diff --git a/cmd/rollapp/setup/setup.go b/cmd/rollapp/setup/setup.go
index cd2a8bf4..35dff9c6 100644
--- a/cmd/rollapp/setup/setup.go
+++ b/cmd/rollapp/setup/setup.go
@@ -179,6 +179,7 @@ RollApp's IRO time: %v`,
 						pterm.Error.Println("failed to validate genesis: ", err)
 					}
 					err = genesis.ValidateGenesis(
+						localRollerConfig,
 						localRollerConfig.RollappID,
 						localRollerConfig.HubData,
 					)
diff --git a/cmd/rollapp/start/start.go b/cmd/rollapp/start/start.go
index e45b594d..49ce4788 100644
--- a/cmd/rollapp/start/start.go
+++ b/cmd/rollapp/start/start.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/dymensionxyz/roller/sequencer"
 	"github.com/dymensionxyz/roller/utils/bash"
 	"github.com/dymensionxyz/roller/utils/filesystem"
+	genesisutils "github.com/dymensionxyz/roller/utils/genesis"
 	"github.com/dymensionxyz/roller/utils/healthagent"
 	"github.com/dymensionxyz/roller/utils/logging"
 	"github.com/dymensionxyz/roller/utils/migrations"
@@ -68,6 +69,22 @@ Consider using 'services' if you want to run a 'systemd'(unix) or 'launchd'(mac)
 				return
 			}
 
+			isChecksumValid, err := genesisutils.CompareGenesisChecksum(
+				rollappConfig.Home,
+				rollappConfig.RollappID,
+				rollappConfig.HubData,
+			)
+
+			if !isChecksumValid {
+				pterm.Error.Println("genesis checksum mismatch")
+				return
+			}
+
+			if err != nil {
+				pterm.Error.Println("failed to compare genesis checksum: ", err)
+				return
+			}
+
 			if rollappConfig.HubData.ID != consts.MockHubID {
 				raUpgrade, err := upgrades.NewRollappUpgrade(string(rollappConfig.RollappVMType))
 				if err != nil {
diff --git a/utils/genesis/genesis.go b/utils/genesis/genesis.go
index aa78f8ae..ad057a15 100644
--- a/utils/genesis/genesis.go
+++ b/utils/genesis/genesis.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"encoding/hex"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
@@ -396,13 +397,27 @@ const (
 	ValidateGenesisURL = "https://genesis-validator.rollapp.network/validate-genesis"
 )
 
-func ValidateGenesis(raID string, hd consts.HubData) error {
+func ValidateGenesis(raCfg roller.RollappConfig, raID string, hd consts.HubData) error {
 	req := ValidateGenesisRequest{
 		RollappID:             raID,
 		SettlementChainID:     hd.ID,
 		SettlementNodeAddress: hd.RpcUrl,
 	}
 
+	isChecksumValid, err := CompareGenesisChecksum(
+		raCfg.Home,
+		raID,
+		hd,
+	)
+
+	if !isChecksumValid {
+		return errors.New("genesis checksum mismatch")
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	b, err := json.Marshal(req)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err