diff --git a/blockchain/reactor.go b/blockchain/reactor.go
index 9bab832e7..ee524ce6f 100644
--- a/blockchain/reactor.go
+++ b/blockchain/reactor.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ type BlockchainReactor struct {
 	proxyAppConn proxy.AppConn // same as consensus.proxyAppConn
 	store        *BlockStore
 	pool         *BlockPool
-	sync         bool
+	fastSync     bool
 	requestsCh   chan BlockRequest
 	timeoutsCh   chan string
 	lastBlock    *types.Block
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ type BlockchainReactor struct {
 	evsw *events.EventSwitch
 }
 
-func NewBlockchainReactor(state *sm.State, proxyAppConn proxy.AppConn, store *BlockStore, sync bool) *BlockchainReactor {
+func NewBlockchainReactor(state *sm.State, proxyAppConn proxy.AppConn, store *BlockStore, fastSync bool) *BlockchainReactor {
 	if state.LastBlockHeight == store.Height()-1 {
 		store.height -= 1 // XXX HACK, make this better
 	}
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func NewBlockchainReactor(state *sm.State, proxyAppConn proxy.AppConn, store *Bl
 		proxyAppConn: proxyAppConn,
 		store:        store,
 		pool:         pool,
-		sync:         sync,
+		fastSync:     fastSync,
 		requestsCh:   requestsCh,
 		timeoutsCh:   timeoutsCh,
 	}
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func NewBlockchainReactor(state *sm.State, proxyAppConn proxy.AppConn, store *Bl
 
 func (bcR *BlockchainReactor) OnStart() error {
 	bcR.BaseReactor.OnStart()
-	if bcR.sync {
+	if bcR.fastSync {
 		_, err := bcR.pool.Start()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index 5369a68d6..db95fe22f 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -73,8 +73,18 @@ func NewNode(privValidator *types.PrivValidator) *Node {
 		Exit(Fmt("Failed to start switch: %v", err))
 	}
 
+	// Decide whether to fast-sync or not
+	// We don't fast-sync when the only validator is us.
+	fastSync := config.GetBool("fast_sync")
+	if state.Validators.Size() == 1 {
+		addr, _ := state.Validators.GetByIndex(0)
+		if bytes.Equal(privValidator.Address, addr) {
+			fastSync = false
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Make BlockchainReactor
-	bcReactor := bc.NewBlockchainReactor(state.Copy(), proxyAppConnConsensus, blockStore, config.GetBool("fast_sync"))
+	bcReactor := bc.NewBlockchainReactor(state.Copy(), proxyAppConnConsensus, blockStore, fastSync)
 
 	// Make MempoolReactor
 	mempool := mempl.NewMempool(proxyAppConnMempool)
@@ -82,7 +92,7 @@ func NewNode(privValidator *types.PrivValidator) *Node {
 
 	// Make ConsensusReactor
 	consensusState := consensus.NewConsensusState(state.Copy(), proxyAppConnConsensus, blockStore, mempool)
-	consensusReactor := consensus.NewConsensusReactor(consensusState, blockStore, config.GetBool("fast_sync"))
+	consensusReactor := consensus.NewConsensusReactor(consensusState, blockStore, fastSync)
 	if privValidator != nil {
 		consensusReactor.SetPrivValidator(privValidator)
 	}