diff --git a/docs/running_availability_subnet.md b/docs/running_availability_subnet.md
index a39e384..4e33e95 100644
--- a/docs/running_availability_subnet.md
+++ b/docs/running_availability_subnet.md
@@ -14,12 +14,17 @@ Your incentive mechanisms running on the mainnet are open to anyone. They emit r
 
 ## Infrastructure requirements
 
-Network: Static ip address, open ports 9000 and 10000
-CPU: 2 cores
-RAM: 4 GB
-HDD: < 1 TB
-Connection: 30+Mbps, Stable and low-latency connection
-Software: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS / 22.04 LTS
+- Network
+  - recommended static ip address
+  - open ports for miner (default: 10000) and validator (default: 9000)
+  - 10+Mbps connection, Stable and low-latency connection
+- Hardware
+  - CPU: 2 cores
+  - RAM: 4 GB
+  - HDD: < 1 TB
+- Software
+  - OS: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS / 22.04 LTS
+  - Python: >=3.9.6, <3.12
 
 ## Steps
 
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index e84585c..1dccad3 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-cybertensor>=0.2.1
+cybertensor>=0.2.2
 torch
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/template/base/neuron.py b/template/base/neuron.py
index af43040..4312422 100644
--- a/template/base/neuron.py
+++ b/template/base/neuron.py
@@ -128,7 +128,6 @@ def sync(self):
         """
         # Ensure miner or validator hotkey is still registered on the network.
         self.check_registered()
-        self.metagraph.sync(cwtensor=self.cwtensor)
 
         if self.should_sync_metagraph():
             self.resync_metagraph()
@@ -155,6 +154,7 @@ def should_sync_metagraph(self):
         """
         Check if enough epoch blocks have elapsed since the last checkpoint to sync.
         """
+        self.metagraph.sync(cwtensor=self.cwtensor)
         return (
             self.block - self.metagraph.last_update[self.uid]
         ) > self.config.neuron.epoch_length
diff --git a/template/base/validator.py b/template/base/validator.py
index 6ba3f81..4764c9f 100644
--- a/template/base/validator.py
+++ b/template/base/validator.py
@@ -372,8 +372,12 @@ def load_state(self):
         ct.logging.debug(f"Loading validator state from the {self.config.neuron.full_path + '/state.pt'}.")
 
         # Load the state of the validator from file.
-        state = torch.load(self.config.neuron.full_path + "/state.pt")
-        self.step = state["step"]
-        self.scores = state["scores"]
-        self.hotkeys = state["hotkeys"]
-        ct.logging.debug(f"Loaded validator state\t step: {self.step}\t scores: {self.scores}")
+        try:
+            state = torch.load(self.config.neuron.full_path + "/state.pt")
+            self.step = state["step"]
+            self.scores = state["scores"]
+            self.hotkeys = state["hotkeys"]
+            ct.logging.debug(f"Loaded validator state\t step: {self.step}\t scores: {self.scores}")
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            self.step = 1
+            ct.logging.debug(f"Instantiated validator state\t step: {self.step}\t")