diff --git a/ledger/src/blockstore_processor.rs b/ledger/src/blockstore_processor.rs
index 119d0b7fc9..dd832e09c0 100644
--- a/ledger/src/blockstore_processor.rs
+++ b/ledger/src/blockstore_processor.rs
@@ -743,12 +743,14 @@ pub fn process_blockstore_from_root(
     cache_block_meta_sender: Option<&CacheBlockMetaSender>,
     accounts_background_request_sender: &AbsRequestSender,
 ) -> result::Result<(), BlockstoreProcessorError> {
-    // Starting slot must be a root, and thus has no parents
-    assert_eq!(bank_forks.read().unwrap().banks().len(), 1);
-    let bank = bank_forks.read().unwrap().root_bank();
-    assert!(bank.parent().is_none());
+    let (start_slot, start_slot_hash) = {
+        // Starting slot must be a root, and thus has no parents
+        assert_eq!(bank_forks.read().unwrap().banks().len(), 1);
+        let bank = bank_forks.read().unwrap().root_bank();
+        assert!(bank.parent().is_none());
+        (bank.slot(), bank.hash())
+    };
 
-    let start_slot = bank.slot();
     info!("Processing ledger from slot {}...", start_slot);
     let now = Instant::now();
 
@@ -757,16 +759,16 @@ pub fn process_blockstore_from_root(
     if blockstore.is_primary_access() {
         blockstore
             .mark_slots_as_if_rooted_normally_at_startup(
-                vec![(bank.slot(), Some(bank.hash()))],
+                vec![(start_slot, Some(start_slot_hash))],
                 true,
             )
-            .expect("Couldn't mark start_slot as root on startup");
+            .expect("Couldn't mark start_slot as root in startup");
         blockstore
-            .set_and_chain_connected_on_root_and_next_slots(bank.slot())
+            .set_and_chain_connected_on_root_and_next_slots(start_slot)
             .expect("Couldn't mark start_slot as connected during startup")
     } else {
         info!(
-            "Starting slot {} isn't root and won't be updated due to being secondary blockstore access",
+            "Start slot {} isn't a root, and won't be updated due to secondary blockstore access",
             start_slot
         );
     }