diff --git a/beacon_chain/consensus_object_pools/blockchain_dag.nim b/beacon_chain/consensus_object_pools/blockchain_dag.nim
index e9d60eb46..8fa5808a8 100644
--- a/beacon_chain/consensus_object_pools/blockchain_dag.nim
+++ b/beacon_chain/consensus_object_pools/blockchain_dag.nim
@@ -1131,10 +1131,6 @@ proc init*(T: type ChainDAGRef, cfg: RuntimeConfig, db: BeaconChainDB,
         head = shortLog(head), tail = shortLog(dag.tail)
       quit 1
 
-  withState(dag.headState):
-    when consensusFork >= ConsensusFork.Altair:
-      dag.headSyncCommittees = forkyState.data.get_sync_committee_cache(cache)
-
   block:
     # EpochRef needs an epoch boundary state
     assign(dag.epochRefState, dag.headState)
@@ -1149,6 +1145,10 @@ proc init*(T: type ChainDAGRef, cfg: RuntimeConfig, db: BeaconChainDB,
     dag.head = headRef
     dag.heads = @[headRef]
 
+    withState(dag.headState):
+      when consensusFork >= ConsensusFork.Altair:
+        dag.headSyncCommittees = forkyState.data.get_sync_committee_cache(cache)
+
     assign(dag.clearanceState, dag.headState)
 
     if dag.headState.latest_block_root == tail.root: