diff --git a/src/net.cpp b/src/net.cpp
index 48e9e10157397..be00b2d3d4678 100644
--- a/src/net.cpp
+++ b/src/net.cpp
@@ -1941,8 +1941,10 @@ void StartNode(boost::thread_group& threadGroup, CScheduler& scheduler)
         CAddrDB adb;
         if (adb.Read(addrman))
             LogPrintf("Loaded %i addresses from peers.dat  %dms\n", addrman.size(), GetTimeMillis() - nStart);
-        else
+        else {
             LogPrintf("Invalid or missing peers.dat; recreating\n");
+            DumpAddresses();
+        }
     }
 
     uiInterface.InitMessage(_("Loading banlist..."));
@@ -1957,8 +1959,11 @@ void StartNode(boost::thread_group& threadGroup, CScheduler& scheduler)
 
         LogPrint("net", "Loaded %d banned node ips/subnets from banlist.dat  %dms\n",
             banmap.size(), GetTimeMillis() - nStart);
-    } else
+    } else {
         LogPrintf("Invalid or missing banlist.dat; recreating\n");
+        CNode::SetBannedSetDirty(true); // force write
+        DumpBanlist();
+    }
 
     fAddressesInitialized = true;