diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/attestation_verification.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/attestation_verification.rs
index 6502e106b..b81daa4bd 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/attestation_verification.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/attestation_verification.rs
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ fn verify_head_block_is_known<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
     {
         // Reject any block that exceeds our limit on skipped slots.
         if let Some(max_skip_slots) = max_skip_slots {
-            if block.slot > attestation.data.slot + max_skip_slots {
+            if attestation.data.slot > block.slot + max_skip_slots {
                 return Err(Error::TooManySkippedSlots {
                     head_block_slot: block.slot,
                     attestation_slot: attestation.data.slot,
diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/block_verification.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/block_verification.rs
index 520ebcea5..9f25186ed 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/block_verification.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/block_verification.rs
@@ -431,6 +431,9 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> GossipVerifiedBlock<T> {
 
         let (mut parent, block) = load_parent(block, chain)?;
 
+        // Reject any block that exceeds our limit on skipped slots.
+        check_block_skip_slots(chain, &parent.beacon_block.message, &block.message)?;
+
         let state = cheap_state_advance_to_obtain_committees(
             &mut parent.beacon_state,
             block.slot(),
@@ -517,6 +520,10 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> SignatureVerifiedBlock<T> {
         chain: &BeaconChain<T>,
     ) -> Result<Self, BlockError<T::EthSpec>> {
         let (mut parent, block) = load_parent(block, chain)?;
+
+        // Reject any block that exceeds our limit on skipped slots.
+        check_block_skip_slots(chain, &parent.beacon_block.message, &block.message)?;
+
         let block_root = get_block_root(&block);
 
         let state = cheap_state_advance_to_obtain_committees(
@@ -648,14 +655,7 @@ impl<'a, T: BeaconChainTypes> FullyVerifiedBlock<'a, T> {
         }
 
         // Reject any block that exceeds our limit on skipped slots.
-        if let Some(max_skip_slots) = chain.config.import_max_skip_slots {
-            if block.slot() > parent.beacon_block.slot() + max_skip_slots {
-                return Err(BlockError::TooManySkippedSlots {
-                    parent_slot: parent.beacon_block.slot(),
-                    block_slot: block.slot(),
-                });
-            }
-        }
+        check_block_skip_slots(chain, &parent.beacon_block.message, &block.message)?;
 
         /*
          *  Perform cursory checks to see if the block is even worth processing.
@@ -799,6 +799,30 @@ impl<'a, T: BeaconChainTypes> FullyVerifiedBlock<'a, T> {
     }
 }
 
+/// Check that the count of skip slots between the block and its parent does not exceed our maximum
+/// value.
+///
+/// Whilst this is not part of the specification, we include this to help prevent us from DoS
+/// attacks. In times of dire network circumstance, the user can configure the
+/// `import_max_skip_slots` value.
+fn check_block_skip_slots<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
+    chain: &BeaconChain<T>,
+    parent: &BeaconBlock<T::EthSpec>,
+    block: &BeaconBlock<T::EthSpec>,
+) -> Result<(), BlockError<T::EthSpec>> {
+    // Reject any block that exceeds our limit on skipped slots.
+    if let Some(max_skip_slots) = chain.config.import_max_skip_slots {
+        if block.slot > parent.slot + max_skip_slots {
+            return Err(BlockError::TooManySkippedSlots {
+                parent_slot: parent.slot,
+                block_slot: block.slot,
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// Returns `Ok(())` if the block is later than the finalized slot on `chain`.
 ///
 /// Returns an error if the block is earlier or equal to the finalized slot, or there was an error