diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index 3c50141ee..4cffd7d7c 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -1149,6 +1149,12 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) insertChain(chain types.Blocks) (int, []interface{}, []*ty
 		// If the chain is terminating, stop processing blocks
 		if atomic.LoadInt32(&bc.procInterrupt) == 1 {
 			log.Debug("Premature abort during blocks processing")
+			// QUORUM
+			if bc.chainConfig.IsQuorum && bc.chainConfig.Istanbul == nil && bc.chainConfig.Clique == nil {
+				// Only returns an error for raft mode
+				return i, events, coalescedLogs, ErrAbortBlocksProcessing
+			}
+			// END QUORUM
 			break
 		}
 		// If the header is a banned one, straight out abort
diff --git a/core/error.go b/core/error.go
index 410eca1e1..086c448e0 100644
--- a/core/error.go
+++ b/core/error.go
@@ -32,4 +32,7 @@ var (
 	// ErrNonceTooHigh is returned if the nonce of a transaction is higher than the
 	// next one expected based on the local chain.
 	ErrNonceTooHigh = errors.New("nonce too high")
+
+	// ErrAbortBlocksProcessing is returned if bc.insertChain is interrupted under raft mode
+	ErrAbortBlocksProcessing = errors.New("abort during blocks processing")
 )
diff --git a/raft/handler.go b/raft/handler.go
index 0ea823374..b3bf42fee 100755
--- a/raft/handler.go
+++ b/raft/handler.go
@@ -782,7 +782,11 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) eventLoop() {
 						headBlockHash := pm.blockchain.CurrentBlock().Hash()
 						log.Warn("not applying already-applied block", "block hash", block.Hash(), "parent", block.ParentHash(), "head", headBlockHash)
 					} else {
-						pm.applyNewChainHead(&block)
+						if !pm.applyNewChainHead(&block) {
+							// return false only if insert chain is interrupted
+							// stop eventloop
+							return
+						}
 					}
 
 				case raftpb.EntryConfChange:
@@ -902,7 +906,7 @@ func blockExtendsChain(block *types.Block, chain *core.BlockChain) bool {
 	return block.ParentHash() == chain.CurrentBlock().Hash()
 }
 
-func (pm *ProtocolManager) applyNewChainHead(block *types.Block) {
+func (pm *ProtocolManager) applyNewChainHead(block *types.Block) bool {
 	if !blockExtendsChain(block, pm.blockchain) {
 		headBlock := pm.blockchain.CurrentBlock()
 
@@ -923,11 +927,16 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) applyNewChainHead(block *types.Block) {
 		_, err := pm.blockchain.InsertChain([]*types.Block{block})
 
 		if err != nil {
+			if err == core.ErrAbortBlocksProcessing {
+				log.Error(fmt.Sprintf("failed to extend chain: %s", err.Error()))
+				return false
+			}
 			panic(fmt.Sprintf("failed to extend chain: %s", err.Error()))
 		}
 
 		log.EmitCheckpoint(log.BlockCreated, "block", fmt.Sprintf("%x", block.Hash()))
 	}
+	return true
 }
 
 // Sets new appliedIndex in-memory, *and* writes this appliedIndex to LevelDB.