diff --git a/electrum/blockchain.py b/electrum/blockchain.py
index 5f7c36cd7..259941bcd 100644
--- a/electrum/blockchain.py
+++ b/electrum/blockchain.py
@@ -258,6 +258,7 @@ class Blockchain(Logger):
                           parent=parent,
                           forkpoint_hash=hash_header(header),
                           prev_hash=parent.get_hash(forkpoint-1))
+        self.assert_headers_file_available(parent.path())
         open(self.path(), 'w+').close()
         self.save_header(header)
         # put into global dict. note that in some cases