diff --git a/crates/ibc/src/client_state.rs b/crates/ibc/src/client_state.rs
index c564512..deb4c66 100644
--- a/crates/ibc/src/client_state.rs
+++ b/crates/ibc/src/client_state.rs
@@ -301,6 +301,9 @@ impl<const SYNC_COMMITTEE_SIZE: usize> Ics2ClientState for ClientState<SYNC_COMM
         consensus_state: Any,
     ) -> Result<Box<dyn Ics02ConsensusState>, ClientError> {
         self.validate()?;
+        if self.is_frozen() {
+            return Err(Error::CannotInitializeFrozenClient.into());
+        }
         let consensus_state = ConsensusState::try_from(consensus_state)?;
         consensus_state.validate()?;
         Ok(ConsensusState::into_box(consensus_state))
diff --git a/crates/ibc/src/errors.rs b/crates/ibc/src/errors.rs
index d50f9a7..1272333 100644
--- a/crates/ibc/src/errors.rs
+++ b/crates/ibc/src/errors.rs
@@ -111,6 +111,8 @@ pub enum Error {
     ProtoMissingFieldError(String),
     /// unknown message type: `{0}`
     UnknownMessageType(String),
+    /// cannot initialize frozen client
+    CannotInitializeFrozenClient,
 }
 
 impl Error {