diff --git a/test/functional/abc_rpc_avalancheproof.py b/test/functional/abc_rpc_avalancheproof.py
--- a/test/functional/abc_rpc_avalancheproof.py
+++ b/test/functional/abc_rpc_avalancheproof.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
     create_coinbase_stakes,
     create_stakes,
     get_proof_ids,
+    wait_for_proof,
 )
 from test_framework.key import ECKey, bytes_to_wif
 from test_framework.messages import (
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@
 from test_framework.util import (
     append_config,
     assert_equal,
+    connect_nodes,
     wait_until,
     assert_raises_rpc_error,
 )
@@ -48,12 +50,17 @@
 class AvalancheProofTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
     def set_test_params(self):
         self.setup_clean_chain = True
-        self.num_nodes = 1
-        self.extra_args = [['-enableavalanche=1', '-avacooldown=0'], ]
+        self.num_nodes = 2
+        self.extra_args = [['-enableavalanche=1', '-avacooldown=0'],
+                           ['-enableavalanche=1', '-avacooldown=0']]
         self.supports_cli = False
         self.rpc_timeout = 120
 
     def run_test(self):
+        # Turn off node 1 while node 0 mines blocks to generate stakes,
+        # so that we can later try starting node 1 with an orphan proof.
+        self.stop_node(1)
+
         node = self.nodes[0]
 
         addrkey0 = node.get_deterministic_priv_key()
@@ -112,6 +119,27 @@
         node.generate(1)
         wait_until(lambda: len(node.getavalanchepeerinfo()) == 1, timeout=5)
 
+        # The following case will be common, with users building proofs
+        # with an external tool (e.g. Electrum ABC) and then starting a
+        # new node that does not yet know of the stakes
+        self.log.info("Start a node with an orphan proof")
+
+        self.add_nodes(1)
+        self.start_node(1, self.extra_args[0] + [
+            "-avaproof={}".format(proof),
+            "-avamasterkey=cND2ZvtabDbJ1gucx9GWH6XT9kgTAqfb6cotPt5Q5CyxVDhid2EN",
+        ])
+        # Mine a block to trigger an attempt at registering the proof
+        self.nodes[1].generate(1)
+        wait_for_proof(self.nodes[1], f"{proofobj.proofid:0{64}x}",
+                       expect_orphan=True)
+
+        self.log.info("Connect to a up-to-date node to unorphan the proof")
+        connect_nodes(self.nodes[1], node)
+        node.generate(1)
+        wait_for_proof(self.nodes[1], f"{proofobj.proofid:0{64}x}",
+                       expect_orphan=False)
+
         if self.is_wallet_compiled():
             self.log.info(
                 "A proof using the maximum number of stakes is accepted...")