diff --git a/src/avalanche/processor.cpp b/src/avalanche/processor.cpp
--- a/src/avalanche/processor.cpp
+++ b/src/avalanche/processor.cpp
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@
         auto w = queries.getWriteView();
         auto it = w->find(std::make_tuple(nodeid, response.getRound()));
         if (it == w.end()) {
-            nodePeerManager->Misbehaving(nodeid, 2, "unexpcted-ava-response");
+            nodePeerManager->Misbehaving(nodeid, 2, "unexpected-ava-response");
             return false;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/net_processing.cpp b/src/net_processing.cpp
--- a/src/net_processing.cpp
+++ b/src/net_processing.cpp
@@ -2739,14 +2739,6 @@
             Misbehaving(pfrom, 20, "unsolicited-" + msg_type);
             return;
         }
-        // Ignore avalanche requests while importing
-        if ((msg_type == NetMsgType::AVAPOLL ||
-             msg_type == NetMsgType::AVARESPONSE) &&
-            (fImporting || fReindex)) {
-            LogPrint(BCLog::NET, "Ignoring %s message while importing\n",
-                     msg_type);
-            return;
-        }
     }
 
     if (msg_type == NetMsgType::VERSION) {
diff --git a/test/functional/abc_p2p_avalanche.py b/test/functional/abc_p2p_avalanche.py
--- a/test/functional/abc_p2p_avalanche.py
+++ b/test/functional/abc_p2p_avalanche.py
@@ -335,6 +335,14 @@
         wait_until(has_parked_new_tip, timeout=15)
         assert_equal(node.getbestblockhash(), fork_tip)
 
+        self.log.info(
+            "Check the node is discouraging unexpected avaresponses.")
+        with self.nodes[0].assert_debug_log(
+                ['Misbehaving', 'peer=1 (0 -> 2): unexpected-ava-response']):
+            # unknown voting round
+            poll_node.send_avaresponse(
+                round=2**32 - 1, votes=[], privkey=privkey)
+
         self.log.info(
             "Check the node is signalling the avalanche service bit only if there is a proof.")
         assert_equal(