diff --git a/client/src/client.rs b/client/src/client.rs
index 45ef2c0..c735838 100644
--- a/client/src/client.rs
+++ b/client/src/client.rs
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ impl ClientBuilder {
             data_dir,
             chain: base_config.chain,
             forks: base_config.forks,
+            max_checkpoint_age: base_config.max_checkpoint_age,
         };
 
         Client::new(config)
diff --git a/client/src/lib.rs b/client/src/lib.rs
index 177f7c1..99729fc 100644
--- a/client/src/lib.rs
+++ b/client/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-#![feature(map_first_last)]
-
 mod client;
 pub use crate::client::*;
 
diff --git a/config/src/lib.rs b/config/src/lib.rs
index b861562..0eed18b 100644
--- a/config/src/lib.rs
+++ b/config/src/lib.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub data_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
     pub chain: ChainConfig,
     pub forks: Forks,
+    pub max_checkpoint_age: u64,
 }
 
 impl Config {
@@ -93,6 +94,7 @@ impl Config {
             checkpoint: self.checkpoint.clone(),
             chain: self.chain.clone(),
             forks: self.forks.clone(),
+            max_checkpoint_age: self.max_checkpoint_age.clone(),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/config/src/networks.rs b/config/src/networks.rs
index 354a76b..436b1ba 100644
--- a/config/src/networks.rs
+++ b/config/src/networks.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ pub struct BaseConfig {
     pub checkpoint: Vec<u8>,
     pub chain: ChainConfig,
     pub forks: Forks,
+    pub max_checkpoint_age: u64,
 }
 
 pub fn mainnet() -> BaseConfig {
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ pub fn mainnet() -> BaseConfig {
                 fork_version: hex_str_to_bytes("0x02000000").unwrap(),
             },
         },
+        max_checkpoint_age: 1_209_600, // 14 days
     }
 }
 
@@ -93,5 +95,6 @@ pub fn goerli() -> BaseConfig {
                 fork_version: hex_str_to_bytes("0x02001020").unwrap(),
             },
         },
+        max_checkpoint_age: 1_209_600, // 14 days
     }
 }
diff --git a/consensus/src/consensus.rs b/consensus/src/consensus.rs
index b54068b..2a77b9f 100644
--- a/consensus/src/consensus.rs
+++ b/consensus/src/consensus.rs
@@ -153,6 +153,11 @@ impl<R: ConsensusRpc> ConsensusClient<R> {
             .await
             .map_err(|_| eyre!("could not fetch bootstrap"))?;
 
+        let is_valid = self.is_valid_checkpoint(bootstrap.header.slot);
+        if !is_valid {
+            return Err(ConsensusError::CheckpointTooOld.into());
+        }
+
         let committee_valid = is_current_committee_proof_valid(
             &bootstrap.header,
             &mut bootstrap.current_sync_committee,
@@ -493,6 +498,17 @@ impl<R: ConsensusRpc> ConsensusClient<R> {
 
         Duration::seconds(next_update as i64)
     }
+
+    // Determines blockhash_slot age and returns true if it is less than 14 days old
+    fn is_valid_checkpoint(&self, blockhash_slot: u64) -> bool {
+        let current_slot = self.expected_current_slot();
+        let current_slot_timestamp = self.slot_timestamp(current_slot);
+        let blockhash_slot_timestamp = self.slot_timestamp(blockhash_slot);
+
+        let slot_age = current_slot_timestamp - blockhash_slot_timestamp;
+
+        slot_age < self.config.max_checkpoint_age
+    }
 }
 
 fn get_participating_keys(
@@ -574,13 +590,14 @@ mod tests {
     };
     use config::{networks, Config};
 
-    async fn get_client() -> ConsensusClient<MockRpc> {
+    async fn get_client(large_checkpoint_age: bool) -> ConsensusClient<MockRpc> {
         let base_config = networks::goerli();
         let config = Config {
             consensus_rpc: String::new(),
             execution_rpc: String::new(),
             chain: base_config.chain,
             forks: base_config.forks,
+            max_checkpoint_age: if large_checkpoint_age { 123123123 } else { 123 },
             ..Default::default()
         };
 
@@ -590,13 +607,12 @@ mod tests {
 
         let mut client = ConsensusClient::new("testdata/", &checkpoint, Arc::new(config)).unwrap();
         client.bootstrap().await.unwrap();
-
         client
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_verify_update() {
-        let client = get_client().await;
+        let client = get_client(true).await;
         let period = calc_sync_period(client.store.finalized_header.slot);
         let updates = client
             .rpc
@@ -610,7 +626,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_verify_update_invalid_committee() {
-        let client = get_client().await;
+        let client = get_client(true).await;
         let period = calc_sync_period(client.store.finalized_header.slot);
         let updates = client
             .rpc
@@ -630,7 +646,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_verify_update_invalid_finality() {
-        let client = get_client().await;
+        let client = get_client(true).await;
         let period = calc_sync_period(client.store.finalized_header.slot);
         let updates = client
             .rpc
@@ -650,7 +666,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_verify_update_invalid_sig() {
-        let client = get_client().await;
+        let client = get_client(true).await;
         let period = calc_sync_period(client.store.finalized_header.slot);
         let updates = client
             .rpc
@@ -670,7 +686,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_verify_finality() {
-        let mut client = get_client().await;
+        let mut client = get_client(true).await;
         client.sync().await.unwrap();
 
         let update = client.rpc.get_finality_update().await.unwrap();
@@ -680,7 +696,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_verify_finality_invalid_finality() {
-        let mut client = get_client().await;
+        let mut client = get_client(true).await;
         client.sync().await.unwrap();
 
         let mut update = client.rpc.get_finality_update().await.unwrap();
@@ -695,7 +711,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_verify_finality_invalid_sig() {
-        let mut client = get_client().await;
+        let mut client = get_client(true).await;
         client.sync().await.unwrap();
 
         let mut update = client.rpc.get_finality_update().await.unwrap();
@@ -710,7 +726,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_verify_optimistic() {
-        let mut client = get_client().await;
+        let mut client = get_client(true).await;
         client.sync().await.unwrap();
 
         let update = client.rpc.get_optimistic_update().await.unwrap();
@@ -719,7 +735,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_verify_optimistic_invalid_sig() {
-        let mut client = get_client().await;
+        let mut client = get_client(true).await;
         client.sync().await.unwrap();
 
         let mut update = client.rpc.get_optimistic_update().await.unwrap();
@@ -731,4 +747,10 @@ mod tests {
             ConsensusError::InvalidSignature.to_string()
         );
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    #[should_panic]
+    async fn test_verify_checkpoint_age_invalid() {
+        get_client(false).await;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/consensus/src/errors.rs b/consensus/src/errors.rs
index 87bb923..41c5558 100644
--- a/consensus/src/errors.rs
+++ b/consensus/src/errors.rs
@@ -22,4 +22,6 @@ pub enum ConsensusError {
     InvalidHeaderHash(String, String),
     #[error("payload not found for slot: {0}")]
     PayloadNotFound(u64),
+    #[error("checkpoint is too old")]
+    CheckpointTooOld,
 }
diff --git a/consensus/tests/sync.rs b/consensus/tests/sync.rs
index 4ee142f..1b019c0 100644
--- a/consensus/tests/sync.rs
+++ b/consensus/tests/sync.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ async fn setup() -> ConsensusClient<MockRpc> {
         execution_rpc: String::new(),
         chain: base_config.chain,
         forks: base_config.forks,
+        max_checkpoint_age: 123123123,
         ..Default::default()
     };