diff --git a/consensus/safety-rules/src/safety_rules_2chain.rs b/consensus/safety-rules/src/safety_rules_2chain.rs
index e93d2cd1874..8033ffb2c06 100644
--- a/consensus/safety-rules/src/safety_rules_2chain.rs
+++ b/consensus/safety-rules/src/safety_rules_2chain.rs
@@ -197,8 +197,8 @@ impl SafetyRules {
         let block1 = proposed_block.round();
         let block0 = proposed_block.quorum_cert().certified_block().round();
 
-        // verify 2-chain rule
-        let commit = next_round(block0)? == block1;
+        // verify 2-chain rule, no commit on genesis block (round 0)
+        let commit = next_round(block0)? == block1 && block0 > 0;
 
         // create a ledger info
         let commit_info = if commit {
diff --git a/consensus/safety-rules/src/tests/suite.rs b/consensus/safety-rules/src/tests/suite.rs
index e8f96e69c65..22d04d0aa46 100644
--- a/consensus/safety-rules/src/tests/suite.rs
+++ b/consensus/safety-rules/src/tests/suite.rs
@@ -701,8 +701,10 @@ fn test_2chain_rules(constructor: &Callback) {
             result.unwrap_err();
         }
     };
-    // block == qc + 1, commit
-    expect(&a1, None, true, true);
+
+    // block == qc + 1, but no commit because qc points to genesis (round 0)
+    expect(&a1, None, true, false);
+
     // block != qc + 1 && block != tc + 1
     expect(
         &b1,