diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -1369,6 +1369,10 @@
                 LogPrintf("Reindexing block file blk%05u.dat...\n",
                           (unsigned int)nFile);
                 LoadExternalBlockFile(config, file, &pos);
+                if (ShutdownRequested()) {
+                    LogPrintf("Shutdown requested. Exit %s\n", __func__);
+                    return;
+                }
                 nFile++;
             }
             pblocktree->WriteReindexing(false);
@@ -1385,6 +1389,10 @@
             if (file) {
                 LogPrintf("Importing blocks file %s...\n", path.string());
                 LoadExternalBlockFile(config, file);
+                if (ShutdownRequested()) {
+                    LogPrintf("Shutdown requested. Exit %s\n", __func__);
+                    return;
+                }
             } else {
                 LogPrintf("Warning: Could not open blocks file %s\n",
                           path.string());
diff --git a/src/validation.h b/src/validation.h
--- a/src/validation.h
+++ b/src/validation.h
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@
 /**
  * Import blocks from an external file.
  */
-bool LoadExternalBlockFile(const Config &config, FILE *fileIn,
+void LoadExternalBlockFile(const Config &config, FILE *fileIn,
                            FlatFilePos *dbp = nullptr);
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -5239,7 +5239,7 @@
     return ::ChainstateActive().LoadGenesisBlock(chainparams);
 }
 
-bool LoadExternalBlockFile(const Config &config, FILE *fileIn,
+void LoadExternalBlockFile(const Config &config, FILE *fileIn,
                            FlatFilePos *dbp) {
     // Map of disk positions for blocks with unknown parent (only used for
     // reindex)
@@ -5257,7 +5257,9 @@
                              CLIENT_VERSION);
         uint64_t nRewind = blkdat.GetPos();
         while (!blkdat.eof()) {
-            boost::this_thread::interruption_point();
+            if (ShutdownRequested()) {
+                return;
+            }
 
             blkdat.SetPos(nRewind);
             // Start one byte further next time, in case of failure.
@@ -5394,12 +5396,8 @@
         AbortNode(std::string("System error: ") + e.what());
     }
 
-    if (nLoaded > 0) {
-        LogPrintf("Loaded %i blocks from external file in %dms\n", nLoaded,
-                  GetTimeMillis() - nStart);
-    }
-
-    return nLoaded > 0;
+    LogPrintf("Loaded %i blocks from external file in %dms\n", nLoaded,
+              GetTimeMillis() - nStart);
 }
 
 void CChainState::CheckBlockIndex(const Consensus::Params &consensusParams) {