diff --git a/src/net_processing.cpp b/src/net_processing.cpp
index 26107b0a9c4..5c8d92f0922 100644
--- a/src/net_processing.cpp
+++ b/src/net_processing.cpp
@@ -2919,9 +2919,7 @@ void PeerManagerImpl::ProcessHeadersMessage(CNode& pfrom, Peer& peer,
     {
         LOCK(cs_main);
         last_received_header = m_chainman.m_blockman.LookupBlockIndex(headers.back().GetHash());
-        if (IsAncestorOfBestHeaderOrTip(last_received_header)) {
-            already_validated_work = true;
-        }
+        already_validated_work = already_validated_work || IsAncestorOfBestHeaderOrTip(last_received_header);
     }
 
     // If our peer has NetPermissionFlags::NoBan privileges, then bypass our