diff --git a/bridges/snowbridge/pallets/ethereum-client/src/lib.rs b/bridges/snowbridge/pallets/ethereum-client/src/lib.rs
index c1b9e19729bc..0ba1b8df4654 100644
--- a/bridges/snowbridge/pallets/ethereum-client/src/lib.rs
+++ b/bridges/snowbridge/pallets/ethereum-client/src/lib.rs
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ pub mod pallet {
 	#[pallet::error]
 	pub enum Error<T> {
 		SkippedSyncCommitteePeriod,
+		SyncCommitteeUpdateRequired,
 		/// Attested header is older than latest finalized header.
 		IrrelevantUpdate,
 		NotBootstrapped,
@@ -320,6 +321,7 @@ pub mod pallet {
 
 			// Verify update is relevant.
 			let update_attested_period = compute_period(update.attested_header.slot);
+			let update_finalized_period = compute_period(update.finalized_header.slot);
 			let update_has_next_sync_committee = !<NextSyncCommittee<T>>::exists() &&
 				(update.next_sync_committee_update.is_some() &&
 					update_attested_period == store_period);
@@ -395,6 +397,11 @@ pub mod pallet {
 					),
 					Error::<T>::InvalidSyncCommitteeMerkleProof
 				);
+			} else {
+				ensure!(
+					update_finalized_period == store_period,
+					Error::<T>::SyncCommitteeUpdateRequired
+				);
 			}
 
 			// Verify sync committee aggregate signature.
diff --git a/bridges/snowbridge/pallets/ethereum-client/src/tests.rs b/bridges/snowbridge/pallets/ethereum-client/src/tests.rs
index 765958c12821..ae476d2464e6 100644
--- a/bridges/snowbridge/pallets/ethereum-client/src/tests.rs
+++ b/bridges/snowbridge/pallets/ethereum-client/src/tests.rs
@@ -362,13 +362,14 @@ fn submit_update_with_sync_committee_in_current_period() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn submit_update_in_next_period() {
+fn reject_submit_update_in_next_period() {
 	let checkpoint = Box::new(load_checkpoint_update_fixture());
 	let sync_committee_update = Box::new(load_sync_committee_update_fixture());
 	let update = Box::new(load_next_finalized_header_update_fixture());
 	let sync_committee_period = compute_period(sync_committee_update.finalized_header.slot);
 	let next_sync_committee_period = compute_period(update.finalized_header.slot);
 	assert_eq!(sync_committee_period + 1, next_sync_committee_period);
+	let next_sync_committee_update = Box::new(load_next_sync_committee_update_fixture());
 
 	new_tester().execute_with(|| {
 		assert_ok!(EthereumBeaconClient::process_checkpoint_update(&checkpoint));
@@ -376,9 +377,18 @@ fn submit_update_in_next_period() {
 			RuntimeOrigin::signed(1),
 			sync_committee_update.clone()
 		));
+		// check an update in the next period is rejected
+		assert_err!(
+			EthereumBeaconClient::submit(RuntimeOrigin::signed(1), update.clone()),
+			Error::<Test>::SyncCommitteeUpdateRequired
+		);
+		// submit update with next sync committee
+		assert_ok!(EthereumBeaconClient::submit(
+			RuntimeOrigin::signed(1),
+			next_sync_committee_update
+		));
+		// check same header in the next period can now be submitted successfully
 		assert_ok!(EthereumBeaconClient::submit(RuntimeOrigin::signed(1), update.clone()));
-		let block_root: H256 = update.finalized_header.clone().hash_tree_root().unwrap();
-		assert!(<FinalizedBeaconState<Test>>::contains_key(block_root));
 	});
 }