diff --git a/nodemgr/daemon.go b/nodemgr/daemon.go
index 1599f83c..d52e72b0 100644
--- a/nodemgr/daemon.go
+++ b/nodemgr/daemon.go
@@ -535,8 +535,9 @@ func (d *Daemon) EpochUpdater(ctx context.Context) {
 	}
 	curRound := status.LastRound
 	epochRoundLength := uint64(App.retiClient.Info().Config.EpochRoundLength)
-	// let's not worry about each pool and its last payout - just get next immediate block number for epoch
-	stopAtRound := nextEpoch(curRound, epochRoundLength)
+	// First we need to see if we MISSED an epoch in ANY of our pools - across all of our pools determine which
+	// we need to stop at first (could be in past - which will be instant fallthrough in waitUntilBlock)
+	stopAtRound := d.getFirstEligibleEpochRound(curRound, epochRoundLength)
 
 	misc.Infof(d.logger, "at round:%d, with epoch length:%d, first epoch check at %d", curRound, epochRoundLength, stopAtRound)
 
@@ -557,7 +558,6 @@ func (d *Daemon) EpochUpdater(ctx context.Context) {
 				info = App.retiClient.Info()
 			)
 			for i, pool := range info.Pools {
-				appid := pool.PoolAppId
 				if _, found := info.LocalPools[uint64(i+1)]; !found {
 					continue
 				}
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ func (d *Daemon) EpochUpdater(ctx context.Context) {
 								misc.Infof(d.logger, "already ran epoch update for this epoch on pool:%d, round:%d", i+1, blockWaitResult.atRound)
 								return nil
 							}
-							err = App.retiClient.EpochBalanceUpdate(i+1, appid, signerAddr)
+							err = App.retiClient.EpochBalanceUpdate(i+1, pool.PoolAppId, signerAddr)
 							if err != nil {
 								// Assume epoch update failed because it's just 'slightly' too early?
 								return repeat.HintTemporary(fmt.Errorf("epoch balance update failed for pool app id:%d, err:%w", i+1, err))
@@ -650,6 +650,24 @@ func (d *Daemon) waitUntilBlock(ctx context.Context, round uint64) chan BlockOrE
 	return chReturn
 }
 
+func (d *Daemon) getFirstEligibleEpochRound(curRound uint64, epochRoundLength uint64) uint64 {
+	var (
+		info               = App.retiClient.Info()
+		curRoundEpochStart = curRound - (curRound % epochRoundLength)
+		earliestEpochToUse = curRoundEpochStart
+	)
+	for i, pool := range info.Pools {
+		if _, found := info.LocalPools[uint64(i+1)]; !found {
+			continue
+		}
+		lastPayout, err := App.retiClient.GetLastPayout(pool.PoolAppId)
+		if err == nil {
+			earliestEpochToUse = min(earliestEpochToUse, nextEpoch(lastPayout, epochRoundLength))
+		}
+	}
+	return earliestEpochToUse
+}
+
 // accountHasAtLeast checks if an account has at least a certain amount of microAlgos (spendable)
 // Errors are just treated as failures
 func accountHasAtLeast(ctx context.Context, algoClient *algod.Client, accountAddr string, microAlgos uint64) bool {
diff --git a/nodemgr/internal/lib/reti/stakingpool.go b/nodemgr/internal/lib/reti/stakingpool.go
index 289f9448..d63552a2 100644
--- a/nodemgr/internal/lib/reti/stakingpool.go
+++ b/nodemgr/internal/lib/reti/stakingpool.go
@@ -127,8 +127,14 @@ func (r *Reti) EpochBalanceUpdate(poolID int, poolAppID uint64, caller types.Add
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get algod status at start: %w", err)
 	}
-
-	misc.Infof(r.Logger, "[EpochBalanceUpdate] pool:%d epoch update at round:%d for app id:%d, avail rewards:%s", poolID, status.LastRound, poolAppID, algo.FormattedAlgoAmount(rewardAvail))
+	var epochStr string
+	epochStart := status.LastRound - status.LastRound%uint64(info.Config.EpochRoundLength)
+	if epochStart != status.LastRound {
+		epochStr = fmt.Sprintf("round:%d [EpochStart:%d]", status.LastRound, epochStart)
+	} else {
+		epochStr = fmt.Sprintf("EpochStart:%d", epochStart)
+	}
+	misc.Infof(r.Logger, "[EpochBalanceUpdate] pool:%d epoch update at %s for app id:%d, avail rewards:%s", poolID, epochStr, poolAppID, algo.FormattedAlgoAmount(rewardAvail))
 
 	params, err := r.algoClient.SuggestedParams().Do(context.Background())
 	if err != nil {