diff --git a/libraries/chain/db_update.cpp b/libraries/chain/db_update.cpp
index e4f8ab86..8c7a00ae 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/db_update.cpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/db_update.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ void database::update_global_dynamic_data( const signed_block& b )
 
    // dynamic global properties updating
    modify( _dgp, [&]( dynamic_global_property_object& dgp ){
-      if( _checkpoints.size() && _checkpoints.rbegin()->first >= b.block_num() )
+      if( BOOST_UNLIKELY( b.block_num() == 1 ) )
+         dgp.recently_missed_count = 0;
+      else if( _checkpoints.size() && _checkpoints.rbegin()->first >= b.block_num() )
          dgp.recently_missed_count = 0;
       else if( missed_blocks )
          dgp.recently_missed_count += GRAPHENE_RECENTLY_MISSED_COUNT_INCREMENT*missed_blocks;
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/witness/witness.cpp b/libraries/plugins/witness/witness.cpp
index 9290837d..3b646f97 100644
--- a/libraries/plugins/witness/witness.cpp
+++ b/libraries/plugins/witness/witness.cpp
@@ -26,12 +26,35 @@
 #include <fc/smart_ref_impl.hpp>
 #include <fc/thread/thread.hpp>
 
+#include <iostream>
+
 using namespace graphene::witness_plugin;
 using std::string;
 using std::vector;
 
 namespace bpo = boost::program_options;
 
+void new_chain_banner( const graphene::chain::database& db )
+{
+   std::cerr << "\n"
+      "********************************\n"
+      "*                              *\n"
+      "*   ------- NEW CHAIN ------   *\n"
+      "*   - Welcome to Graphene! -   *\n"
+      "*   ------------------------   *\n"
+      "*                              *\n"
+      "********************************\n"
+      "\n";
+   if( db.get_slot_at_time( graphene::time::now() ) > 200 )
+   {
+      std::cerr << "Your genesis seems to have an old timestamp\n"
+         "Please consider using a script to produce a genesis file with a recent timestamp\n"
+         "\n"
+         ;
+   }
+   return;
+}
+
 void witness_plugin::plugin_set_program_options(
    boost::program_options::options_description& command_line_options,
    boost::program_options::options_description& config_file_options)
@@ -138,6 +161,8 @@ void witness_plugin::plugin_startup()
    {
       ilog("Launching block production for ${n} witnesses.", ("n", _witnesses.size()));
       app().set_block_production(true);
+      if( _production_enabled && (d.head_block_num() == 0) )
+         new_chain_banner(d);
       schedule_next_production(d.get_global_properties().parameters);
    } else
       elog("No witnesses configured! Please add witness IDs and private keys to configuration.");