diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 6665ed5ec..1ecfd872c 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1612,6 +1612,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "slog-async",
  "slog-stdlog",
  "slog-term",
+ "slot_clock",
  "smallvec 1.4.2",
  "snap",
  "tempdir",
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/router/processor.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/router/processor.rs
index 36b799c8d..ae6959437 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/router/processor.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/router/processor.rs
@@ -3,13 +3,14 @@ use crate::beacon_processor::{
 };
 use crate::service::NetworkMessage;
 use crate::sync::{PeerSyncInfo, SyncMessage};
-use beacon_chain::{BeaconChain, BeaconChainTypes};
+use beacon_chain::{BeaconChain, BeaconChainError, BeaconChainTypes};
 use eth2_libp2p::rpc::*;
 use eth2_libp2p::{
     MessageId, NetworkGlobals, PeerAction, PeerId, PeerRequestId, Request, Response,
 };
 use itertools::process_results;
 use slog::{debug, error, o, trace, warn};
+use slot_clock::SlotClock;
 use std::cmp;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use tokio::sync::mpsc;
@@ -158,7 +159,9 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Processor<T> {
             );
         }
 
-        self.process_status(peer_id, status);
+        if let Err(e) = self.process_status(peer_id, status) {
+            error!(self.log, "Could not process status message"; "error" => format!("{:?}", e));
+        }
     }
 
     /// Process a `Status` response from a peer.
@@ -175,22 +178,29 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Processor<T> {
         );
 
         // Process the status message, without sending back another status.
-        self.process_status(peer_id, status);
+        if let Err(e) = self.process_status(peer_id, status) {
+            error!(self.log, "Could not process status message"; "error" => format!("{:?}", e));
+        }
     }
 
     /// Process a `Status` message, requesting new blocks if appropriate.
     ///
     /// Disconnects the peer if required.
-    fn process_status(&mut self, peer_id: PeerId, status: StatusMessage) {
+    fn process_status(
+        &mut self,
+        peer_id: PeerId,
+        status: StatusMessage,
+    ) -> Result<(), BeaconChainError> {
         let remote = PeerSyncInfo::from(status);
         let local = match PeerSyncInfo::from_chain(&self.chain) {
             Some(local) => local,
             None => {
-                return error!(
+                error!(
                     self.log,
                     "Failed to get peer sync info";
                     "msg" => "likely due to head lock contention"
-                )
+                );
+                return Err(BeaconChainError::CannotAttestToFutureState);
             }
         };
 
@@ -209,7 +219,11 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Processor<T> {
             self.network
                 .goodbye_peer(peer_id, GoodbyeReason::IrrelevantNetwork);
         } else if remote.head_slot
-            > self.chain.slot().unwrap_or_else(|_| Slot::from(0u64)) + FUTURE_SLOT_TOLERANCE
+            > self
+                .chain
+                .slot()
+                .unwrap_or_else(|_| self.chain.slot_clock.genesis_slot())
+                + FUTURE_SLOT_TOLERANCE
         {
             // Note: If the slot_clock cannot be read, this will not error. Other system
             // components will deal with an invalid slot clock error.
@@ -230,8 +244,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Processor<T> {
             && self
                 .chain
                 .root_at_slot(start_slot(remote.finalized_epoch))
-                .map(|root_opt| root_opt != Some(remote.finalized_root))
-                .unwrap_or_else(|_| false)
+                .map(|root_opt| root_opt != Some(remote.finalized_root))?
         {
             // The remotes finalized epoch is less than or greater than ours, but the block root is
             // different to the one in our chain.
@@ -267,8 +280,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Processor<T> {
         } else if self
             .chain
             .store
-            .item_exists::<SignedBeaconBlock<T::EthSpec>>(&remote.head_root)
-            .unwrap_or_else(|_| false)
+            .item_exists::<SignedBeaconBlock<T::EthSpec>>(&remote.head_root)?
         {
             debug!(
                 self.log, "Peer with known chain found";
@@ -293,6 +305,8 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Processor<T> {
             );
             self.send_to_sync(SyncMessage::AddPeer(peer_id, remote));
         }
+
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     /// Handle a `BlocksByRoot` request from the peer.
@@ -438,6 +452,11 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Processor<T> {
             }
         }
 
+        let current_slot = self
+            .chain
+            .slot()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|_| self.chain.slot_clock.genesis_slot());
+
         if blocks_sent < (req.count as usize) {
             debug!(
                 self.log,
@@ -445,7 +464,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Processor<T> {
                 "peer" => peer_id.to_string(),
                 "msg" => "Failed to return all requested blocks",
                 "start_slot" => req.start_slot,
-                "current_slot" => self.chain.slot().unwrap_or_else(|_| Slot::from(0_u64)).as_u64(),
+                "current_slot" => current_slot,
                 "requested" => req.count,
                 "returned" => blocks_sent);
         } else {
@@ -454,7 +473,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> Processor<T> {
                 "Sending BlocksByRange Response";
                 "peer" => peer_id.to_string(),
                 "start_slot" => req.start_slot,
-                "current_slot" => self.chain.slot().unwrap_or_else(|_| Slot::from(0_u64)).as_u64(),
+                "current_slot" => current_slot,
                 "requested" => req.count,
                 "returned" => blocks_sent);
         }