diff --git a/base_layer/core/src/blocks/block_header.rs b/base_layer/core/src/blocks/block_header.rs
index 689ce179fd..95e19f76e1 100644
--- a/base_layer/core/src/blocks/block_header.rs
+++ b/base_layer/core/src/blocks/block_header.rs
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ pub enum BlockHeaderValidationError {
     ProofOfWorkError(#[from] PowError),
     #[error("Monero seed hash too old")]
     OldSeedHash,
+    #[error("Monero blocks must have a nonce of 0")]
+    InvalidNonce,
     #[error("Incorrect height: Expected {expected} but got {actual}")]
     InvalidHeight { expected: u64, actual: u64 },
     #[error("Incorrect previous hash: Expected {expected} but got {actual}")]
diff --git a/base_layer/core/src/proof_of_work/monero_rx/helpers.rs b/base_layer/core/src/proof_of_work/monero_rx/helpers.rs
index 55b77fa3a4..a9d778fbe6 100644
--- a/base_layer/core/src/proof_of_work/monero_rx/helpers.rs
+++ b/base_layer/core/src/proof_of_work/monero_rx/helpers.rs
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ fn get_random_x_difficulty(input: &[u8], vm: &RandomXVMInstance) -> Result<(Diff
 /// 1. The merkle proof and coinbase hash produce a matching merkle root
 ///
 /// If these assertions pass, a valid `MoneroPowData` instance is returned
-fn verify_header(header: &BlockHeader) -> Result<MoneroPowData, MergeMineError> {
+pub fn verify_header(header: &BlockHeader) -> Result<MoneroPowData, MergeMineError> {
     let monero_data = MoneroPowData::from_header(header)?;
     let expected_merge_mining_hash = header.mining_hash();
     let extra_field = ExtraField::try_parse(&monero_data.coinbase_tx.prefix.extra)
diff --git a/base_layer/core/src/proof_of_work/monero_rx/mod.rs b/base_layer/core/src/proof_of_work/monero_rx/mod.rs
index 530d09908f..0f17ca0b83 100644
--- a/base_layer/core/src/proof_of_work/monero_rx/mod.rs
+++ b/base_layer/core/src/proof_of_work/monero_rx/mod.rs
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ pub use helpers::{
     extract_tari_hash,
     randomx_difficulty,
     serialize_monero_block_to_hex,
+    verify_header,
 };
 
 mod fixed_array;
diff --git a/base_layer/core/src/validation/header/header_full_validator.rs b/base_layer/core/src/validation/header/header_full_validator.rs
index c47ce6df92..02fe20753c 100644
--- a/base_layer/core/src/validation/header/header_full_validator.rs
+++ b/base_layer/core/src/validation/header/header_full_validator.rs
@@ -178,6 +178,11 @@ fn check_pow_data<B: BlockchainBackend>(
     use PowAlgorithm::{RandomX, Sha3x};
     match block_header.pow.pow_algo {
         RandomX => {
+            if block_header.nonce != 0 {
+                return Err(ValidationError::BlockHeaderError(
+                    BlockHeaderValidationError::InvalidNonce,
+                ));
+            }
             let monero_data =
                 MoneroPowData::from_header(block_header).map_err(|e| ValidationError::CustomError(e.to_string()))?;
             let seed_height = db.fetch_monero_seed_first_seen_height(&monero_data.randomx_key)?;
diff --git a/base_layer/core/tests/tests/block_validation.rs b/base_layer/core/tests/tests/block_validation.rs
index f68588e91c..41d43bebcb 100644
--- a/base_layer/core/tests/tests/block_validation.rs
+++ b/base_layer/core/tests/tests/block_validation.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ use tari_core::{
     consensus::{consensus_constants::PowAlgorithmConstants, ConsensusConstantsBuilder, ConsensusManager},
     proof_of_work::{
         monero_rx,
-        monero_rx::{FixedByteArray, MoneroPowData},
+        monero_rx::{verify_header, FixedByteArray, MoneroPowData},
         randomx_factory::RandomXFactory,
         Difficulty,
         PowAlgorithm,
@@ -152,7 +152,26 @@ async fn test_monero_blocks() {
 
     // now lets fix the seed, and try again
     add_monero_data(&mut block_3, seed2);
-    assert_block_add_result_added(&db.add_block(Arc::new(block_3)).unwrap());
+    // lets break the nonce count
+    let hash1 = block_3.hash();
+    block_3.header.nonce = 1;
+    let hash2 = block_3.hash();
+    assert_ne!(hash1, hash2);
+    assert!(verify_header(&block_3.header).is_ok());
+    match db.add_block(Arc::new(block_3.clone())) {
+        Err(ChainStorageError::ValidationError {
+            source: ValidationError::BlockHeaderError(BlockHeaderValidationError::InvalidNonce),
+        }) => (),
+        Err(e) => {
+            panic!("Failed due to other error:{:?}", e);
+        },
+        Ok(res) => {
+            panic!("Block add unexpectedly succeeded with result: {:?}", res);
+        },
+    };
+    // lets fix block3
+    block_3.header.nonce = 0;
+    assert_block_add_result_added(&db.add_block(Arc::new(block_3.clone())).unwrap());
 }
 
 fn add_monero_data(tblock: &mut Block, seed_key: &str) {