diff --git a/src/interfaces/wallet.h b/src/interfaces/wallet.h
--- a/src/interfaces/wallet.h
+++ b/src/interfaces/wallet.h
@@ -198,9 +198,8 @@
     //! Get balances.
     virtual WalletBalances getBalances() = 0;
 
-    //! Get balances if possible without waiting for chain and wallet locks.
-    virtual bool tryGetBalances(WalletBalances &balances, int &num_blocks,
-                                bool force, int cached_num_blocks) = 0;
+    //! Get balances if possible without blocking.
+    virtual bool tryGetBalances(WalletBalances &balances, int &num_blocks) = 0;
 
     //! Get balance.
     virtual Amount getBalance() = 0;
diff --git a/src/interfaces/wallet.cpp b/src/interfaces/wallet.cpp
--- a/src/interfaces/wallet.cpp
+++ b/src/interfaces/wallet.cpp
@@ -331,16 +331,13 @@
             }
             return result;
         }
-        bool tryGetBalances(WalletBalances &balances, int &num_blocks,
-                            bool force, int cached_num_blocks) override {
+        bool tryGetBalances(WalletBalances &balances,
+                            int &num_blocks) override {
             TRY_LOCK(m_wallet->cs_wallet, locked_wallet);
             if (!locked_wallet) {
                 return false;
             }
             num_blocks = m_wallet->GetLastBlockHeight();
-            if (!force && num_blocks == cached_num_blocks) {
-                return false;
-            }
             balances = getBalances();
             return true;
         }
diff --git a/src/qt/transactiontablemodel.cpp b/src/qt/transactiontablemodel.cpp
--- a/src/qt/transactiontablemodel.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/transactiontablemodel.cpp
@@ -671,8 +671,8 @@
 QModelIndex TransactionTableModel::index(int row, int column,
                                          const QModelIndex &parent) const {
     Q_UNUSED(parent);
-    TransactionRecord *data = priv->index(
-        walletModel->wallet(), walletModel->clientModel().getNumBlocks(), row);
+    TransactionRecord *data =
+        priv->index(walletModel->wallet(), walletModel->getNumBlocks(), row);
     if (data) {
         return createIndex(row, column, data);
     }
diff --git a/src/qt/walletmodel.h b/src/qt/walletmodel.h
--- a/src/qt/walletmodel.h
+++ b/src/qt/walletmodel.h
@@ -148,7 +148,8 @@
 
     interfaces::Node &node() const { return m_node; }
     interfaces::Wallet &wallet() const { return *m_wallet; }
-    ClientModel &clientModel() const { return m_client_model; }
+    void setClientModel(ClientModel *client_model);
+    int getNumBlocks() const { return cachedNumBlocks; }
 
     const CChainParams &getChainParams() const;
 
@@ -170,7 +171,7 @@
     std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Handler> m_handler_show_progress;
     std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Handler> m_handler_watch_only_changed;
     std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Handler> m_handler_can_get_addrs_changed;
-    ClientModel &m_client_model;
+    ClientModel *m_client_model;
     interfaces::Node &m_node;
 
     bool fHaveWatchOnly;
@@ -188,6 +189,7 @@
     interfaces::WalletBalances m_cached_balances;
     EncryptionStatus cachedEncryptionStatus;
     int cachedNumBlocks;
+    QTimer *timer;
 
     void subscribeToCoreSignals();
     void unsubscribeFromCoreSignals();
diff --git a/src/qt/walletmodel.cpp b/src/qt/walletmodel.cpp
--- a/src/qt/walletmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/walletmodel.cpp
@@ -31,10 +31,11 @@
                          ClientModel &client_model,
                          const PlatformStyle *platformStyle, QObject *parent)
     : QObject(parent), m_wallet(std::move(wallet)),
-      m_client_model(client_model), m_node(client_model.node()),
+      m_client_model(&client_model), m_node(client_model.node()),
       optionsModel(client_model.getOptionsModel()), addressTableModel(nullptr),
       transactionTableModel(nullptr), recentRequestsTableModel(nullptr),
-      cachedEncryptionStatus(Unencrypted), cachedNumBlocks(0) {
+      cachedEncryptionStatus(Unencrypted), cachedNumBlocks(0),
+      timer(new QTimer(this)) {
     fHaveWatchOnly = m_wallet->haveWatchOnly();
     addressTableModel = new AddressTableModel(this);
     transactionTableModel = new TransactionTableModel(platformStyle, this);
@@ -49,11 +50,17 @@
 
 void WalletModel::startPollBalance() {
     // This timer will be fired repeatedly to update the balance
-    QTimer *timer = new QTimer(this);
     connect(timer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &WalletModel::pollBalanceChanged);
     timer->start(MODEL_UPDATE_DELAY);
 }
 
+void WalletModel::setClientModel(ClientModel *client_model) {
+    m_client_model = client_model;
+    if (!m_client_model) {
+        timer->stop();
+    }
+}
+
 void WalletModel::updateStatus() {
     EncryptionStatus newEncryptionStatus = getEncryptionStatus();
 
@@ -63,25 +70,33 @@
 }
 
 void WalletModel::pollBalanceChanged() {
+    // Avoid recomputing wallet balances unless a TransactionChanged or
+    // BlockTip notification was received.
+    if (!fForceCheckBalanceChanged &&
+        cachedNumBlocks == m_client_model->getNumBlocks()) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     // Try to get balances and return early if locks can't be acquired. This
     // avoids the GUI from getting stuck on periodical polls if the core is
     // holding the locks for a longer time - for example, during a wallet
     // rescan.
     interfaces::WalletBalances new_balances;
     int numBlocks = -1;
-    if (!m_wallet->tryGetBalances(new_balances, numBlocks,
-                                  fForceCheckBalanceChanged, cachedNumBlocks)) {
+    if (!m_wallet->tryGetBalances(new_balances, numBlocks)) {
         return;
     }
 
-    fForceCheckBalanceChanged = false;
+    if (fForceCheckBalanceChanged || numBlocks != cachedNumBlocks) {
+        fForceCheckBalanceChanged = false;
 
-    // Balance and number of transactions might have changed
-    cachedNumBlocks = numBlocks;
+        // Balance and number of transactions might have changed
+        cachedNumBlocks = numBlocks;
 
-    checkBalanceChanged(new_balances);
-    if (transactionTableModel) {
-        transactionTableModel->updateConfirmations();
+        checkBalanceChanged(new_balances);
+        if (transactionTableModel) {
+            transactionTableModel->updateConfirmations();
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/qt/walletview.cpp b/src/qt/walletview.cpp
--- a/src/qt/walletview.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/walletview.cpp
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@
 
     overviewPage->setClientModel(_clientModel);
     sendCoinsPage->setClientModel(_clientModel);
+    if (walletModel) {
+        walletModel->setClientModel(_clientModel);
+    }
 }
 
 void WalletView::setWalletModel(WalletModel *_walletModel) {