diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index 71493f09f1..8af8a31421 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -4209,6 +4209,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ProcessBlockWithWitnesses(block *types.Block, witness *sta
 // invalid headers are detected.
 func (bc *BlockChain) startHeaderVerificationLoop() {
 	if bc.checker == nil {
+		log.Warn("chain validator service is not set, skipping header verification loop")
 		return // No checker available
 	}
 
diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index 9817bf912c..f820524cdb 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -307,6 +307,7 @@ func New(stack *node.Node, config *ethconfig.Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 	}
 
 	options.Overrides = &overrides
+	options.Checker = checker
 
 	// check if Parallel EVM is enabled
 	// if enabled, use parallel state processor