diff --git a/lite/verifying/provider.go b/lite/verifying/provider.go
index 4b01d41bb..fe9072d87 100644
--- a/lite/verifying/provider.go
+++ b/lite/verifying/provider.go
@@ -208,6 +208,10 @@ func (vp *Provider) Verify(signedHeader types.SignedHeader) error {
 
 	valSet, err := vp.ValidatorSet(signedHeader.ChainID, signedHeader.Height)
 
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// We can't verify commits older than bv.height.
 	if signedHeader.Height < vp.height {
 		return cmn.NewError("BaseVerifier height is %v, cannot verify height %v",