diff --git a/berachain/scripts/init.sh b/berachain/scripts/init.sh
index af015333..df2984ab 100644
--- a/berachain/scripts/init.sh
+++ b/berachain/scripts/init.sh
@@ -98,9 +98,11 @@ if [ -n "$MONIKER" ] && [ -f "$CONFIG_DIR/config.toml" ]; then
     sed -i "s/^moniker = \".*\"/moniker = \"$MONIKER\"/" "$CONFIG_DIR/config.toml"
 fi
 
+if [ -e /root/.beacond/config/priv_validator_state.json ]; then
 if [ ! -e /root/.beacond/data/priv_validator_state.json ]; then
   cp /root/.beacond/config/priv_validator_state.json /root/.beacond/data/priv_validator_state.json
 fi
+fi
 
 #echo "$CONFIG_DIR/jwt.hex: $(cat $CONFIG_DIR/jwt.hex)"