diff --git a/src/engine/cancun.md b/src/engine/cancun.md
index b9431c76..b37a669c 100644
--- a/src/engine/cancun.md
+++ b/src/engine/cancun.md
@@ -120,11 +120,19 @@ Refer to the response for [`engine_forkchoiceUpdatedV2`](./shanghai.md#engine_fo
 
 #### Specification
 
-This method follows the same specification as [`engine_forkchoiceUpdatedV2`](./shanghai.md#engine_forkchoiceupdatedv2) with addition of the following:
+This method follows the same specification as [`engine_forkchoiceUpdatedV2`](./shanghai.md#engine_forkchoiceupdatedv2) with the following changes to the processing flow:
 
-1. Client software **MUST** check that provided set of parameters and their fields strictly matches the expected one and return `-32602: Invalid params` error if this check fails. Any field having `null` value **MUST** be considered as not provided.
+1. Client software **MUST** verify that `forkchoiceState` matches the [`ForkchoiceStateV1`](./paris.md#ForkchoiceStateV1) structure and return `-32602: Invalid params` on failure.
+
+2. Extend point (7) of the `engine_forkchoiceUpdatedV1` [specification](./paris.md#specification-1) by defining the following sequence of checks that **MUST** be run over `payloadAttributes`:
+
+    1. `payloadAttributes` matches the [`PayloadAttributesV3`](#payloadattributesv3) structure, return `-38003: Invalid payload attributes` on failure.
+
+    2. `payloadAttributes.timestamp` falls within the time frame of the Cancun fork, return `-38005: Unsupported fork` on failure.
+
+    3. `payloadAttributes.timestamp` is greater than `timestamp` of a block referenced by `forkchoiceState.headBlockHash`, return `-38003: Invalid payload attributes` on failure.
 
-2. Client software **MUST** return `-38005: Unsupported fork` error if the `payloadAttributes` is set and the `payloadAttributes.timestamp` does not fall within the time frame of the Cancun fork.
+    4. If any of the above checks fails, the `forkchoiceState` update **MUST NOT** be rolled back.
 
 ### engine_getPayloadV3
 
diff --git a/src/engine/paris.md b/src/engine/paris.md
index 9f666194..953365da 100644
--- a/src/engine/paris.md
+++ b/src/engine/paris.md
@@ -218,11 +218,15 @@ The payload build process is specified as follows:
 
 6. Client software **MUST** return `-38002: Invalid forkchoice state` error if the payload referenced by `forkchoiceState.headBlockHash` is `VALID` and a payload referenced by either `forkchoiceState.finalizedBlockHash` or `forkchoiceState.safeBlockHash` does not belong to the chain defined by `forkchoiceState.headBlockHash`.
 
-7. Client software **MUST** ensure that `payloadAttributes.timestamp` is greater than `timestamp` of a block referenced by `forkchoiceState.headBlockHash`. If this condition isn't held client software **MUST** respond with `-38003: Invalid payload attributes` and **MUST NOT** begin a payload build process. In such an event, the `forkchoiceState` update **MUST NOT** be rolled back.
+7. Client software **MUST** process provided `payloadAttributes` after successfully applying the `forkchoiceState` and only if the payload referenced by `forkchoiceState.headBlockHash` is `VALID`. The processing flow is as follows:
 
-8. Client software **MUST** begin a payload build process building on top of `forkchoiceState.headBlockHash` and identified via `buildProcessId` value if `payloadAttributes` is not `null` and the forkchoice state has been updated successfully. The build process is specified in the [Payload building](#payload-building) section.
+    1. Verify that `payloadAttributes.timestamp` is greater than `timestamp` of a block referenced by `forkchoiceState.headBlockHash` and return `-38003: Invalid payload attributes` on failure.
 
-9. Client software **MUST** respond to this method call in the following way:
+    2. If `payloadAttributes` passes all valdiation steps, begin a payload build process building on top of `forkchoiceState.headBlockHash` and identified via `buildProcessId` value. The build process is specified in the [Payload building](#payload-building) section.
+
+    3. If `payloadAttributes` validation fails, the `forkchoiceState` update **MUST NOT** be rolled back.
+
+8. Client software **MUST** respond to this method call in the following way:
   * `{payloadStatus: {status: SYNCING, latestValidHash: null, validationError: null}, payloadId: null}` if `forkchoiceState.headBlockHash` references an unknown payload or a payload that can't be validated because requisite data for the validation is missing
   * `{payloadStatus: {status: INVALID, latestValidHash: validHash, validationError: errorMessage | null}, payloadId: null}` obtained from the [Payload validation](#payload-validation) process if the payload is deemed `INVALID`
   * `{payloadStatus: {status: INVALID, latestValidHash: 0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000, validationError: errorMessage | null}, payloadId: null}` obtained either from the [Payload validation](#payload-validation) process or as a result of validating a terminal PoW block referenced by `forkchoiceState.headBlockHash`