diff --git a/lib/networkmonitor.js b/lib/networkmonitor.js
index e0a1c2ba..fb3435c3 100644
--- a/lib/networkmonitor.js
+++ b/lib/networkmonitor.js
@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ NetworkMonitor.prototype.setupPeer = function(peer) {
 
 };
 
+NetworkMonitor.prototype.requestBlocks = function(start) {
+  $.checkArgument(_.isString(start), 'start must be a block hash string');
+  this.peer.sendMessage(messages.GetBlocks([start]));
+};
+
 NetworkMonitor.prototype.start = function() {
   this.peer.connect();
 };
@@ -76,9 +81,4 @@ NetworkMonitor.prototype.abort = function(reason) {
   throw reason;
 };
 
-NetworkMonitor.prototype.syncFrom = function(start) {
-  $.checkArgument(_.isString(start), 'start must be a block hash string');
-  this.peer.sendMessage(messages.GetBlocks([start]));
-};
-
 module.exports = NetworkMonitor;
diff --git a/lib/node.js b/lib/node.js
index d504af47..bd6b9f54 100644
--- a/lib/node.js
+++ b/lib/node.js
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ var BitcoreNode = function(bus, networkMonitor, blockService, transactionService
   this.bus = bus;
   this.networkMonitor = networkMonitor;
 
+  this.tip = null;
+
   this.addressService = addressService;
   this.transactionService = transactionService;
   this.blockService = blockService;
@@ -95,7 +97,8 @@ BitcoreNode.prototype.sync = function() {
           start = latest.hash;
         }
         console.log('Starting sync from', start);
-        self.networkMonitor.syncFrom(start);
+        self.tip = latest;
+        self.networkMonitor.requestBlocks(start);
       })
       .catch(function(err) {
         self.networkMonitor.stop();