diff --git a/beacon-chain/blockchain/error.go b/beacon-chain/blockchain/error.go
index 87ed0d2416db..ad2c5e8bf339 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/blockchain/error.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/blockchain/error.go
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@ var (
 	errNilFinalizedInStore = errors.New("nil finalized checkpoint returned from store")
 	// errNilFinalizedCheckpoint is returned when a nil finalized checkpt is returned from a state.
 	errNilFinalizedCheckpoint = errors.New("nil finalized checkpoint returned from state")
-	// errNilJustifiedCheckpoint is returned when a nil justified checkpt is returned from a state.
-	errNilJustifiedCheckpoint = errors.New("nil justified checkpoint returned from state")
 	// errBlockDoesNotExist is returned when a block does not exist for a particular state summary.
 	errBlockDoesNotExist = errors.New("could not find block in DB")
 	// errBlockNotFoundInCacheOrDB is returned when a block is not found in the cache or DB.
diff --git a/beacon-chain/blockchain/service.go b/beacon-chain/blockchain/service.go
index 09d0cce7906d..ca3a696e4a53 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/blockchain/service.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/blockchain/service.go
@@ -272,13 +272,6 @@ func (s *Service) StartFromSavedState(saved state.BeaconState) error {
 	}
 	spawnCountdownIfPreGenesis(s.ctx, s.genesisTime, s.cfg.BeaconDB)
 
-	justified, err := s.cfg.BeaconDB.JustifiedCheckpoint(s.ctx)
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "could not get justified checkpoint")
-	}
-	if justified == nil {
-		return errNilJustifiedCheckpoint
-	}
 	finalized, err := s.cfg.BeaconDB.FinalizedCheckpoint(s.ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "could not get finalized checkpoint")
@@ -290,8 +283,8 @@ func (s *Service) StartFromSavedState(saved state.BeaconState) error {
 	fRoot := s.ensureRootNotZeros(bytesutil.ToBytes32(finalized.Root))
 	s.cfg.ForkChoiceStore.Lock()
 	defer s.cfg.ForkChoiceStore.Unlock()
-	if err := s.cfg.ForkChoiceStore.UpdateJustifiedCheckpoint(s.ctx, &forkchoicetypes.Checkpoint{Epoch: justified.Epoch,
-		Root: bytesutil.ToBytes32(justified.Root)}); err != nil {
+	if err := s.cfg.ForkChoiceStore.UpdateJustifiedCheckpoint(s.ctx, &forkchoicetypes.Checkpoint{Epoch: finalized.Epoch,
+		Root: bytesutil.ToBytes32(finalized.Root)}); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "could not update forkchoice's justified checkpoint")
 	}
 	if err := s.cfg.ForkChoiceStore.UpdateFinalizedCheckpoint(&forkchoicetypes.Checkpoint{Epoch: finalized.Epoch,