diff --git a/lib/services/bitcoind.js b/lib/services/bitcoind.js
index 8f864345..765a8550 100644
--- a/lib/services/bitcoind.js
+++ b/lib/services/bitcoind.js
@@ -266,14 +266,22 @@ Bitcoin.prototype.start = function(callback) {
       pass: self.configuration.rpcpassword
     });
 
-    self.client.getInfo(function(err) {
+    self.client.getBestBlockHash(function(err, response) {
       if (err) {
         if (!(err instanceof Error)) {
           log.warn(err.message);
         }
         return done(new Error('Could not connect to bitcoind RPC'));
       }
-      done();
+      self.client.getBlock(response.result, function(err, response) {
+        if (err) {
+          return done(err);
+        }
+        self.height = response.result.height;
+        $.checkState(self.height >= 0);
+        self.emit('tip', self.height);
+        done();
+      });
     });
 
   }, function ready(err, result) {