diff --git a/cmd/tomo/config.go b/cmd/tomo/config.go
index 9126e6481..da2772d38 100644
--- a/cmd/tomo/config.go
+++ b/cmd/tomo/config.go
@@ -129,13 +129,12 @@ func defaultNodeConfig() node.Config {
 func makeConfigNode(ctx *cli.Context) (*node.Node, tomoConfig) {
 	// Load defaults.
 	cfg := tomoConfig{
-		Eth:         eth.DefaultConfig,
-		Shh:         whisper.DefaultConfig,
-		TomoX:       tomox.DefaultConfig,
-		Node:        defaultNodeConfig(),
-		StakeEnable: true,
-		Verbosity:   3,
-		NAT:         "",
+		Eth:       eth.DefaultConfig,
+		Shh:       whisper.DefaultConfig,
+		TomoX:     tomox.DefaultConfig,
+		Node:      defaultNodeConfig(),
+		Verbosity: 3,
+		NAT:       "",
 	}
 	// Load config file.
 	if file := ctx.GlobalString(configFileFlag.Name); file != "" {
@@ -143,9 +142,7 @@ func makeConfigNode(ctx *cli.Context) (*node.Node, tomoConfig) {
 			utils.Fatalf("%v", err)
 		}
 	}
-	if ctx.GlobalIsSet(utils.StakingEnabledFlag.Name) {
-		cfg.StakeEnable = ctx.GlobalBool(utils.StakingEnabledFlag.Name)
-	}
+
 	if !ctx.GlobalIsSet(debug.VerbosityFlag.Name) {
 		debug.Glogger.Verbosity(log.Lvl(cfg.Verbosity))
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/tomo/main.go b/cmd/tomo/main.go
index 0bd21952a..41db964b3 100644
--- a/cmd/tomo/main.go
+++ b/cmd/tomo/main.go
@@ -127,7 +127,6 @@ var (
 		utils.AnnounceTxsFlag,
 		utils.StoreRewardFlag,
 		utils.RollbackFlag,
-		utils.TomoSlaveModeFlag,
 	}
 
 	rpcFlags = []cli.Flag{
@@ -296,16 +295,16 @@ func startNode(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node, cfg tomoConfig) {
 	if _, ok := ethereum.Engine().(*posv.Posv); ok {
 		go func() {
 			started := false
-			slaveMode := ctx.GlobalIsSet(utils.TomoSlaveModeFlag.Name)
-			ok, err := ethereum.ValidateMasternode()
-			if err != nil {
-				utils.Fatalf("Can't verify masternode permission: %v", err)
-			}
-			if ok {
-				if slaveMode {
-					log.Info("Masternode slave mode found.")
-					started = false
-				} else {
+			miningEnable := ctx.GlobalIsSet(utils.StakingEnabledFlag.Name)
+
+			defer close(core.CheckpointCh)
+			if miningEnable {
+				log.Info("Staking mode enabled.")
+				ok, err := ethereum.ValidateMasternode()
+				if err != nil {
+					utils.Fatalf("Can't verify masternode permission: %v", err)
+				}
+				if ok {
 					log.Info("Masternode found. Enabling staking mode...")
 					// Use a reduced number of threads if requested
 					if threads := ctx.GlobalInt(utils.StakerThreadsFlag.Name); threads > 0 {
@@ -324,26 +323,21 @@ func startNode(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node, cfg tomoConfig) {
 					started = true
 					log.Info("Enabled staking node!!!")
 				}
-			}
-			defer close(core.CheckpointCh)
-			for range core.CheckpointCh {
-				log.Info("Checkpoint!!! It's time to reconcile node's state...")
-				ok, err := ethereum.ValidateMasternode()
-				if err != nil {
-					utils.Fatalf("Can't verify masternode permission: %v", err)
-				}
-				if !ok {
-					if started {
-						log.Info("Only masternode can propose and verify blocks. Cancelling staking on this node...")
-						ethereum.StopStaking()
-						started = false
-						log.Info("Cancelled mining mode!!!")
+
+				for range core.CheckpointCh {
+					log.Info("Checkpoint!!! It's time to reconcile node's state...")
+					ok, err := ethereum.ValidateMasternode()
+					if err != nil {
+						utils.Fatalf("Can't verify masternode permission: %v", err)
 					}
-				} else if !started {
-					if slaveMode {
-						log.Info("Masternode slave mode found.")
-						started = false
-					} else {
+					if !ok {
+						if started {
+							log.Info("Only masternode can propose and verify blocks. Cancelling staking on this node...")
+							ethereum.StopStaking()
+							started = false
+							log.Info("Cancelled mining mode!!!")
+						}
+					} else if !started {
 						log.Info("Masternode found. Enabling staking mode...")
 						// Use a reduced number of threads if requested
 						if threads := ctx.GlobalInt(utils.StakerThreadsFlag.Name); threads > 0 {
@@ -363,6 +357,11 @@ func startNode(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node, cfg tomoConfig) {
 						log.Info("Enabled staking node!!!")
 					}
 				}
+			} else {
+				log.Info("Staking mode disabled.")
+				for range core.CheckpointCh {
+					log.Info("Checkpoint!!! It's time to reconcile node's state...")
+				}
 			}
 		}()
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index b1f0f9276..e3445a986 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -556,10 +556,6 @@ var (
 		Name:  "tomox.dbReplicaSetName",
 		Usage: "ReplicaSetName if Master-Slave is setup",
 	}
-	TomoSlaveModeFlag = cli.BoolFlag{
-		Name:  "slave",
-		Usage: "Enable slave mode",
-	}
 )
 
 // MakeDataDir retrieves the currently requested data directory, terminating
diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index d7c5bc491..36e552efe 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -284,8 +284,10 @@ func New(ctx *node.ServiceContext, config *Config, tomoXServ *tomox.TomoX, lendi
 			return block, false, nil
 		}
 
-		eth.protocolManager.fetcher.SetSignHook(signHook)
-		eth.protocolManager.fetcher.SetAppendM2HeaderHook(appendM2HeaderHook)
+		if ctx.GetConfig().KeyStoreDir != "" {
+			eth.protocolManager.fetcher.SetSignHook(signHook)
+			eth.protocolManager.fetcher.SetAppendM2HeaderHook(appendM2HeaderHook)
+		}
 
 		// Hook prepares validators M2 for the current epoch at checkpoint block
 		c.HookValidator = func(header *types.Header, signers []common.Address) ([]byte, error) {