diff --git a/base_layer/core/src/validation/accum_difficulty_validators.rs b/base_layer/core/src/validation/accum_difficulty_validators.rs
index 96eece0046..1bcdcc0b85 100644
--- a/base_layer/core/src/validation/accum_difficulty_validators.rs
+++ b/base_layer/core/src/validation/accum_difficulty_validators.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ impl<B: BlockchainBackend> Validation<Difficulty, B> for AccumDifficultyValidato
         let tip_header = db
             .fetch_last_header()?
             .ok_or_else(|| ValidationError::custom_error("Cannot retrieve tip header. Blockchain DB is empty"))?;
-        if *accum_difficulty <= tip_header.total_accumulated_difficulty_inclusive() {
+        if *accum_difficulty < tip_header.total_accumulated_difficulty_inclusive() {
             return Err(ValidationError::WeakerAccumulatedDifficulty);
         }
         Ok(())