diff --git a/packages/cosmic-swingset/lib/launch-chain.js b/packages/cosmic-swingset/lib/launch-chain.js
index 7f12bd979dd..57f0196ebb4 100644
--- a/packages/cosmic-swingset/lib/launch-chain.js
+++ b/packages/cosmic-swingset/lib/launch-chain.js
@@ -201,9 +201,9 @@ export async function launch(
   }
 
   const [savedHeight, savedActions, savedChainSends] = JSON.parse(
-    storage.get(SWING_STORE_META_KEY) || '[0, [], []]',
+    storage.get(SWING_STORE_META_KEY) || '[-1, [], []]',
   );
-  firstBlock = savedHeight === 0;
+  firstBlock = savedHeight < 0;
 
   return {
     deliverInbound,