diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/attestation_verification.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/attestation_verification.rs
index aa24d08b2d6..9c8ec92e596 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/attestation_verification.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/attestation_verification.rs
@@ -775,7 +775,12 @@ where
             metrics::start_timer(&metrics::ATTESTATION_PROCESSING_STATE_READ_TIMES);
 
         let mut state = chain
-            .get_state(&target_block.state_root, Some(target_block.slot))?
+            .store
+            .get_inconsistent_state_for_attestation_verification_only(
+                &target_block.state_root,
+                Some(target_block.slot),
+            )
+            .map_err(BeaconChainError::from)?
             .ok_or_else(|| BeaconChainError::MissingBeaconState(target_block.state_root))?;
 
         metrics::stop_timer(state_read_timer);
diff --git a/beacon_node/store/src/hot_cold_store.rs b/beacon_node/store/src/hot_cold_store.rs
index 7bad9ef1567..bf81b67ddf0 100644
--- a/beacon_node/store/src/hot_cold_store.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/store/src/hot_cold_store.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ use types::*;
 /// 32-byte key for accessing the `split` of the freezer DB.
 pub const SPLIT_DB_KEY: &str = "FREEZERDBSPLITFREEZERDBSPLITFREE";
 
+pub enum BlockReplay {
+    Accurate,
+    InconsistentStateRoots,
+}
+
 /// On-disk database that stores finalized states efficiently.
 ///
 /// Stores vector fields like the `block_roots` and `state_roots` separately, and only stores
@@ -230,16 +235,30 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
                 // chain. This way we avoid returning a state that doesn't match `state_root`.
                 self.load_cold_state(state_root)
             } else {
-                self.load_hot_state(state_root)
+                self.load_hot_state(state_root, BlockReplay::Accurate)
             }
         } else {
-            match self.load_hot_state(state_root)? {
+            match self.load_hot_state(state_root, BlockReplay::Accurate)? {
                 Some(state) => Ok(Some(state)),
                 None => self.load_cold_state(state_root),
             }
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn get_inconsistent_state_for_attestation_verification_only(
+        &self,
+        state_root: &Hash256,
+        slot: Option<Slot>,
+    ) -> Result<Option<BeaconState<E>>, Error> {
+        metrics::inc_counter(&metrics::BEACON_STATE_GET_COUNT);
+
+        if slot.map_or(false, |slot| slot < self.get_split_slot()) {
+            Ok(None)
+        } else {
+            self.load_hot_state(state_root, BlockReplay::InconsistentStateRoots)
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Delete a state, ensuring it is removed from the LRU cache, as well as from on-disk.
     ///
     /// It is assumed that all states being deleted reside in the hot DB, even if their slot is less
@@ -283,8 +302,11 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
         }) = self.load_hot_state_summary(state_root)?
         {
             // NOTE: minor inefficiency here because we load an unnecessary hot state summary
+            //
+            // `BlockReplay` should be irrelevant here since we never replay blocks for an epoch
+            // boundary state in the hot DB.
             let state = self
-                .load_hot_state(&epoch_boundary_state_root)?
+                .load_hot_state(&epoch_boundary_state_root, BlockReplay::Accurate)?
                 .ok_or_else(|| {
                     HotColdDBError::MissingEpochBoundaryState(epoch_boundary_state_root)
                 })?;
@@ -415,7 +437,11 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
     /// Load a post-finalization state from the hot database.
     ///
     /// Will replay blocks from the nearest epoch boundary.
-    pub fn load_hot_state(&self, state_root: &Hash256) -> Result<Option<BeaconState<E>>, Error> {
+    pub fn load_hot_state(
+        &self,
+        state_root: &Hash256,
+        block_replay: BlockReplay,
+    ) -> Result<Option<BeaconState<E>>, Error> {
         metrics::inc_counter(&metrics::BEACON_STATE_HOT_GET_COUNT);
 
         if let Some(HotStateSummary {
@@ -436,7 +462,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
             } else {
                 let blocks =
                     self.load_blocks_to_replay(boundary_state.slot, slot, latest_block_root)?;
-                self.replay_blocks(boundary_state, blocks, slot)?
+                self.replay_blocks(boundary_state, blocks, slot, block_replay)?
             };
 
             Ok(Some(state))
@@ -567,7 +593,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
         )?;
 
         // 3. Replay the blocks on top of the low restore point.
-        self.replay_blocks(low_restore_point, blocks, slot)
+        self.replay_blocks(low_restore_point, blocks, slot, BlockReplay::Accurate)
     }
 
     /// Get a suitable block root for backtracking from `high_restore_point` to the state at `slot`.
@@ -626,6 +652,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
         mut state: BeaconState<E>,
         blocks: Vec<SignedBeaconBlock<E>>,
         target_slot: Slot,
+        block_replay: BlockReplay,
     ) -> Result<BeaconState<E>, Error> {
         let state_root_from_prev_block = |i: usize, state: &BeaconState<E>| {
             if i > 0 {
@@ -650,10 +677,16 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
                 per_slot_processing(&mut state, state_root, &self.spec)
                     .map_err(HotColdDBError::BlockReplaySlotError)?;
             }
+
+            let state_root = match block_replay {
+                BlockReplay::Accurate => None,
+                BlockReplay::InconsistentStateRoots => Some(Hash256::zero()),
+            };
+
             per_block_processing(
                 &mut state,
                 &block,
-                None,
+                state_root,
                 BlockSignatureStrategy::NoVerification,
                 &self.spec,
             )
@@ -661,7 +694,10 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
         }
 
         while state.slot < target_slot {
-            let state_root = state_root_from_prev_block(blocks.len(), &state);
+            let state_root = match block_replay {
+                BlockReplay::Accurate => state_root_from_prev_block(blocks.len(), &state),
+                BlockReplay::InconsistentStateRoots => Some(Hash256::zero()),
+            };
             per_slot_processing(&mut state, state_root, &self.spec)
                 .map_err(HotColdDBError::BlockReplaySlotError)?;
         }