diff --git a/cosmwasm/contracts/crosschain-registry/src/error.rs b/cosmwasm/contracts/crosschain-registry/src/error.rs
index 87a8697b75d..210158657fa 100644
--- a/cosmwasm/contracts/crosschain-registry/src/error.rs
+++ b/cosmwasm/contracts/crosschain-registry/src/error.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ pub enum ContractError {
     #[error("contract alias already exists: {alias:?}")]
     AliasAlreadyExists { alias: String },
 
+    #[error(
+        "PFM validation already in progress for {chain:?}. Wait for the ibc lifecycle to complete"
+    )]
+    PFMValidationAlreadyInProgress { chain: String },
+
     #[error("authorized address already exists for source chain: {source_chain:?}")]
     ChainAuthorizedAddressAlreadyExists { source_chain: String },
 
diff --git a/cosmwasm/contracts/crosschain-registry/src/execute.rs b/cosmwasm/contracts/crosschain-registry/src/execute.rs
index 89523e2bb9c..c1e9b7d6ccd 100644
--- a/cosmwasm/contracts/crosschain-registry/src/execute.rs
+++ b/cosmwasm/contracts/crosschain-registry/src/execute.rs
@@ -48,9 +48,22 @@ pub fn propose_pfm(
 ) -> Result<Response, ContractError> {
     let (deps, env, info) = ctx;
 
+    // enforce lowercase
     let chain = chain.to_lowercase();
 
-    // Store the chain to validate. If validation fails this will be reverted
+    // validation
+    let registry = Registry::default(deps.as_ref());
+    let coin = cw_utils::one_coin(&info)?;
+    let native_chain = registry.get_native_chain(&coin.denom)?;
+
+    if native_chain.as_ref() != chain {
+        return Err(ContractError::CoinFronInvalidChain {
+            supplied_chain: native_chain.as_ref().to_string(),
+            expected_chain: chain,
+        });
+    }
+
+    // check if the chain is already registered or is in progress
     if let Some(chain_pfm) = CHAIN_PFM_MAP.may_load(deps.storage, &chain)? {
         if chain_pfm.is_validated() {
             // Only authorized addresses can ask for a validated PFM to be re-checked
@@ -59,25 +72,20 @@ pub fn propose_pfm(
             let user_permission =
                 check_is_authorized(deps.as_ref(), info.sender.clone(), Some(chain.clone()))?;
             check_action_permission(FullOperation::Change, user_permission)?;
+        } else {
+            return Err(ContractError::PFMValidationAlreadyInProgress {
+                chain: chain.clone(),
+            });
         }
     };
 
+    // Store the chain to validate
     CHAIN_PFM_MAP.save(deps.storage, &chain, &ChainPFM::default())?;
 
-    let registry = Registry::default(deps.as_ref());
-
-    let coin = cw_utils::one_coin(&info)?;
-    let native_chain = registry.get_native_chain(&coin.denom)?;
-
-    if native_chain.as_ref() != chain {
-        return Err(ContractError::CoinFronInvalidChain {
-            supplied_chain: native_chain.as_ref().to_string(),
-            expected_chain: chain,
-        });
-    }
-
     let own_addr = env.contract.address;
 
+    // redeclaring (shadowing) registry to avoid issues with the borrow checker
+    let registry = Registry::default(deps.as_ref());
     let ibc_transfer = registry.unwrap_coin_into(
         coin,
         own_addr.to_string(),