diff --git a/app/app.go b/app/app.go
index be5657095a..a2a69b0b34 100644
--- a/app/app.go
+++ b/app/app.go
@@ -877,6 +877,10 @@ func (app *App) EndBlocker(ctx sdk.Context, req abci.RequestEndBlock) abci.Respo
 
 // InitChainer application update at chain initialization
 func (app *App) InitChainer(ctx sdk.Context, req abci.RequestInitChain) abci.ResponseInitChain {
+	// The defer is used to catch panics during InitChain
+	//and display a more meaningful message for people trying to sync a node from block 1 using the latest binary.
+	// We exit the process after displaying the message as we do not need to start a node with empty state.
+
 	defer func() {
 		if r := recover(); r != nil {
 			ctx.Logger().Error("panic occurred during InitGenesis", "error", r)
diff --git a/pkg/constant/constant.go b/pkg/constant/constant.go
index d5a5f1ca79..0a8207ecda 100644
--- a/pkg/constant/constant.go
+++ b/pkg/constant/constant.go
@@ -42,5 +42,8 @@ const (
 	OptionUnpause = "unpause"
 
 	// InitChainErrorMessage is the error message displayed when trying to sync testnet or mainnet from block 1
-	InitChainErrorMessage = "You cannot sync testnet or mainnet from block 1 using the latest version. You should sync your node from a snapshot"
+	InitChainErrorMessage = "You cannot sync testnet or mainnet from block 1 using the latest version. " +
+		"You should sync your node from a snapshot. " +
+		"Refer to the documentation for more information: " +
+		"https://www.zetachain.com/docs/nodes/start-here/syncing/"
 )