diff --git a/eth/catalyst/api.go b/eth/catalyst/api.go
index 33b8481535..fbf1b6f8d4 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/api.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/api.go
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ func (api *ConsensusAPI) forkchoiceUpdated(ctx context.Context, update engine.Fo
 		// generating the payload. It's a special corner case that a few slots are
 		// missing and we are requested to generate the payload in slot.
 	} else {
-		if finalized := api.eth.BlockChain().CurrentFinalBlock(); finalized != nil && block.NumberU64() <= finalized.Number.Uint64() {
+		if finalized := api.eth.BlockChain().CurrentFinalBlock(); finalized != nil && block.NumberU64() < finalized.Number.Uint64() {
 			log.Info("Skipping beacon update to finalized ancestor", "number", block.NumberU64(), "hash", update.HeadBlockHash)
 			return valid(nil), nil
 		}