diff --git a/consensus/beacon/consensus.go b/consensus/beacon/consensus.go
index cc9f44e460..01390c40a3 100644
--- a/consensus/beacon/consensus.go
+++ b/consensus/beacon/consensus.go
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ func (beacon *Beacon) verifyHeader(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header, pa
 		return errInvalidUncleHash
 	}
 	// Verify the timestamp
-	if header.Time <= parent.Time {
+	if header.Time < parent.Time {
 		return errInvalidTimestamp
 	}
 	// Verify the block's difficulty to ensure it's the default constant
diff --git a/eth/catalyst/api.go b/eth/catalyst/api.go
index e6f29c970b..d8a27ee1f6 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/api.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/api.go
@@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ func (api *ConsensusAPI) newPayload(params engine.ExecutableData, versionedHashe
 	if parent == nil {
 		return api.delayPayloadImport(block), nil
 	}
-	if block.Time() <= parent.Time() {
+	if block.Time() < parent.Time() {
 		log.Warn("Invalid timestamp", "parent", block.Time(), "block", block.Time())
 		return api.invalid(errors.New("invalid timestamp"), parent.Header()), nil
 	}