diff --git a/src/interfaces/mining.h b/src/interfaces/mining.h
index c1aa2dd36a7d1..a78e8e7fbd3c4 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/mining.h
+++ b/src/interfaces/mining.h
@@ -88,10 +88,14 @@ class Mining
     virtual std::optional<BlockRef> waitTipChanged(uint256 current_tip, MillisecondsDouble timeout = MillisecondsDouble::max()) = 0;
 
    /**
-     * Construct a new block template
+     * Construct a new block template.
+     *
+     * During node initialization, this will
+     * wait until the tip is connected.
      *
      * @param[in] options options for creating the block
-     * @returns a block template
+     * @retval BlockTemplate a block template.
+     * @retval empty if node is shutting down
      */
     virtual std::unique_ptr<BlockTemplate> createNewBlock(const node::BlockCreateOptions& options = {}) = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/node/interfaces.cpp b/src/node/interfaces.cpp
index 622cb85b67820..8133716fda53d 100644
--- a/src/node/interfaces.cpp
+++ b/src/node/interfaces.cpp
@@ -994,6 +994,9 @@ class MinerImpl : public Mining
 
     std::unique_ptr<BlockTemplate> createNewBlock(const BlockCreateOptions& options) override
     {
+        // Ensure m_tip_block is set so consumers of BlockTemplate can rely on that.
+        if (!waitTipChanged(uint256::ZERO, MillisecondsDouble::max())) return {};
+
         BlockAssembler::Options assemble_options{options};
         ApplyArgsManOptions(*Assert(m_node.args), assemble_options);
         return std::make_unique<BlockTemplateImpl>(BlockAssembler{chainman().ActiveChainstate(), context()->mempool.get(), assemble_options}.CreateNewBlock(), m_node);