diff --git a/raiden/raiden_service.py b/raiden/raiden_service.py
index fe695e298b2..9d6dfcc978e 100644
--- a/raiden/raiden_service.py
+++ b/raiden/raiden_service.py
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ def start(self):
         # - The alarm must complete its first run before the transport is started,
         #   to reject messages for closed/settled channels.
         self.alarm.register_callback(self._callback_new_block)
-        self.alarm.first_run()
+        self.alarm.first_run(last_log_block_number)
 
         # The transport must not ever be started before the alarm task's first
         # run, because it's this method which synchronizes the node with the
diff --git a/raiden/tasks.py b/raiden/tasks.py
index 1af03eee82b..0ff253a208d 100644
--- a/raiden/tasks.py
+++ b/raiden/tasks.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def __init__(self, chain):
         self.callbacks = list()
         self.chain = chain
         self.chain_id = None
-        self.last_block_number = None
+        self.known_block_number = None
         self._stop_event = AsyncResult()
 
         # TODO: Start with a larger sleep_time and decrease it as the
@@ -128,15 +128,14 @@ def loop_until_stop(self):
         # This is required because the first run will synchronize the node with
         # the blockchain since the last run.
         assert self.chain_id, 'chain_id not set'
-        assert self.last_block_number, 'last_block_number not set'
+        assert self.known_block_number is not None, 'known_block_number not set'
 
         chain_id = self.chain_id
 
         sleep_time = self.sleep_time
         while self._stop_event.wait(sleep_time) is not True:
-            last_block_number = self.last_block_number
             latest_block = self.chain.get_block(block_identifier='latest')
-            latest_block_number = latest_block['number']
+            self._maybe_run_callbacks(latest_block)
 
             if chain_id != self.chain.network_id:
                 raise RuntimeError(
@@ -144,52 +143,72 @@ def loop_until_stop(self):
                     'is not supported.',
                 )
 
-            if latest_block_number != last_block_number:
-                log_details = dict(
-                    block_number=latest_block_number,
-                    block_hash=to_hex(latest_block['hash']),
-                    block_gas_limit=latest_block['gasLimit'],
-                )
-
-                if latest_block_number > last_block_number + 1:
-                    missed_blocks = latest_block_number - last_block_number - 1
-                    log_details['num_missed_blocks'] = missed_blocks
-
-                log.debug(
-                    'Received new block',
-                    **log_details,
-                )
-
-                self._run_callbacks(latest_block)
-
-    def first_run(self):
-        # callbacks must be executed during the first run to update the node state
+    def first_run(self, known_block_number):
+        """ Blocking call to update the local state, if necessary. """
         assert self.callbacks, 'callbacks not set'
 
         chain_id = self.chain.network_id
         latest_block = self.chain.get_block(block_identifier='latest')
 
         log.debug(
-            'Starting at block number',
-            block_number=latest_block['number'],
-            gas_limit=latest_block['gasLimit'],
-            block_hash=to_hex(latest_block['hash']),
+            'Alarm task first run',
+            known_block_number=known_block_number,
+            latest_block_number=latest_block['number'],
+            latest_gas_limit=latest_block['gasLimit'],
+            latest_block_hash=to_hex(latest_block['hash']),
         )
 
-        self._run_callbacks(latest_block)
+        self.known_block_number = known_block_number
         self.chain_id = chain_id
+        self._maybe_run_callbacks(latest_block)
 
-    def _run_callbacks(self, latest_block):
-        remove = list()
-        for callback in self.callbacks:
-            result = callback(latest_block)
-            if result is REMOVE_CALLBACK:
-                remove.append(callback)
+    def _maybe_run_callbacks(self, latest_block):
+        """ Run the callbacks if there is at least one new block.
 
-        for callback in remove:
-            self.callbacks.remove(callback)
+        The callbacks are executed only if there is a new block, otherwise the
+        filters may try to poll for an inexisting block number and the Ethereum
+        client can return an JSON-RPC error.
+        """
+        assert self.known_block_number is not None, 'known_block_number not set'
+
+        latest_block_number = latest_block['number']
+        missed_blocks = latest_block_number - self.known_block_number
+
+        if missed_blocks < 0:
+            log.critical(
+                'Block number decreased',
+                chain_id=self.chain_id,
+                known_block_number=self.known_block_number,
+                old_block_number=latest_block['number'],
+                old_gas_limit=latest_block['gasLimit'],
+                old_block_hash=to_hex(latest_block['hash']),
+            )
+        elif missed_blocks > 1:
+            log.debug(
+                'Received new block',
+                known_block_number=self.known_block_number,
+                latest_block_number=latest_block['number'],
+                latest_gas_limit=latest_block['gasLimit'],
+                latest_block_hash=to_hex(latest_block['hash']),
+            )
+
+            if missed_blocks > 2:
+                log.info(
+                    'Missed block(s)',
+                    missed_blocks=missed_blocks,
+                    latest_block=latest_block,
+                )
+
+            remove = list()
+            for callback in self.callbacks:
+                result = callback(latest_block)
+                if result is REMOVE_CALLBACK:
+                    remove.append(callback)
+
+            for callback in remove:
+                self.callbacks.remove(callback)
 
-        self.last_block_number = latest_block['number']
+            self.known_block_number = latest_block['number']
 
     def stop(self):
         self._stop_event.set(True)