diff --git a/src/state_channel/blockchain_state_channel_common.erl b/src/state_channel/blockchain_state_channel_common.erl
index 1c1ac48321..f8c0d78b0a 100644
--- a/src/state_channel/blockchain_state_channel_common.erl
+++ b/src/state_channel/blockchain_state_channel_common.erl
@@ -213,8 +213,7 @@ handle_server_msg(
                 BannerSC ->
                     lager:debug("sc_handler client got banner, sc_id: ~p",
                                [blockchain_state_channel_v1:id(BannerSC)]),
-                    %% either we don't have a ledger or we do and the SC is valid
-                    case Ledger == undefined orelse is_active_sc(BannerSC, Ledger) == ok of
+                    case is_active_sc(BannerSC, Ledger) == ok of
                         true ->
                             blockchain_state_channels_client:banner(Banner, self());
                         false ->
@@ -225,8 +224,7 @@ handle_server_msg(
             PurchaseSC = blockchain_state_channel_purchase_v1:sc(Purchase),
             lager:debug("sc_handler client got purchase, sc_id: ~p",
                        [blockchain_state_channel_v1:id(PurchaseSC)]),
-            %% either we don't have a ledger or we do and the SC is valid
-            case Ledger == undefined orelse is_active_sc(PurchaseSC, Ledger) == ok of
+            case is_active_sc(PurchaseSC, Ledger) == ok of
                 true ->
                     blockchain_state_channels_client:purchase(Purchase, self());
                 false ->
@@ -253,8 +251,7 @@ handle_client_msg(Msg, HandlerState) ->
                 BannerSC ->
                     lager:debug("sc_handler client got banner, sc_id: ~p",
                                [blockchain_state_channel_v1:id(BannerSC)]),
-                    %% either we don't have a ledger or we do and the SC is valid
-                    case Ledger == undefined orelse is_active_sc(BannerSC, Ledger) == ok of
+                    case is_active_sc(BannerSC, Ledger) == ok of
                         true ->
                             blockchain_state_channels_client:banner(Banner, self());
                         false ->
@@ -265,8 +262,7 @@ handle_client_msg(Msg, HandlerState) ->
             PurchaseSC = blockchain_state_channel_purchase_v1:sc(Purchase),
             lager:debug("sc_handler client got purchase, sc_id: ~p",
                        [blockchain_state_channel_v1:id(PurchaseSC)]),
-            %% either we don't have a ledger or we do and the SC is valid
-            case Ledger == undefined orelse is_active_sc(PurchaseSC, Ledger) == ok of
+            case is_active_sc(PurchaseSC, Ledger) == ok of
                 true ->
                     blockchain_state_channels_client:purchase(Purchase, self());
                 false ->
diff --git a/src/state_channel/blockchain_state_channel_handler.erl b/src/state_channel/blockchain_state_channel_handler.erl
index dd5ab68e50..9f3e922902 100644
--- a/src/state_channel/blockchain_state_channel_handler.erl
+++ b/src/state_channel/blockchain_state_channel_handler.erl
@@ -111,8 +111,7 @@ handle_data(client, Data, HandlerState) ->
                 BannerSC ->
                     lager:debug("sc_handler client got banner, sc_id: ~p",
                                [blockchain_state_channel_v1:id(BannerSC)]),
-                    %% either we don't have a ledger or we do and the SC is valid
-                    case Ledger == undefined orelse blockchain_state_channel_common:is_active_sc(BannerSC, Ledger) == ok of
+                    case blockchain_state_channel_common:is_active_sc(BannerSC, Ledger) == ok of
                         true ->
                             blockchain_state_channels_client:banner(Banner, self());
                         false ->
@@ -123,8 +122,7 @@ handle_data(client, Data, HandlerState) ->
             PurchaseSC = blockchain_state_channel_purchase_v1:sc(Purchase),
             lager:debug("sc_handler client got purchase, sc_id: ~p",
                        [blockchain_state_channel_v1:id(PurchaseSC)]),
-            %% either we don't have a ledger or we do and the SC is valid
-            case Ledger == undefined orelse blockchain_state_channel_common:is_active_sc(PurchaseSC, Ledger) == ok of
+            case blockchain_state_channel_common:is_active_sc(PurchaseSC, Ledger) == ok of
                 true ->
                     blockchain_state_channels_client:purchase(Purchase, self());
                 false ->