diff --git a/packages/rs-drive-abci/src/error/execution.rs b/packages/rs-drive-abci/src/error/execution.rs
index 4e7108e08e7..1c5fcbe6dc1 100644
--- a/packages/rs-drive-abci/src/error/execution.rs
+++ b/packages/rs-drive-abci/src/error/execution.rs
@@ -52,6 +52,15 @@ pub enum ExecutionError {
         known_versions: Vec<FeatureVersion>,
     },
 
+    /// We don't have the required protocol version. Most liekly the platform must be upgraded.
+    #[error("platform protocol version {required} is not supported, max supported is {max_supported}; please upgrade")]
+    ProtocolVersionNotSupported {
+        /// The maximum supported protocol version
+        max_supported: u32,
+        /// Protocol version requested by the network
+        required: u32,
+    },
+
     /// The platform encountered a corrupted cache state error.
     #[error("platform corrupted cached state error: {0}")]
     CorruptedCachedState(String),
diff --git a/packages/rs-drive-abci/src/execution/engine/run_block_proposal/mod.rs b/packages/rs-drive-abci/src/execution/engine/run_block_proposal/mod.rs
index 43712c7febd..916b4fa1b79 100644
--- a/packages/rs-drive-abci/src/execution/engine/run_block_proposal/mod.rs
+++ b/packages/rs-drive-abci/src/execution/engine/run_block_proposal/mod.rs
@@ -83,15 +83,23 @@ where
 
             // We should panic if this node is not supported a new protocol version
             let Ok(next_platform_version) = PlatformVersion::get(next_protocol_version) else {
-                panic!(
+                let max_supported = PlatformVersion::latest().protocol_version;
+                tracing::error!(
                     r#"Failed to upgrade the network protocol version {next_protocol_version}.
 
 Please update your software to the latest version: https://docs.dash.org/platform-protocol-upgrade
 
 Your software version: {}, latest supported protocol version: {}."#,
                     env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION"),
-                    PlatformVersion::latest().protocol_version
+                    max_supported
                 );
+
+                return Ok(ValidationResult::new_with_error(Error::Execution(
+                    ExecutionError::ProtocolVersionNotSupported {
+                        max_supported,
+                        required: next_protocol_version,
+                    },
+                )));
             };
 
             let old_protocol_version = block_platform_state.current_protocol_version_in_consensus();