diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 12ce54b85..beb02baad 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ at anytime.
   *
 
 ### Fixed
-  *
+  * fixed token validation error when the dht node has just been started (https://github.com/lbryio/lbry/issues/1248)
   *
 
 ### Deprecated
diff --git a/lbrynet/dht/node.py b/lbrynet/dht/node.py
index 0c38146a5..39e8291b0 100644
--- a/lbrynet/dht/node.py
+++ b/lbrynet/dht/node.py
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ class Node(MockKademliaHelper):
     def verify_token(self, token, compact_ip):
         h = hashlib.new('sha384')
         h.update(self.token_secret + compact_ip)
-        if not token == h.digest():
+        if self.old_token_secret and not token == h.digest(): # TODO: why should we be accepting the previous token?
             h = hashlib.new('sha384')
             h.update(self.old_token_secret + compact_ip)
             if not token == h.digest():