diff --git a/pkg/innerring/processors/settlement/calls.go b/pkg/innerring/processors/settlement/calls.go
index b4f44543e..33191662b 100644
--- a/pkg/innerring/processors/settlement/calls.go
+++ b/pkg/innerring/processors/settlement/calls.go
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ func (p *Processor) HandleAuditEvent(e event.Event) {
 
 	epoch := ev.Epoch()
 
+	if !p.state.IsAlphabet() {
+		p.log.Info("non alphabet mode, ignore audit payments")
+
+		return
+	}
+
 	log := &logger.Logger{Logger: p.log.With(
 		zap.Uint64("epoch", epoch),
 	)}