diff --git a/engine/factomd.go b/engine/factomd.go
index 963fd0410a..8b4cab6581 100644
--- a/engine/factomd.go
+++ b/engine/factomd.go
@@ -59,7 +59,12 @@ func Factomd(params *FactomParams, listenToStdin bool) interfaces.IState {
 	state0.FactomNodeName = state0.Prefix + "FNode0"
 	state0.TimestampAtBoot = primitives.NewTimestampNow()
 	state0.SetLeaderTimestamp(state0.TimestampAtBoot)
-	state0.SetMessageFilterTimestamp(state0.TimestampAtBoot)
+
+	// build a timestamp 20 minutes before boot so we will accept messages from nodes who booted before us.
+	preBootTime := new(primitives.Timestamp)
+	preBootTime.SetTimeMilli(state0.TimestampAtBoot.GetTimeMilli() - 20*60*1000)
+	state0.SetMessageFilterTimestamp(preBootTime)
+
 	state0.EFactory = new(electionMsgs.ElectionsFactory)
 
 	NetStart(state0, params, listenToStdin)
diff --git a/state/state.go b/state/state.go
index 4888c87c01..ca5bfeaef2 100644
--- a/state/state.go
+++ b/state/state.go
@@ -2236,7 +2236,7 @@ func (s *State) GetMessageFilterTimestamp() interfaces.Timestamp {
 }
 
 // the MessageFilterTimestamp  is used to filter messages from the past or before the replay filter.
-// We will not set it to a time that is before boot or more than one hour in the past.
+// We will not set it to a time that is before (20 minutes before) boot or more than one hour in the past.
 // this ensure messages from prior boot and messages that predate the current replay filter are
 // are dropped.
 // It marks the start of the replay filter content
@@ -2253,8 +2253,12 @@ func (s *State) SetMessageFilterTimestamp(leaderTS interfaces.Timestamp) {
 		requestedTS.SetTimestamp(onehourago)
 	}
 
-	if requestedTS.GetTimeMilli() < s.TimestampAtBoot.GetTimeMilli() {
-		requestedTS.SetTimestamp(s.TimestampAtBoot)
+	// build a timestamp 20 minutes before boot so we will accept messages from nodes who booted before us.
+	preBootTime := new(primitives.Timestamp)
+	preBootTime.SetTimeMilli(s.TimestampAtBoot.GetTimeMilli() - 20*60*1000)
+
+	if requestedTS.GetTimeMilli() < preBootTime.GetTimeMilli() {
+		requestedTS.SetTimestamp(preBootTime)
 	}
 
 	if s.MessageFilterTimestamp != nil && requestedTS.GetTimeMilli() < s.MessageFilterTimestamp.GetTimeMilli() {