diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
--- a/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
@@ -197,15 +197,15 @@
     connect(labelProxyIcon, &GUIUtil::ClickableLabel::clicked,
             [this] { openOptionsDialogWithTab(OptionsDialog::TAB_NETWORK); });
 
-    modalOverlay = new ModalOverlay(this->centralWidget());
+    modalOverlay = new ModalOverlay(enableWallet, this->centralWidget());
+    connect(labelBlocksIcon, &GUIUtil::ClickableLabel::clicked, this,
+            &BitcoinGUI::showModalOverlay);
+    connect(progressBar, &GUIUtil::ClickableProgressBar::clicked, this,
+            &BitcoinGUI::showModalOverlay);
 #ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
     if (enableWallet) {
         connect(walletFrame, &WalletFrame::requestedSyncWarningInfo, this,
                 &BitcoinGUI::showModalOverlay);
-        connect(labelBlocksIcon, &GUIUtil::ClickableLabel::clicked, this,
-                &BitcoinGUI::showModalOverlay);
-        connect(progressBar, &GUIUtil::ClickableProgressBar::clicked, this,
-                &BitcoinGUI::showModalOverlay);
     }
 #endif
 }
diff --git a/src/qt/modaloverlay.h b/src/qt/modaloverlay.h
--- a/src/qt/modaloverlay.h
+++ b/src/qt/modaloverlay.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    explicit ModalOverlay(QWidget *parent);
+    explicit ModalOverlay(bool enable_wallet, QWidget *parent);
     ~ModalOverlay();
 
 public Q_SLOTS:
diff --git a/src/qt/modaloverlay.cpp b/src/qt/modaloverlay.cpp
--- a/src/qt/modaloverlay.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/modaloverlay.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include <QPropertyAnimation>
 #include <QResizeEvent>
 
-ModalOverlay::ModalOverlay(QWidget *parent)
+ModalOverlay::ModalOverlay(bool enable_wallet, QWidget *parent)
     : QWidget(parent), ui(new Ui::ModalOverlay), bestHeaderHeight(0),
       bestHeaderDate(QDateTime()), layerIsVisible(false), userClosed(false) {
     ui->setupUi(this);
@@ -24,6 +24,13 @@
 
     blockProcessTime.clear();
     setVisible(false);
+    if (!enable_wallet) {
+        ui->infoText->setVisible(false);
+        ui->infoTextStrong->setText(
+            tr("Bitcoin ABC is currently syncing.  It will download headers "
+               "and blocks from peers and validate them until reaching the tip "
+               "of the block chain."));
+    }
 }
 
 ModalOverlay::~ModalOverlay() {