diff --git a/packages/federation-sdk/src/services/federation-validation.service.ts b/packages/federation-sdk/src/services/federation-validation.service.ts
index c7f15233..3aaa56c1 100644
--- a/packages/federation-sdk/src/services/federation-validation.service.ts
+++ b/packages/federation-sdk/src/services/federation-validation.service.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,11 @@ export class FederationValidationService {
 	}
 
 	private async checkDomainReachable(domain: string): Promise<void> {
+		// Early return for same-server domain - no need to check reachability
+		if (domain === this.configService.serverName) {
+			return;
+		}
+
 		const timeoutMs =
 			this.configService.getConfig('networkCheckTimeoutMs') || 5000;
 
diff --git a/packages/federation-sdk/src/services/invite.service.ts b/packages/federation-sdk/src/services/invite.service.ts
index 9a2a5aff..056dd0a8 100644
--- a/packages/federation-sdk/src/services/invite.service.ts
+++ b/packages/federation-sdk/src/services/invite.service.ts
@@ -96,11 +96,6 @@ export class InviteService {
 			);
 		}
 
-		await this.federationValidationService.validateOutboundInvite(
-			userId,
-			roomId,
-		);
-
 		// if user invited belongs to our server
 		if (invitedServer === this.configService.serverName) {
 			await stateService.handlePdu(inviteEvent);
@@ -119,6 +114,11 @@ export class InviteService {
 			};
 		}
 
+		await this.federationValidationService.validateOutboundInvite(
+			userId,
+			roomId,
+		);
+
 		// get signed invite event
 		const inviteResponse = await federationService.inviteUser(
 			inviteEvent,