diff --git a/boot_portal/Services/BootProtocolStateService.cs b/boot_portal/Services/BootProtocolStateService.cs
index 643ac21..c733322 100644
--- a/boot_portal/Services/BootProtocolStateService.cs
+++ b/boot_portal/Services/BootProtocolStateService.cs
@@ -4659,7 +4659,8 @@ public async Task<bool> TryAdoptCurrentStateAsync(BootStateBundle bundle, string
         }
         if (GetActiveConsensusVersion() >= BootProtocolVersions.ConsensusVersion &&
             bundle.SnapshotFamilyMember != null &&
-            hasLocalActiveFamily)
+            hasLocalActiveFamily &&
+            (!localStateIsEmpty || _poolConfig.AllowEmptySnapshotBootstrap))
         {
             return await TryReconcileSiblingSnapshotAsync(
                 bundle,