diff --git a/service/state/service.go b/service/state/service.go
index 7a6b23d7dc..c83a25daaf 100644
--- a/service/state/service.go
+++ b/service/state/service.go
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ func (s *Service) SubmitPayForData(
 }
 
 func (s *Service) Balance(ctx context.Context) (*Balance, error) {
+	if !s.sync.Finished() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("node is not synced up to network head yet, balances will not be current")
+	}
 	return s.accessor.Balance(ctx)
 }