diff --git a/ledger/src/bank_forks_utils.rs b/ledger/src/bank_forks_utils.rs
index 4459178ef..1ee8b1106 100644
--- a/ledger/src/bank_forks_utils.rs
+++ b/ledger/src/bank_forks_utils.rs
@@ -148,6 +148,24 @@ pub fn load_bank_forks(
     if process_options.full_leader_cache {
         leader_schedule_cache.set_max_schedules(std::usize::MAX);
     }
+
+    assert_eq!(bank_forks.banks().len(), 1);
+    if let Some(ref new_hard_forks) = process_options.new_hard_forks {
+        let root_bank = bank_forks.root_bank();
+        let hard_forks = root_bank.hard_forks();
+
+        for hard_fork_slot in new_hard_forks.iter() {
+            if *hard_fork_slot > root_bank.slot() {
+                hard_forks.write().unwrap().register(*hard_fork_slot);
+            } else {
+                warn!(
+                    "Hard fork at {} ignored, --hard-fork option can be removed.",
+                    hard_fork_slot
+                );
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     (bank_forks, leader_schedule_cache, starting_snapshot_hashes)
 }
 
diff --git a/ledger/src/blockstore_processor.rs b/ledger/src/blockstore_processor.rs
index 2426ef0e4..dde1ce562 100644
--- a/ledger/src/blockstore_processor.rs
+++ b/ledger/src/blockstore_processor.rs
@@ -655,21 +655,6 @@ pub fn process_blockstore_from_root(
     info!("processing ledger from slot {}...", start_slot);
     let now = Instant::now();
 
-    if let Some(ref new_hard_forks) = opts.new_hard_forks {
-        let hard_forks = bank.hard_forks();
-
-        for hard_fork_slot in new_hard_forks.iter() {
-            if *hard_fork_slot > start_slot {
-                hard_forks.write().unwrap().register(*hard_fork_slot);
-            } else {
-                warn!(
-                    "Hard fork at {} ignored, --hard-fork option can be removed.",
-                    hard_fork_slot
-                );
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
     // ensure start_slot is rooted for correct replay
     if blockstore.is_primary_access() {
         blockstore