diff --git a/dkg/dkg.go b/dkg/dkg.go
index a1568ed45..500d3a93a 100644
--- a/dkg/dkg.go
+++ b/dkg/dkg.go
@@ -314,10 +314,6 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, conf Config) (err error) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err = stopSync(ctx); err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "sync shutdown") // Consider increasing --shutdown-delay if this occurs often.
-	}
-
 	// Write keystores, deposit data and cluster lock files after exchange of partial signatures in order
 	// to prevent partial data writes in case of peer connection lost
 
@@ -349,6 +345,15 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, conf Config) (err error) {
 	}
 	log.Debug(ctx, "Saved deposit data file to disk")
 
+	// Signature verification and disk key write was step 6, advance to step 7
+	if err := nextStepSync(ctx); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if err = stopSync(ctx); err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(err, "sync shutdown") // Consider increasing --shutdown-delay if this occurs often.
+	}
+
 	if conf.TestConfig.ShutdownCallback != nil {
 		conf.TestConfig.ShutdownCallback()
 	}
diff --git a/dkg/sync/client.go b/dkg/sync/client.go
index 028b08dc3..d810a5dc9 100644
--- a/dkg/sync/client.go
+++ b/dkg/sync/client.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func NewClient(tcpNode host.Host, peer peer.ID, hashSig []byte, version version.
 		done:      make(chan struct{}),
 		reconnect: true,
 		version:   version,
-		period:    time.Second,
+		period:    250 * time.Millisecond,
 	}
 
 	for _, opt := range opts {