diff --git a/beacon-chain/blockchain/process_attestation_test.go b/beacon-chain/blockchain/process_attestation_test.go
index 22da74147012..bf0aa6f6d38c 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/blockchain/process_attestation_test.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/blockchain/process_attestation_test.go
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ func TestStore_OnAttestation(t *testing.T) {
 			a:             &ethpb.Attestation{Data: &ethpb.AttestationData{Target: &ethpb.Checkpoint{Root: BlkWithOutStateRoot[:]}}},
 			s:             &pb.BeaconState{},
 			wantErr:       true,
-			wantErrString: "could not get pre state for slot 0: could not get state summary",
+			wantErrString: "could not get pre state for slot 0: could not get ancestor state",
 		},
 		{
 			name: "process attestation doesn't match current epoch",
diff --git a/beacon-chain/state/stategen/hot.go b/beacon-chain/state/stategen/hot.go
index 267d338c93dc..4f561e0d6805 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/state/stategen/hot.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/state/stategen/hot.go
@@ -72,16 +72,9 @@ func (s *State) loadHotStateByRoot(ctx context.Context, blockRoot [32]byte) (*st
 
 	// Since the hot state is not in cache nor DB, start replaying using the parent state which is
 	// retrieved using input block's parent root.
-	blk, err := s.beaconDB.Block(ctx, blockRoot)
+	startState, err := s.lastAncestorState(ctx, blockRoot)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if blk == nil {
-		return nil, errUnknownBlock
-	}
-	startState, err := s.loadHotStateByRoot(ctx, bytesutil.ToBytes32(blk.Block.ParentRoot))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "could not get ancestor state")
 	}
 	if startState == nil {
 		return nil, errUnknownBoundaryState
@@ -139,3 +132,37 @@ func (s *State) loadHotStateBySlot(ctx context.Context, slot uint64) (*state.Bea
 
 	return s.ReplayBlocks(ctx, startState, replayBlks, slot)
 }
+
+// This returns the last saved in DB ancestor state of the input block root.
+// It recursively look up block's parent until a corresponding state of the block root
+// is found in the DB.
+func (s *State) lastAncestorState(ctx context.Context, root [32]byte) (*state.BeaconState, error) {
+	ctx, span := trace.StartSpan(ctx, "stateGen.lastAncestorState")
+	defer span.End()
+
+	b, err := s.beaconDB.Block(ctx, root)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if b == nil {
+		return nil, errUnknownBlock
+	}
+
+	for {
+		if ctx.Err() != nil {
+			return nil, ctx.Err()
+		}
+		parentRoot := bytesutil.ToBytes32(b.Block.ParentRoot)
+		if s.beaconDB.HasState(ctx, parentRoot) {
+			return s.beaconDB.State(ctx, parentRoot)
+		}
+
+		b, err = s.beaconDB.Block(ctx, parentRoot)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if b == nil {
+			return nil, errUnknownBlock
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/beacon-chain/state/stategen/hot_test.go b/beacon-chain/state/stategen/hot_test.go
index faffd3c4d390..ecf2452c6f59 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/state/stategen/hot_test.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/state/stategen/hot_test.go
@@ -245,3 +245,60 @@ func TestLoadHoteStateBySlot_CanAdvanceSlotUsingDB(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("Did not correctly load state")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestLastAncestorState_CanGet(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	db := testDB.SetupDB(t)
+	defer testDB.TeardownDB(t, db)
+	service := New(db, cache.NewStateSummaryCache())
+
+	b0 := &ethpb.BeaconBlock{Slot: 0, ParentRoot: []byte{'a'}}
+	r0, err := ssz.HashTreeRoot(b0)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	b1 := &ethpb.BeaconBlock{Slot: 1, ParentRoot: r0[:]}
+	r1, err := ssz.HashTreeRoot(b1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	b2 := &ethpb.BeaconBlock{Slot: 2, ParentRoot: r1[:]}
+	r2, err := ssz.HashTreeRoot(b2)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	b3 := &ethpb.BeaconBlock{Slot: 3, ParentRoot: r2[:]}
+	r3, err := ssz.HashTreeRoot(b3)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	b1State := testutil.NewBeaconState()
+	if err := b1State.SetSlot(1); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if err := service.beaconDB.SaveBlock(ctx, &ethpb.SignedBeaconBlock{Block: b0}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := service.beaconDB.SaveBlock(ctx, &ethpb.SignedBeaconBlock{Block: b1}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := service.beaconDB.SaveBlock(ctx, &ethpb.SignedBeaconBlock{Block: b2}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := service.beaconDB.SaveBlock(ctx, &ethpb.SignedBeaconBlock{Block: b3}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := service.beaconDB.SaveState(ctx, b1State, r1); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	lastState, err := service.lastAncestorState(ctx, r3)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if lastState.Slot() != b1State.Slot() {
+		t.Error("Did not get wanted state")
+	}
+}