diff --git a/btcd.go b/btcd.go
index 63e8be29..db665b30 100644
--- a/btcd.go
+++ b/btcd.go
@@ -112,6 +112,13 @@ func btcdMain() error {
 		loggers = setLogLevel(cfg.DebugLevel)
 	}
 
+	// Perform upgrades to btcd as new versions require it.
+	err = doUpgrades()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("%v", err)
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// Load the block database.
 	db, err := loadBlockDB()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/upgrade.go b/upgrade.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ebd9dfbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/upgrade.go
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2013 Conformal Systems LLC.
+// Use of this source code is governed by an ISC
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package main
+
+// doUpgrades performs upgrades to btcd as new versions require it.
+func doUpgrades() error {
+	return nil
+}