diff --git a/substrate/client/consensus/aura/src/import_queue.rs b/substrate/client/consensus/aura/src/import_queue.rs
index 31fe7bbaa1..90f15fef1b 100644
--- a/substrate/client/consensus/aura/src/import_queue.rs
+++ b/substrate/client/consensus/aura/src/import_queue.rs
@@ -225,15 +225,16 @@ where
 
 					inherent_data.aura_replace_inherent_data(slot);
 
-					// skip the inherents verification if the runtime API is old.
-					if self
-						.client
-						.runtime_api()
-						.has_api_with::<dyn BlockBuilderApi<B>, _>(
-							&BlockId::Hash(parent_hash),
-							|v| v >= 2,
-						)
-						.map_err(|e| e.to_string())?
+					// skip the inherents verification if the runtime API is old or not expected to
+					// exist.
+					if !block.state_action.skip_execution_checks() &&
+						self.client
+							.runtime_api()
+							.has_api_with::<dyn BlockBuilderApi<B>, _>(
+								&BlockId::Hash(parent_hash),
+								|v| v >= 2,
+							)
+							.map_err(|e| e.to_string())?
 					{
 						self.check_inherents(
 							new_block.clone(),
diff --git a/substrate/client/consensus/babe/src/lib.rs b/substrate/client/consensus/babe/src/lib.rs
index 198de865bb..eca6654f6e 100644
--- a/substrate/client/consensus/babe/src/lib.rs
+++ b/substrate/client/consensus/babe/src/lib.rs
@@ -1237,24 +1237,26 @@ where
 					warn!(target: "babe", "Error checking/reporting BABE equivocation: {}", err);
 				}
 
-				// if the body is passed through, we need to use the runtime
-				// to check that the internally-set timestamp in the inherents
-				// actually matches the slot set in the seal.
 				if let Some(inner_body) = block.body {
-					let mut inherent_data = create_inherent_data_providers
-						.create_inherent_data()
-						.map_err(Error::<Block>::CreateInherents)?;
-					inherent_data.babe_replace_inherent_data(slot);
 					let new_block = Block::new(pre_header.clone(), inner_body);
+					if !block.state_action.skip_execution_checks() {
+						// if the body is passed through and the block was executed,
+						// we need to use the runtime to check that the internally-set
+						// timestamp in the inherents actually matches the slot set in the seal.
+						let mut inherent_data = create_inherent_data_providers
+							.create_inherent_data()
+							.map_err(Error::<Block>::CreateInherents)?;
+						inherent_data.babe_replace_inherent_data(slot);
 
-					self.check_inherents(
-						new_block.clone(),
-						BlockId::Hash(parent_hash),
-						inherent_data,
-						create_inherent_data_providers,
-						block.origin.into(),
-					)
-					.await?;
+						self.check_inherents(
+							new_block.clone(),
+							BlockId::Hash(parent_hash),
+							inherent_data,
+							create_inherent_data_providers,
+							block.origin.into(),
+						)
+						.await?;
+					}
 
 					let (_, inner_body) = new_block.deconstruct();
 					block.body = Some(inner_body);
diff --git a/substrate/client/consensus/common/src/block_import.rs b/substrate/client/consensus/common/src/block_import.rs
index 10739f63ef..b8fc815cc5 100644
--- a/substrate/client/consensus/common/src/block_import.rs
+++ b/substrate/client/consensus/common/src/block_import.rs
@@ -153,6 +153,18 @@ pub enum StateAction<Block: BlockT, Transaction> {
 	Skip,
 }
 
+impl<Block: BlockT, Transaction> StateAction<Block, Transaction> {
+	/// Check if execution checks that require runtime calls should be skipped.
+	pub fn skip_execution_checks(&self) -> bool {
+		match self {
+			StateAction::ApplyChanges(_) |
+			StateAction::Execute |
+			StateAction::ExecuteIfPossible => false,
+			StateAction::Skip => true,
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 /// Data required to import a Block.
 #[non_exhaustive]
 pub struct BlockImportParams<Block: BlockT, Transaction> {
diff --git a/substrate/client/consensus/pow/src/lib.rs b/substrate/client/consensus/pow/src/lib.rs
index 6c492931d4..9b3ef501d2 100644
--- a/substrate/client/consensus/pow/src/lib.rs
+++ b/substrate/client/consensus/pow/src/lib.rs
@@ -341,15 +341,17 @@ where
 		if let Some(inner_body) = block.body.take() {
 			let check_block = B::new(block.header.clone(), inner_body);
 
-			self.check_inherents(
-				check_block.clone(),
-				BlockId::Hash(parent_hash),
-				self.create_inherent_data_providers
-					.create_inherent_data_providers(parent_hash, ())
-					.await?,
-				block.origin.into(),
-			)
-			.await?;
+			if !block.state_action.skip_execution_checks() {
+				self.check_inherents(
+					check_block.clone(),
+					BlockId::Hash(parent_hash),
+					self.create_inherent_data_providers
+						.create_inherent_data_providers(parent_hash, ())
+						.await?,
+					block.origin.into(),
+				)
+				.await?;
+			}
 
 			block.body = Some(check_block.deconstruct().1);
 		}