diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index 238da00ee2b6c..c02917aac1abd 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -1645,12 +1645,19 @@ bool AppInitMain()
     // Wait for genesis block to be processed
     {
         WaitableLock lock(cs_GenesisWait);
-        while (!fHaveGenesis) {
-            condvar_GenesisWait.wait(lock);
+        // We previously could hang here if StartShutdown() is called prior to
+        // ThreadImport getting started, so instead we just wait on a timer to
+        // check ShutdownRequested() regularly.
+        while (!fHaveGenesis && !ShutdownRequested()) {
+            condvar_GenesisWait.wait_for(lock, std::chrono::milliseconds(500));
         }
         uiInterface.NotifyBlockTip.disconnect(BlockNotifyGenesisWait);
     }
 
+    if (ShutdownRequested()) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
     // ********************************************************* Step 11: start node
 
     int chain_active_height;