diff --git a/applications/tari_validator_node/src/main.rs b/applications/tari_validator_node/src/main.rs
index 6ac845e2e28..c51c2084bb3 100644
--- a/applications/tari_validator_node/src/main.rs
+++ b/applications/tari_validator_node/src/main.rs
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ async fn run_node(config: GlobalConfig, create_id: bool) -> Result<(), ExitCodes
     )?;
     let db_factory = SqliteDbFactory::new(&config);
     let mempool_service = MempoolServiceHandle::default();
+
     info!(
         target: LOG_TARGET,
         "Node starting with pub key: {}, node_id: {}",
@@ -133,6 +134,8 @@ async fn run_node(config: GlobalConfig, create_id: bool) -> Result<(), ExitCodes
     let grpc_addr = SocketAddr::new(IpAddr::V4(Ipv4Addr::new(0, 0, 0, 0)), 18144);
 
     task::spawn(run_grpc(grpc_server, grpc_addr, shutdown.to_signal()));
+    println!("🚀 Validator node started!");
+    println!("{}", node_identity);
     run_dan_node(
         shutdown.to_signal(),
         config,
diff --git a/comms/src/peer_manager/node_identity.rs b/comms/src/peer_manager/node_identity.rs
index b319326b635..2b39ce70852 100644
--- a/comms/src/peer_manager/node_identity.rs
+++ b/comms/src/peer_manager/node_identity.rs
@@ -112,10 +112,19 @@ impl NodeIdentity {
         acquire_read_lock!(self.public_address).clone()
     }
 
-    /// Modify the public address. The account signature will be invalid
+    /// Modify the public address.
     pub fn set_public_address(&self, address: Multiaddr) {
-        *acquire_write_lock!(self.public_address) = address;
-        self.sign()
+        let mut must_sign = false;
+        {
+            let mut lock = acquire_write_lock!(self.public_address);
+            if *lock != address {
+                *lock = address;
+                must_sign = true;
+            }
+        }
+        if must_sign {
+            self.sign()
+        }
     }
 
     /// This returns a random NodeIdentity for testing purposes. This function can panic. If public_address