diff --git a/src/gridcoin/sidestake.cpp b/src/gridcoin/sidestake.cpp
index d5d777a9bc..bee4eeeea4 100644
--- a/src/gridcoin/sidestake.cpp
+++ b/src/gridcoin/sidestake.cpp
@@ -414,15 +414,11 @@ void SideStakeRegistry::Revert(const ContractContext& ctx)
 
 bool SideStakeRegistry::Validate(const Contract& contract, const CTransaction& tx, int &DoS) const
 {
-    if (contract.m_version < 1) {
-        return true;
-    }
-
     const auto payload = contract.SharePayloadAs<SideStakePayload>();
 
-    if (contract.m_version >= 3 && payload->m_version < 2) {
+    if (contract.m_version < 3) {
         DoS = 25;
-        error("%s: Legacy SideStake entry contract in contract v3", __func__);
+        error("%s: Sidestake entries only valid in contract v3 and above", __func__);
         return false;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp b/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
index 025d6584f3..ee6581ef46 100644
--- a/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
@@ -2437,30 +2437,35 @@ UniValue addkey(const UniValue& params, bool fHelp)
         break;
     case GRC::ContractType::SIDESTAKE:
     {
-        GRC::CBitcoinAddressForStorage sidestake_address;
-        if (!sidestake_address.SetString(params[2].get_str())) {
-            throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Address specified for the sidestake is invalid.");
-        }
+        if (block_v13_enabled) {
+            GRC::CBitcoinAddressForStorage sidestake_address;
+            if (!sidestake_address.SetString(params[2].get_str())) {
+                throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Address specified for the sidestake is invalid.");
+            }
 
-        double allocation = 0.0;
-        if (!ParseDouble(params[3].get_str(), &allocation)) {
-            throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Invalid allocation specified.");
-        }
+            double allocation = 0.0;
+            if (!ParseDouble(params[3].get_str(), &allocation)) {
+                throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Invalid allocation specified.");
+            }
 
-        allocation /= 100.0;
+            allocation /= 100.0;
 
-        if (allocation > 1.0) {
-            throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Allocation specified is greater than 100.0%.");
+            if (allocation > 1.0) {
+                throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Allocation specified is greater than 100.0%.");
+            }
+
+            contract = GRC::MakeContract<GRC::SideStakePayload>(
+                        contract_version,               // Contract version number (3+)
+                        action,                         // Contract action
+                        uint32_t {1},                   // Contract payload version number
+                        sidestake_address,              // Sidestake address
+                        allocation,                     // Sidestake allocation
+                        GRC::SideStakeStatus::MANDATORY // sidestake status
+                        );
+        } else {
+             throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Sidestake contracts are not valid for block version less than v13.");
         }
 
-        contract = GRC::MakeContract<GRC::SideStakePayload>(
-                    contract_version,               // Contract version number
-                    action,                         // Contract action
-                    uint32_t {1},                   // Contract payload version number
-                    sidestake_address,              // Sidestake address
-                    allocation,                     // Sidestake allocation
-                    GRC::SideStakeStatus::MANDATORY // sidestake status
-                    );
         break;
     }
     case GRC::ContractType::BEACON: