diff --git a/lib/bcoin/chain.js b/lib/bcoin/chain.js
index b8508308..9c8f6a8b 100644
--- a/lib/bcoin/chain.js
+++ b/lib/bcoin/chain.js
@@ -1437,15 +1437,6 @@ Chain.prototype.add = function add(block, callback, force) {
 
         height = !prev ? -1 : prev.height + 1;
 
-        // Update the best height based on the coinbase.
-        // We do this even for orphans (peers will send
-        // us their highest block during the initial
-        // getblocks sync, making it an orphan).
-        if (block.getCoinbaseHeight() > self.bestHeight) {
-          self.bestHeight = block.getCoinbaseHeight();
-          network.height = self.bestHeight;
-        }
-
         if (height > self.bestHeight) {
           self.bestHeight = height;
           network.height = height;
@@ -1458,11 +1449,22 @@ Chain.prototype.add = function add(block, callback, force) {
           self.orphan.size += block.getSize();
           self.orphan.map[prevHash] = block;
           self.orphan.bmap[hash] = block;
+
+          // Update the best height based on the coinbase.
+          // We do this even for orphans (peers will send
+          // us their highest block during the initial
+          // getblocks sync, making it an orphan).
+          if (block.getCoinbaseHeight() > self.bestHeight) {
+            self.bestHeight = block.getCoinbaseHeight();
+            network.height = self.bestHeight;
+          }
+
           self.emit('orphan', block, {
             height: block.getCoinbaseHeight(),
             hash: hash,
             seen: false
           });
+
           return done(new VerifyError(block, 'invalid', 'bad-prevblk', 0));
         }