diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index f962ec41c..bda9d07c4 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ type (
 		Relay             bool                    `yaml:"Relay"`
 		DialTimeout       time.Duration           `yaml:"DialTimeout"`
 		ProtoTickInterval time.Duration           `yaml:"ProtoTickInterval"`
+		PingInterval      time.Duration           `yaml:"PingInterval"`
+		PingTimeout       time.Duration           `yaml:"PingTimeout"`
 		MaxPeers          int                     `yaml:"MaxPeers"`
 		AttemptConnPeers  int                     `yaml:"AttemptConnPeers"`
 		MinPeers          int                     `yaml:"MinPeers"`
diff --git a/config/protocol.mainnet.yml b/config/protocol.mainnet.yml
index 0a6b125f5..2fd9c94b6 100644
--- a/config/protocol.mainnet.yml
+++ b/config/protocol.mainnet.yml
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ ApplicationConfiguration:
   Relay: true
   DialTimeout: 3
   ProtoTickInterval: 2
+  PingInterval: 60
+  PingTimeout: 60
   MaxPeers: 100
   AttemptConnPeers: 20
   MinPeers: 5
diff --git a/config/protocol.privnet.docker.four.yml b/config/protocol.privnet.docker.four.yml
index 05fdd6fa4..058c97a92 100644
--- a/config/protocol.privnet.docker.four.yml
+++ b/config/protocol.privnet.docker.four.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ ApplicationConfiguration:
   Relay: true
   DialTimeout: 3
   ProtoTickInterval: 2
+  PingInterval: 60
+  PingTimeout: 60
   MaxPeers: 10
   AttemptConnPeers: 5
   MinPeers: 3
diff --git a/config/protocol.privnet.docker.one.yml b/config/protocol.privnet.docker.one.yml
index f44bc8df5..76932694e 100644
--- a/config/protocol.privnet.docker.one.yml
+++ b/config/protocol.privnet.docker.one.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ ApplicationConfiguration:
   Relay: true
   DialTimeout: 3
   ProtoTickInterval: 2
+  PingInterval: 60
+  PingTimeout: 60
   MaxPeers: 10
   AttemptConnPeers: 5
   MinPeers: 3
diff --git a/config/protocol.privnet.docker.single.yml b/config/protocol.privnet.docker.single.yml
index 2e0cdcd7e..62bd270c1 100644
--- a/config/protocol.privnet.docker.single.yml
+++ b/config/protocol.privnet.docker.single.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ ApplicationConfiguration:
   Relay: true
   DialTimeout: 3
   ProtoTickInterval: 2
+  PingInterval: 60
+  PingTimeout: 60
   MaxPeers: 10
   AttemptConnPeers: 5
   MinPeers: 0
diff --git a/config/protocol.privnet.docker.three.yml b/config/protocol.privnet.docker.three.yml
index ad746a52d..83cda9e1d 100644
--- a/config/protocol.privnet.docker.three.yml
+++ b/config/protocol.privnet.docker.three.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ ApplicationConfiguration:
   Relay: true
   DialTimeout: 3
   ProtoTickInterval: 2
+  PingInterval: 60
+  PingTimeout: 60
   MaxPeers: 10
   AttemptConnPeers: 5
   MinPeers: 3
diff --git a/config/protocol.privnet.docker.two.yml b/config/protocol.privnet.docker.two.yml
index b250aab10..be61e6968 100644
--- a/config/protocol.privnet.docker.two.yml
+++ b/config/protocol.privnet.docker.two.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ ApplicationConfiguration:
   Relay: true
   DialTimeout: 3
   ProtoTickInterval: 2
+  PingInterval: 60
+  PingTimeout: 60
   MaxPeers: 10
   AttemptConnPeers: 5
   MinPeers: 3
diff --git a/config/protocol.privnet.yml b/config/protocol.privnet.yml
index 87c97d2e0..247faee82 100644
--- a/config/protocol.privnet.yml
+++ b/config/protocol.privnet.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ ApplicationConfiguration:
   Relay: true
   DialTimeout: 3
   ProtoTickInterval: 2
+  PingInterval: 60
+  PingTimeout: 60
   MaxPeers: 10
   AttemptConnPeers: 5
   MinPeers: 3
diff --git a/config/protocol.testnet.yml b/config/protocol.testnet.yml
index fe069eaf6..6bc778911 100644
--- a/config/protocol.testnet.yml
+++ b/config/protocol.testnet.yml
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ ApplicationConfiguration:
   Relay: true
   DialTimeout: 3
   ProtoTickInterval: 2
+  PingInterval: 60
+  PingTimeout: 60
   MaxPeers: 100
   AttemptConnPeers: 20
   MinPeers: 5
diff --git a/config/protocol.unit_testnet.yml b/config/protocol.unit_testnet.yml
index 21c8b462d..7fe53358c 100644
--- a/config/protocol.unit_testnet.yml
+++ b/config/protocol.unit_testnet.yml
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ ApplicationConfiguration:
   Relay: true
   DialTimeout: 3
   ProtoTickInterval: 2
+  PingInterval: 60
+  PingTimeout: 60
   MaxPeers: 50
   AttemptConnPeers: 5
   MinPeers: 1
diff --git a/pkg/network/helper_test.go b/pkg/network/helper_test.go
index 5fdc86e5f..a0f151d98 100644
--- a/pkg/network/helper_test.go
+++ b/pkg/network/helper_test.go
@@ -153,9 +153,11 @@ var defaultMessageHandler = func(t *testing.T, msg *Message) {}
 type localPeer struct {
 	netaddr        net.TCPAddr
 	version        *payload.Version
+	lastBlockIndex uint32
 	handshaked     bool
 	t              *testing.T
 	messageHandler func(t *testing.T, msg *Message)
+	pingSent int
 }
 
 func newLocalPeer(t *testing.T) *localPeer {
@@ -185,6 +187,12 @@ func (p *localPeer) Done() chan error {
 func (p *localPeer) Version() *payload.Version {
 	return p.version
 }
+func (p *localPeer) LastBlockIndex() uint32 {
+	return p.lastBlockIndex
+}
+func (p *localPeer) UpdateLastBlockIndex(newIndex uint32) {
+	p.lastBlockIndex = newIndex
+}
 func (p *localPeer) HandleVersion(v *payload.Version) error {
 	p.version = v
 	return nil
@@ -199,6 +207,12 @@ func (p *localPeer) HandleVersionAck() error {
 	p.handshaked = true
 	return nil
 }
+func (p *localPeer) GetPingSent() int {
+	return p.pingSent
+}
+func (p *localPeer) UpdatePingSent(newValue int) {
+	p.pingSent = newValue
+}
 
 func (p *localPeer) Handshaked() bool {
 	return p.handshaked
diff --git a/pkg/network/message.go b/pkg/network/message.go
index 087724967..09ff334ed 100644
--- a/pkg/network/message.go
+++ b/pkg/network/message.go
@@ -197,6 +197,8 @@ func (m *Message) decodePayload(br *io.BinReader) error {
 		p = &transaction.Transaction{}
 	case CMDMerkleBlock:
 		p = &payload.MerkleBlock{}
+	case CMDPing, CMDPong:
+		p = &payload.Ping{}
 	default:
 		return fmt.Errorf("can't decode command %s", cmdByteArrayToString(m.Command))
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/network/payload/ping.go b/pkg/network/payload/ping.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..85e0acced
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/network/payload/ping.go
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package payload
+
+import (
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/CityOfZion/neo-go/pkg/io"
+)
+
+// Ping payload for ping/pong payloads.
+type Ping struct {
+	// Index of the last block.
+	LastBlockIndex uint32
+	// Timestamp.
+	Timestamp      uint32
+	// Nonce of the server.
+	Nonce          uint32
+}
+
+// NewPing creates new Ping payload.
+func NewPing(blockIndex uint32, nonce uint32) *Ping {
+	return &Ping{
+		LastBlockIndex: blockIndex,
+		Timestamp:      uint32(time.Now().UTC().Unix()),
+		Nonce:          nonce,
+	}
+}
+
+// DecodeBinary implements Serializable interface.
+func (p *Ping) DecodeBinary(br *io.BinReader) {
+	p.LastBlockIndex = br.ReadU32LE()
+	p.Timestamp = br.ReadU32LE()
+	p.Nonce = br.ReadU32LE()
+}
+
+// EncodeBinary implements Serializable interface.
+func (p *Ping) EncodeBinary(bw *io.BinWriter) {
+	bw.WriteU32LE(p.LastBlockIndex)
+	bw.WriteU32LE(p.Timestamp)
+	bw.WriteU32LE(p.Nonce)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/network/payload/ping_test.go b/pkg/network/payload/ping_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c9f8678b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/network/payload/ping_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+package payload
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/CityOfZion/neo-go/pkg/io"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestEncodeDecodeBinary(t *testing.T) {
+	payload := NewPing(uint32(1), uint32(2))
+	assert.NotEqual(t, 0, payload.Timestamp)
+
+	bufBinWriter := io.NewBufBinWriter()
+	payload.EncodeBinary(bufBinWriter.BinWriter)
+	assert.Nil(t, bufBinWriter.Err)
+
+	binReader := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(bufBinWriter.Bytes())
+	decodedPing := &Ping{}
+	decodedPing.DecodeBinary(binReader)
+	assert.Nil(t, binReader.Err)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, uint32(1), decodedPing.LastBlockIndex)
+	assert.Equal(t, uint32(2), decodedPing.Nonce)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/network/peer.go b/pkg/network/peer.go
index f56beab01..2562153fd 100644
--- a/pkg/network/peer.go
+++ b/pkg/network/peer.go
@@ -21,9 +21,13 @@ type Peer interface {
 	WriteMsg(msg *Message) error
 	Done() chan error
 	Version() *payload.Version
+	LastBlockIndex() uint32
+	UpdateLastBlockIndex(lbIndex uint32)
 	Handshaked() bool
 	SendVersion(*Message) error
 	SendVersionAck(*Message) error
 	HandleVersion(*payload.Version) error
 	HandleVersionAck() error
+	GetPingSent() int
+	UpdatePingSent(int)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/network/server.go b/pkg/network/server.go
index b0b3eef89..72a37a7bc 100644
--- a/pkg/network/server.go
+++ b/pkg/network/server.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ const (
 	maxBlockBatch           = 200
 	maxAddrsToSend          = 200
 	minPoolCount            = 30
+	defaultPingLimit        = 4
 )
 
 var (
@@ -314,7 +315,7 @@ func (s *Server) startProtocol(p Peer) {
 		zap.Uint32("id", p.Version().Nonce))
 
 	s.discovery.RegisterGoodAddr(p.PeerAddr().String())
-	if s.chain.HeaderHeight() < p.Version().StartHeight {
+	if s.chain.HeaderHeight() < p.LastBlockIndex() {
 		err = s.requestHeaders(p)
 		if err != nil {
 			p.Disconnect(err)
@@ -323,6 +324,7 @@ func (s *Server) startProtocol(p Peer) {
 	}
 
 	timer := time.NewTimer(s.ProtoTickInterval)
+	pingTimer := time.NewTimer(s.PingTimeout)
 	for {
 		select {
 		case err = <-p.Done():
@@ -331,12 +333,31 @@ func (s *Server) startProtocol(p Peer) {
 			err = p.WriteMsg(m)
 		case <-timer.C:
 			// Try to sync in headers and block with the peer if his block height is higher then ours.
-			if p.Version().StartHeight > s.chain.BlockHeight() {
+			if p.LastBlockIndex() > s.chain.BlockHeight() {
 				err = s.requestBlocks(p)
 			}
 			if err == nil {
 				timer.Reset(s.ProtoTickInterval)
 			}
+			if s.chain.HeaderHeight() >= p.LastBlockIndex() {
+				block, errGetBlock := s.chain.GetBlock(s.chain.CurrentBlockHash())
+				if errGetBlock != nil {
+					err = errGetBlock
+				} else {
+					diff := uint32(time.Now().UTC().Unix()) - block.Timestamp
+					if diff > uint32(s.PingInterval/time.Second) {
+						p.UpdatePingSent(p.GetPingSent() + 1)
+						err = p.WriteMsg(NewMessage(s.Net, CMDPing, payload.NewPing(s.id, s.chain.HeaderHeight())))
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		case <-pingTimer.C:
+			if p.GetPingSent() > defaultPingLimit {
+				err = errors.New("ping/pong timeout")
+			} else {
+				pingTimer.Reset(s.PingTimeout)
+				p.UpdatePingSent(0)
+			}
 		}
 		if err != nil {
 			s.unregister <- peerDrop{p, err}
@@ -394,7 +415,7 @@ func (s *Server) handleHeadersCmd(p Peer, headers *payload.Headers) {
 	// The peer will respond with a maximum of 2000 headers in one batch.
 	// We will ask one more batch here if needed. Eventually we will get synced
 	// due to the startProtocol routine that will ask headers every protoTick.
-	if s.chain.HeaderHeight() < p.Version().StartHeight {
+	if s.chain.HeaderHeight() < p.LastBlockIndex() {
 		s.requestHeaders(p)
 	}
 }
@@ -404,6 +425,25 @@ func (s *Server) handleBlockCmd(p Peer, block *core.Block) error {
 	return s.bQueue.putBlock(block)
 }
 
+// handlePing processes ping request.
+func (s *Server) handlePing(p Peer, ping *payload.Ping) error {
+	return p.WriteMsg(NewMessage(s.Net, CMDPong, payload.NewPing(s.id, s.chain.BlockHeight())))
+}
+
+// handlePing processes pong request.
+func (s *Server) handlePong(p Peer, pong *payload.Ping) error {
+	pingSent := p.GetPingSent()
+	if pingSent == 0 {
+		return errors.New("pong message wasn't expected")
+	}
+	p.UpdatePingSent(pingSent - 1)
+	p.UpdateLastBlockIndex(pong.LastBlockIndex)
+	if s.chain.HeaderHeight() < pong.LastBlockIndex {
+		return s.requestHeaders(p)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // handleInvCmd processes the received inventory.
 func (s *Server) handleInvCmd(p Peer, inv *payload.Inventory) error {
 	reqHashes := make([]util.Uint256, 0)
@@ -640,6 +680,12 @@ func (s *Server) handleMessage(peer Peer, msg *Message) error {
 		case CMDTX:
 			tx := msg.Payload.(*transaction.Transaction)
 			return s.handleTxCmd(tx)
+		case CMDPing:
+			ping := msg.Payload.(*payload.Ping)
+			return s.handlePing(peer, ping)
+		case CMDPong:
+			pong := msg.Payload.(*payload.Ping)
+			return s.handlePong(peer, pong)
 		case CMDVersion, CMDVerack:
 			return fmt.Errorf("received '%s' after the handshake", msg.CommandType())
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/network/server_config.go b/pkg/network/server_config.go
index 0cfad7f7e..9362aa276 100644
--- a/pkg/network/server_config.go
+++ b/pkg/network/server_config.go
@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@ type (
 		// When this is 0, the default interval of 5 seconds will be used.
 		ProtoTickInterval time.Duration
 
+		// Interval used in pinging mechanism for syncing blocks.
+		PingInterval time.Duration
+		// Time to wait for pong(response for sent ping request).
+		PingTimeout time.Duration
+
 		// Level of the internal logger.
 		LogLevel zapcore.Level
 
@@ -83,6 +88,8 @@ func NewServerConfig(cfg config.Config) ServerConfig {
 		Seeds:             protoConfig.SeedList,
 		DialTimeout:       appConfig.DialTimeout * time.Second,
 		ProtoTickInterval: appConfig.ProtoTickInterval * time.Second,
+		PingInterval: 	   appConfig.PingInterval * time.Second,
+		PingTimeout: 	   appConfig.PingTimeout * time.Second,
 		MaxPeers:          appConfig.MaxPeers,
 		AttemptConnPeers:  appConfig.AttemptConnPeers,
 		MinPeers:          appConfig.MinPeers,
diff --git a/pkg/network/tcp_peer.go b/pkg/network/tcp_peer.go
index 78f10862b..b1dd94a82 100644
--- a/pkg/network/tcp_peer.go
+++ b/pkg/network/tcp_peer.go
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ type TCPPeer struct {
 
 	// The version of the peer.
 	version *payload.Version
+	// Index of the last block.
+	lastBlockIndex uint32
 
 	lock      sync.RWMutex
 	handShake handShakeStage
@@ -38,6 +40,9 @@ type TCPPeer struct {
 	done chan error
 
 	wg sync.WaitGroup
+
+	// number of sent pings.
+	pingSent int
 }
 
 // NewTCPPeer returns a TCPPeer structure based on the given connection.
@@ -103,6 +108,7 @@ func (p *TCPPeer) HandleVersion(version *payload.Version) error {
 		return errors.New("invalid handshake: already received Version")
 	}
 	p.version = version
+	p.lastBlockIndex = version.StartHeight
 	p.handShake |= versionReceived
 	return nil
 }
@@ -191,3 +197,31 @@ func (p *TCPPeer) Disconnect(err error) {
 func (p *TCPPeer) Version() *payload.Version {
 	return p.version
 }
+
+// LastBlockIndex returns last block index.
+func (p *TCPPeer) LastBlockIndex() uint32 {
+	p.lock.RLock()
+	defer p.lock.RUnlock()
+	return p.lastBlockIndex
+}
+
+// UpdateLastBlockIndex updates last block index.
+func (p *TCPPeer) UpdateLastBlockIndex(newIndex uint32) {
+	p.lock.Lock()
+	defer p.lock.Unlock()
+	p.lastBlockIndex = newIndex
+}
+
+// GetPingSent returns flag whether ping was sent or not.
+func (p *TCPPeer) GetPingSent() int {
+	p.lock.RLock()
+	defer p.lock.RUnlock()
+	return p.pingSent
+}
+
+// UpdatePingSent updates pingSent value.
+func (p *TCPPeer) UpdatePingSent(newValue int) {
+	p.lock.Lock()
+	defer p.lock.Unlock()
+	p.pingSent = newValue
+}