diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/block_verification.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/block_verification.rs
index 4c1e017a3eb..fce00be97db 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/block_verification.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/block_verification.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@
 //!
 //! ```
 use crate::execution_payload::{
-    validate_execution_payload_for_gossip, validate_merge_block, PayloadNotifier,
+    is_optimistic_candidate_block, validate_execution_payload_for_gossip, validate_merge_block,
+    PayloadNotifier,
 };
 use crate::snapshot_cache::PreProcessingSnapshot;
 use crate::validator_monitor::HISTORIC_EPOCHS as VALIDATOR_MONITOR_HISTORIC_EPOCHS;
@@ -1195,42 +1196,15 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> ExecutionPendingBlock<T> {
             // If the payload did not validate or invalidate the block, check to see if this block is
             // valid for optimistic import.
             if payload_verification_status.is_optimistic() {
-                let current_slot = chain
-                    .slot_clock
-                    .now()
-                    .ok_or(BeaconChainError::UnableToReadSlot)?;
-
-                // Use a blocking task to check if the block is an optimistic candidate. Interacting
-                // with the `canonical_head` lock in an async task can block the core executor.
-                let inner_chain = chain.clone();
-                let block_parent_root = block.parent_root();
-                let block_slot = block.slot();
-                let is_optimistic_candidate = chain
-                    .spawn_blocking_handle(
-                        move || {
-                            inner_chain
-                                .canonical_head
-                                .fork_choice_read_lock()
-                                .is_optimistic_candidate_block(
-                                    current_slot,
-                                    block_slot,
-                                    &block_parent_root,
-                                    &inner_chain.spec,
-                                )
-                        },
-                        "validate_merge_block_optimistic_candidate",
-                    )
-                    .await
-                    .map_err(BeaconChainError::from)?
-                    .map_err(BeaconChainError::from)?;
-
                 let block_hash_opt = block
                     .message()
                     .body()
                     .execution_payload()
                     .map(|full_payload| full_payload.execution_payload.block_hash);
+
                 // Ensure the block is a candidate for optimistic import.
-                if !is_optimistic_candidate {
+                if !is_optimistic_candidate_block(&chain, block.slot(), block.parent_root()).await?
+                {
                     info!(
                         chain.log,
                         "Optimistically accepting terminal block";
diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/execution_payload.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/execution_payload.rs
index bcd095b8b2a..1ac42610f20 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/execution_payload.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/execution_payload.rs
@@ -188,35 +188,7 @@ pub async fn validate_merge_block<'a, T: BeaconChainTypes>(
         }
         .into()),
         None => {
-            let current_slot = chain
-                .slot_clock
-                .now()
-                .ok_or(BeaconChainError::UnableToReadSlot)?;
-            // Use a blocking task to check if the block is an optimistic candidate. Interacting
-            // with the `fork_choice` lock in an async task can block the core executor.
-            let inner_chain = chain.clone();
-            let block_parent_root = block.parent_root();
-            let block_slot = block.slot();
-            let is_optimistic_candidate = chain
-                .spawn_blocking_handle(
-                    move || {
-                        inner_chain
-                            .canonical_head
-                            .fork_choice_read_lock()
-                            .is_optimistic_candidate_block(
-                                current_slot,
-                                block_slot,
-                                &block_parent_root,
-                                &inner_chain.spec,
-                            )
-                    },
-                    "validate_merge_block_optimistic_candidate",
-                )
-                .await
-                .map_err(BeaconChainError::from)?
-                .map_err(BeaconChainError::from)?;
-
-            if is_optimistic_candidate {
+            if is_optimistic_candidate_block(chain, block.slot(), block.parent_root()).await? {
                 debug!(
                     chain.log,
                     "Optimistically accepting terminal block";
@@ -231,6 +203,36 @@ pub async fn validate_merge_block<'a, T: BeaconChainTypes>(
     }
 }
 
+/// Check to see if a block with the given parameters is valid to be imported optimistically.
+pub async fn is_optimistic_candidate_block<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
+    chain: &Arc<BeaconChain<T>>,
+    block_slot: Slot,
+    block_parent_root: Hash256,
+) -> Result<bool, BeaconChainError> {
+    let current_slot = chain.slot()?;
+    let inner_chain = chain.clone();
+
+    // Use a blocking task to check if the block is an optimistic candidate. Interacting
+    // with the `fork_choice` lock in an async task can block the core executor.
+    chain
+        .spawn_blocking_handle(
+            move || {
+                inner_chain
+                    .canonical_head
+                    .fork_choice_read_lock()
+                    .is_optimistic_candidate_block(
+                        current_slot,
+                        block_slot,
+                        &block_parent_root,
+                        &inner_chain.spec,
+                    )
+            },
+            "validate_merge_block_optimistic_candidate",
+        )
+        .await?
+        .map_err(BeaconChainError::from)
+}
+
 /// Validate the gossip block's execution_payload according to the checks described here:
 /// https://github.com/ethereum/consensus-specs/blob/dev/specs/merge/p2p-interface.md#beacon_block
 pub fn validate_execution_payload_for_gossip<T: BeaconChainTypes>(