimeout);
     checkBidExpiry(_bidExpiry);
     bytes32 contractId = bidHash;
     checkId(contractId);
@@ -135,13 +134,6 @@ contract StorageContracts is Proofs {
     require(recovered == signer, "Invalid signature");
   }
 
-  // Checks that proof timeout is <= 128. Only the latest 256 blocks can be
-  // checked in a smart contract, so that leaves a period of at least 128 blocks
-  // after timeout for a validator to signal the absence of a proof.
-  function checkProofTimeout(uint timeout) internal pure {
-    require(timeout <= 128, "Invalid proof timeout, needs to be <= 128");
-  }
-
   function checkBidExpiry(uint expiry) internal view {
     require(expiry > block.timestamp, "Bid expired");
   }
diff --git a/test/Proofs.test.js b/test/Proofs.test.js
index 24e7c6b..c6a011f 100644
--- a/test/Proofs.test.js
+++ b/test/Proofs.test.js
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@ describe("Proofs", function () {
     ).to.be.revertedWith("Proof id already in use")
   })
 
+  it("does not allow a proof timeout that is too large", async function () {
+    let invalidTimeout = 129 // max proof timeout is 128 blocks
+    await expect(
+      proofs.expectProofs(id, period, invalidTimeout)
+    ).to.be.revertedWith("Invalid proof timeout")
+  })
+
   describe("when proofs are required", async function () {
 
     beforeEach(async function () {
diff --git a/test/StorageContracts.test.js b/test/StorageContracts.test.js
index a107905..4763dd9 100644
--- a/test/StorageContracts.test.js
+++ b/test/StorageContracts.test.js
@@ -154,32 +154,6 @@ describe("Storage Contracts", function () {
     )).to.be.revertedWith("Invalid signature")
   })
 
-  it("cannot be created when proof timeout is too large", async function () {
-    let invalidTimeout = 129 // max proof timeout is 128 blocks
-    requestHash = hashRequest(
-      duration,
-      size,
-      contentHash,
-      proofPeriod,
-      invalidTimeout,
-      nonce
-    )
-    bidHash = hashBid(requestHash, bidExpiry, price)
-    await expect(contracts.newContract(
-      duration,
-      size,
-      contentHash,
-      price,
-      proofPeriod,
-      invalidTimeout,
-      nonce,
-      bidExpiry,
-      await host.getAddress(),
-      await sign(client, requestHash),
-      await sign(host, bidHash),
-    )).to.be.revertedWith("Invalid proof timeout")
-  })
-
   it("cannot be created when bid has expired", async function () {
     let expired = Math.round(Date.now() / 1000) - 60 // 1 minute ago
     let bidHash = hashBid(requestHash, expired, price)