diff --git a/src/avalanche/processor.h b/src/avalanche/processor.h
--- a/src/avalanche/processor.h
+++ b/src/avalanche/processor.h
@@ -296,10 +296,9 @@
     /**
      * Get the local proof used by this node.
      *
-     * @returns Proof for this node.
-     * @throws a std::runtime_error if there is no proof set for this node
+     * @returns Pointer to proof for this node, nullptr if there isn't one.
      */
-    const Proof getProof() const;
+    const Proof *getLocalProof() const;
 
     std::vector<avalanche::Peer> getPeers() const;
     std::vector<NodeId> getNodeIdsForPeer(PeerId peerId) const;
diff --git a/src/avalanche/processor.cpp b/src/avalanche/processor.cpp
--- a/src/avalanche/processor.cpp
+++ b/src/avalanche/processor.cpp
@@ -444,11 +444,11 @@
     return true;
 }
 
-const Proof Processor::getProof() const {
+const Proof *Processor::getLocalProof() const {
     if (!peerData) {
-        throw std::runtime_error("proof not set");
+        return nullptr;
     }
-    return peerData->proof;
+    return &peerData->proof;
 }
 
 bool Processor::startEventLoop(CScheduler &scheduler) {
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -2440,12 +2440,11 @@
         // If avalanche is enabled and a proof is supplied, make sure it does
         // not contain garbage. At this point the validity of the utxos cannot
         // be checked, so only basic verification is performed.
-        try {
-            avalanche::Proof proof;
-            proof = g_avalanche->getProof();
+        const avalanche::Proof *proof = g_avalanche->getLocalProof();
 
+        if (proof) {
             avalanche::ProofValidationState proof_state;
-            if (!proof.verify(proof_state)) {
+            if (!proof->verify(proof_state)) {
                 switch (proof_state.GetResult()) {
                     case avalanche::ProofValidationResult::NO_STAKE:
                         InitError(_("the avalanche proof has no stake"));
@@ -2471,7 +2470,7 @@
                         return false;
                 }
             }
-        } catch (const std::runtime_error &e) {
+        } else {
             LogPrintf("Avalanche is enabled but no proof supplied, the node "
                       "will not be able to vote\n");
         }