diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/beacon_chain.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/beacon_chain.rs
index 81e5bdd65a..7af64924e4 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/beacon_chain.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/beacon_chain.rs
@@ -60,7 +60,15 @@ pub enum BlockProcessingOutcome {
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub enum AttestationProcessingOutcome {
     Processed,
-    UnknownHeadBlock { beacon_block_root: Hash256 },
+    UnknownHeadBlock {
+        beacon_block_root: Hash256,
+    },
+    /// The attestation is attesting to a state that is later than itself. (Viz., attesting to the
+    /// future).
+    AttestsToFutureState {
+        state: Slot,
+        attestation: Slot,
+    },
     Invalid(AttestationValidationError),
 }
 
@@ -582,11 +590,24 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> BeaconChain<T> {
                     per_slot_processing(&mut state, &self.spec)?;
                 }
 
-                self.process_attestation_for_state_and_block(
-                    attestation,
-                    &state,
-                    &attestation_head_block,
-                )
+                let attestation_slot = state.get_attestation_data_slot(&attestation.data)?;
+
+                // Reject any attestation where the `state` loaded from `data.beacon_block_root`
+                // has a higher slot than the attestation.
+                //
+                // Permitting this would allow for attesters to vote on _future_ slots.
+                if attestation_slot > state.slot {
+                    Ok(AttestationProcessingOutcome::AttestsToFutureState {
+                        state: state.slot,
+                        attestation: attestation_slot,
+                    })
+                } else {
+                    self.process_attestation_for_state_and_block(
+                        attestation,
+                        &state,
+                        &attestation_head_block,
+                    )
+                }
             }
         } else {
             // Reject any block where we have not processed `attestation.data.beacon_block_root`.
diff --git a/eth2/state_processing/src/per_block_processing/errors.rs b/eth2/state_processing/src/per_block_processing/errors.rs
index 436ec96cee..65179167c1 100644
--- a/eth2/state_processing/src/per_block_processing/errors.rs
+++ b/eth2/state_processing/src/per_block_processing/errors.rs
@@ -136,9 +136,6 @@ pub enum AttestationInvalid {
         delay: u64,
         attestation: Slot,
     },
-    /// The attestation is attesting to a state that is later than itself. (Viz., attesting to the
-    /// future).
-    AttestsToFutureState { state: Slot, attestation: Slot },
     /// Attestation slot is too far in the past to be included in a block.
     IncludedTooLate { state: Slot, attestation: Slot },
     /// Attestation target epoch does not match the current or previous epoch.
diff --git a/eth2/state_processing/src/per_block_processing/verify_attestation.rs b/eth2/state_processing/src/per_block_processing/verify_attestation.rs
index 127d251dea..74dbefa232 100644
--- a/eth2/state_processing/src/per_block_processing/verify_attestation.rs
+++ b/eth2/state_processing/src/per_block_processing/verify_attestation.rs
@@ -62,17 +62,6 @@ pub fn verify_attestation_for_state<T: EthSpec>(
         Invalid::BadShard
     );
 
-    let attestation_slot = state.get_attestation_data_slot(&data)?;
-
-    // An attestation cannot attest to a state that is later than itself.
-    verify!(
-        attestation_slot <= state.slot,
-        Invalid::AttestsToFutureState {
-            state: state.slot,
-            attestation: attestation_slot
-        }
-    );
-
     // Verify the Casper FFG vote and crosslink data.
     let parent_crosslink = verify_casper_ffg_vote(attestation, state)?;