diff --git a/scripts/finalize_handover.py b/scripts/finalize_handover.py
index 620fe61e2..e407ce316 100644
--- a/scripts/finalize_handover.py
+++ b/scripts/finalize_handover.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 from deployment.utils import check_plugins
 
 
-def validate_handover_data(coordinator, ritual_id, departing_provider):
+def validate_handover_data(coordinator, ritual_id, departing_provider, incoming_provider=None):
     """Validate the handover data for the ritual."""
     handover_key = coordinator.getHandoverKey(ritual_id, departing_provider)
     handover = coordinator.handovers(handover_key)
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ def validate_handover_data(coordinator, ritual_id, departing_provider):
         HandoverTranscript.from_bytes(handover.transcript) is not None
     ), "Handover transcript should be valid"
 
+    if incoming_provider:
+        assert handover.incomingProvider.lower() == incoming_provider.lower(), "Incoming provider should match"
+
     ritual = coordinator.rituals(ritual_id)
     existing_aggregated_transcript = ritual.aggregatedTranscript
 
@@ -75,6 +78,13 @@ def validate_handover_data(coordinator, ritual_id, departing_provider):
     required=True,
     type=ChecksumAddress(),
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--incoming-provider",
+    "-ip",
+    help="The ethereum address of the incoming staking provider.",
+    required=True,
+    type=ChecksumAddress(),
+)
 @click.option(
     "--auto",
     help="Automatically sign transactions.",
@@ -86,6 +96,7 @@ def cli(
     network,
     ritual_id,
     departing_provider,
+    incoming_provider,
     auto,
 ):
     """Finalize the handover."""
diff --git a/scripts/request_handover.py b/scripts/request_handover.py
index f2786b939..7885b238b 100644
--- a/scripts/request_handover.py
+++ b/scripts/request_handover.py
@@ -9,6 +9,44 @@
 from deployment.types import ChecksumAddress
 from deployment.utils import check_plugins
 
+STATUS_ENDPOINT = "https://mainnet.nucypher.network:9151/status/?json=true"
+
+def check_incoming_provider(incoming_provider: str) -> bool:
+    """Checks if the incoming provider is active and has a valid status on the status endpoint."""
+    import requests
+
+    response = requests.get(STATUS_ENDPOINT, verify=False)
+    response.raise_for_status()
+    data = response.json()
+
+    for node_data in data["known_nodes"]:
+        if node_data["staker_address"].lower() == incoming_provider.lower():
+            url = node_data["rest_url"]
+            # let's ping the node's REST endpoint to check if it's active
+            try:
+                node_status_page = f"https://{url}/status/?json=true"
+                node_response = requests.get(node_status_page, verify=False)
+                node_response.raise_for_status()
+                node_status_data = node_response.json()
+
+                version = node_status_data["version"]
+                click.echo(f"Incoming provider {incoming_provider} is active with version {version}.")
+                if version.startswith("7.7") or version.startswith("7.6.1"):
+                    return True
+                else:
+                    click.echo(
+                        f"Incoming provider {incoming_provider} is running an incompatible version: {version}."
+                    )
+                    return False
+
+            except requests.RequestException as e:
+                click.echo(f"Error occurred while checking node status: {e}")
+                return False
+
+    else:
+        click.echo(f"Incoming provider {incoming_provider} is not active.")
+        return False
+    
 
 @click.command(cls=ConnectedProviderCommand, name="request-handover")
 @account_option()
@@ -55,6 +93,11 @@ def cli(
     check_plugins()
     click.echo(f"Connected to {network.name} network.")
 
+    # Check if incoming provider is active and has a valid status
+    if not check_incoming_provider(incoming_provider):
+        click.echo("Incoming provider is not active or has an invalid status. Aborting.")
+        return
+
     # Get the contracts from the registry
     coordinator_contract = registry.get_contract(domain=domain, contract_name="Coordinator")