diff --git a/ci/test/06_script_b.sh b/ci/test/06_script_b.sh
index 369da6c76482f..292174c90bb7b 100755
--- a/ci/test/06_script_b.sh
+++ b/ci/test/06_script_b.sh
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ if [ "${RUN_TIDY}" = "true" ]; then
            src/kernel \
            src/node/blockmanager_args.cpp \
            src/node/chainstate.cpp \
+           src/node/chainstatemanager_notifications.cpp \
            src/node/chainstatemanager_args.cpp \
            src/node/mempool_args.cpp \
            src/node/minisketchwrapper.cpp \
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 9e1fab869d6ba..cdee6b1c175e9 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ BITCOIN_CORE_H = \
   compat/compat.h \
   compat/cpuid.h \
   compat/endian.h \
+  common/system.h \
   compressor.h \
   consensus/consensus.h \
   consensus/tx_check.h \
@@ -207,6 +208,7 @@ BITCOIN_CORE_H = \
   node/caches.h \
   node/chainstate.h \
   node/chainstatemanager_args.h \
+  node/chainstatemanager_notifications.h \
   node/coin.h \
   node/coins_view_args.h \
   node/connection_types.h \
@@ -277,6 +279,7 @@ BITCOIN_CORE_H = \
   txrequest.h \
   undo.h \
   util/asmap.h \
+  util/batchpriority.h \
   util/bip32.h \
   util/bitdeque.h \
   util/bytevectorhash.h \
@@ -308,7 +311,6 @@ BITCOIN_CORE_H = \
   util/string.h \
   util/syscall_sandbox.h \
   util/syserror.h \
-  util/system.h \
   util/thread.h \
   util/threadinterrupt.h \
   util/threadnames.h \
@@ -399,6 +401,7 @@ libbitcoin_node_a_SOURCES = \
   node/caches.cpp \
   node/chainstate.cpp \
   node/chainstatemanager_args.cpp \
+  node/chainstatemanager_notifications.cpp \
   node/coin.cpp \
   node/coins_view_args.cpp \
   node/connection_types.cpp \
@@ -655,6 +658,7 @@ libbitcoin_common_a_SOURCES = \
   common/init.cpp \
   common/interfaces.cpp \
   common/run_command.cpp \
+  common/system.cpp \
   compressor.cpp \
   core_read.cpp \
   core_write.cpp \
@@ -706,6 +710,7 @@ libbitcoin_util_a_SOURCES = \
   support/cleanse.cpp \
   sync.cpp \
   util/asmap.cpp \
+  util/batchpriority.cpp \
   util/bip32.cpp \
   util/bytevectorhash.cpp \
   util/chaintype.cpp \
@@ -719,7 +724,6 @@ libbitcoin_util_a_SOURCES = \
   util/hasher.cpp \
   util/sock.cpp \
   util/syserror.cpp \
-  util/system.cpp \
   util/message.cpp \
   util/moneystr.cpp \
   util/rbf.cpp \
@@ -930,7 +934,6 @@ libbitcoinkernel_la_SOURCES = \
   logging.cpp \
   node/blockstorage.cpp \
   node/chainstate.cpp \
-  node/interface_ui.cpp \
   node/utxo_snapshot.cpp \
   policy/feerate.cpp \
   policy/fees.cpp \
@@ -958,6 +961,7 @@ libbitcoinkernel_la_SOURCES = \
   txdb.cpp \
   txmempool.cpp \
   uint256.cpp \
+  util/batchpriority.cpp \
   util/chaintype.cpp \
   util/check.cpp \
   util/exception.cpp \
@@ -973,7 +977,6 @@ libbitcoinkernel_la_SOURCES = \
   util/string.cpp \
   util/syscall_sandbox.cpp \
   util/syserror.cpp \
-  util/system.cpp \
   util/thread.cpp \
   util/threadnames.cpp \
   util/time.cpp \
diff --git a/src/banman.cpp b/src/banman.cpp
index 5b2049d654813..a96b7e3c536c0 100644
--- a/src/banman.cpp
+++ b/src/banman.cpp
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@
 
 #include <banman.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <logging.h>
 #include <netaddress.h>
 #include <node/interface_ui.h>
 #include <sync.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 
diff --git a/src/bench/checkqueue.cpp b/src/bench/checkqueue.cpp
index 8ad6fde6bffef..70e0b86ebaa1c 100644
--- a/src/bench/checkqueue.cpp
+++ b/src/bench/checkqueue.cpp
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@
 
 #include <bench/bench.h>
 #include <checkqueue.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <key.h>
 #include <prevector.h>
 #include <pubkey.h>
 #include <random.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <vector>
 
diff --git a/src/bitcoin-chainstate.cpp b/src/bitcoin-chainstate.cpp
index 16c3bfb708137..b0291d3da387e 100644
--- a/src/bitcoin-chainstate.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoin-chainstate.cpp
@@ -86,6 +86,13 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
         .chainparams = *chainparams,
         .datadir = gArgs.GetDataDirNet(),
         .adjusted_time_callback = NodeClock::now,
+        .notification_callbacks = ChainstateManager::NotificationCallbacks{
+            .notify_block_tip = [](SynchronizationState state, CBlockIndex* index) { std::cout << "Block tip changed" << std::endl; },
+            .notify_header_tip = [](SynchronizationState, int64_t height, int64_t timestamp, bool presync) { std::cout << "Header tip changed: " << height << ", " << timestamp << ", " << presync << std::endl; },
+            .show_progress = [](const std::string& title, int nProgress, bool resume_possible) { std::cout << "Progress: " << title << ", " << nProgress << ", " << resume_possible << std::endl; },
+            .do_warning = [](const bilingual_str& warning) { std::cout << "Warning: " << warning.original << std::endl; },
+            .init_error = [](const bilingual_str& user_message) { std::cout << "Init error: " << user_message.original << std::endl; },
+        },
     };
     const node::BlockManager::Options blockman_opts{
         .chainparams = chainman_opts.chainparams,
diff --git a/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp b/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp
index 48dc11b95a564..45db7a9a66cb1 100644
--- a/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <chainparamsbase.h>
 #include <clientversion.h>
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <common/url.h>
 #include <compat/compat.h>
 #include <compat/stdin.h>
@@ -23,7 +24,6 @@
 #include <util/chaintype.h>
 #include <util/exception.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 
diff --git a/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp b/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
index e291f20a11cfb..0c25ddf3738b8 100644
--- a/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <clientversion.h>
 #include <coins.h>
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <compat/compat.h>
 #include <consensus/amount.h>
 #include <consensus/consensus.h>
@@ -27,7 +28,6 @@
 #include <util/rbf.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 
 #include <cstdio>
diff --git a/src/bitcoin-util.cpp b/src/bitcoin-util.cpp
index f62a9f7bbfb00..582c18c9c6024 100644
--- a/src/bitcoin-util.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoin-util.cpp
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@
 #include <chainparamsbase.h>
 #include <clientversion.h>
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <compat/compat.h>
 #include <core_io.h>
 #include <streams.h>
 #include <util/exception.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 #include <version.h>
 
diff --git a/src/bitcoin-wallet.cpp b/src/bitcoin-wallet.cpp
index 1863173aa8838..d5dfbbec2713a 100644
--- a/src/bitcoin-wallet.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoin-wallet.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <chainparamsbase.h>
 #include <clientversion.h>
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <common/url.h>
 #include <compat/compat.h>
 #include <interfaces/init.h>
@@ -18,7 +19,6 @@
 #include <pubkey.h>
 #include <tinyformat.h>
 #include <util/exception.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 #include <wallet/wallettool.h>
 
diff --git a/src/bitcoind.cpp b/src/bitcoind.cpp
index e476b06017428..aefb130e9c50d 100644
--- a/src/bitcoind.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoind.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include <clientversion.h>
 #include <common/args.h>
 #include <common/init.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <common/url.h>
 #include <compat/compat.h>
 #include <init.h>
@@ -25,7 +26,6 @@
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
 #include <util/syscall_sandbox.h>
 #include <util/syserror.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/threadnames.h>
 #include <util/tokenpipe.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
diff --git a/src/blockencodings.cpp b/src/blockencodings.cpp
index a29e4f794e901..9aa0a6ba2042f 100644
--- a/src/blockencodings.cpp
+++ b/src/blockencodings.cpp
@@ -3,16 +3,16 @@
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
 #include <blockencodings.h>
+#include <chainparams.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/consensus.h>
 #include <consensus/validation.h>
-#include <chainparams.h>
 #include <crypto/sha256.h>
 #include <crypto/siphash.h>
 #include <random.h>
 #include <streams.h>
 #include <txmempool.h>
 #include <validation.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <unordered_map>
 
diff --git a/src/util/system.cpp b/src/common/system.cpp
similarity index 85%
rename from src/util/system.cpp
rename to src/common/system.cpp
index 598e6adb88621..1d1c5fa56ad58 100644
--- a/src/util/system.cpp
+++ b/src/common/system.cpp
@@ -3,20 +3,13 @@
 // Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
-#include <util/system.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 
 #include <logging.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
-#include <util/syserror.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 
-#if (defined(__FreeBSD__) || defined(__OpenBSD__) || defined(__DragonFly__))
-#include <pthread.h>
-#include <pthread_np.h>
-#endif
-
 #ifndef WIN32
-#include <sched.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #else
 #include <codecvt>
@@ -112,14 +105,3 @@ int64_t GetStartupTime()
 {
     return nStartupTime;
 }
-
-void ScheduleBatchPriority()
-{
-#ifdef SCHED_BATCH
-    const static sched_param param{};
-    const int rc = pthread_setschedparam(pthread_self(), SCHED_BATCH, &param);
-    if (rc != 0) {
-        LogPrintf("Failed to pthread_setschedparam: %s\n", SysErrorString(rc));
-    }
-#endif
-}
diff --git a/src/util/system.h b/src/common/system.h
similarity index 84%
rename from src/util/system.h
rename to src/common/system.h
index e2fc3450f695d..153e8aef5407c 100644
--- a/src/util/system.h
+++ b/src/common/system.h
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 // Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
-#ifndef BITCOIN_UTIL_SYSTEM_H
-#define BITCOIN_UTIL_SYSTEM_H
+#ifndef BITCOIN_COMMON_SYSTEM_H
+#define BITCOIN_COMMON_SYSTEM_H
 
 #if defined(HAVE_CONFIG_H)
 #include <config/bitcoin-config.h>
@@ -36,13 +36,6 @@ void runCommand(const std::string& strCommand);
  */
 int GetNumCores();
 
-/**
- * On platforms that support it, tell the kernel the calling thread is
- * CPU-intensive and non-interactive. See SCHED_BATCH in sched(7) for details.
- *
- */
-void ScheduleBatchPriority();
-
 namespace util {
 
 //! Simplification of std insertion
@@ -69,4 +62,4 @@ T* AnyPtr(const std::any& any) noexcept
 
 } // namespace util
 
-#endif // BITCOIN_UTIL_SYSTEM_H
+#endif // BITCOIN_COMMON_SYSTEM_H
diff --git a/src/core_write.cpp b/src/core_write.cpp
index b0e3b0b3c43c0..54ca306f60198 100644
--- a/src/core_write.cpp
+++ b/src/core_write.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include <core_io.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/amount.h>
 #include <consensus/consensus.h>
 #include <consensus/validation.h>
@@ -17,7 +18,6 @@
 #include <univalue.h>
 #include <util/check.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <map>
 #include <string>
diff --git a/src/external_signer.h b/src/external_signer.h
index 90f07478e3e2b..81a601811a6df 100644
--- a/src/external_signer.h
+++ b/src/external_signer.h
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 #ifndef BITCOIN_EXTERNAL_SIGNER_H
 #define BITCOIN_EXTERNAL_SIGNER_H
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <univalue.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index 52c5780ed4e6e..697d5e0d80df2 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include <chainparams.h>
 #include <chainparamsbase.h>
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/amount.h>
 #include <deploymentstatus.h>
 #include <hash.h>
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@
 #include <node/caches.h>
 #include <node/chainstate.h>
 #include <node/chainstatemanager_args.h>
+#include <node/chainstatemanager_notifications.h>
 #include <node/context.h>
 #include <node/interface_ui.h>
 #include <node/mempool_args.h>
@@ -79,13 +81,13 @@
 #include <util/string.h>
 #include <util/syscall_sandbox.h>
 #include <util/syserror.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/thread.h>
 #include <util/threadnames.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 #include <validation.h>
 #include <validationinterface.h>
 #include <walletinitinterface.h>
+#include <warnings.h>
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <condition_variable>
@@ -122,6 +124,7 @@ using node::CacheSizes;
 using node::CalculateCacheSizes;
 using node::DEFAULT_PERSIST_MEMPOOL;
 using node::DEFAULT_PRINTPRIORITY;
+using node::DefaultChainstateManagerNotifications;
 using node::fReindex;
 using node::LoadChainstate;
 using node::MempoolPath;
@@ -1445,13 +1448,16 @@ bool AppInitMain(NodeContext& node, interfaces::BlockAndHeaderTipInfo* tip_info)
         .chainparams = chainparams,
         .datadir = args.GetDataDirNet(),
         .adjusted_time_callback = GetAdjustedTime,
+        .notification_callbacks = DefaultChainstateManagerNotifications(),
     };
     Assert(!ApplyArgsManOptions(args, chainman_opts)); // no error can happen, already checked in AppInitParameterInteraction
 
     BlockManager::Options blockman_opts{
         .chainparams = chainman_opts.chainparams,
         .blocks_dir = args.GetBlocksDirPath(),
-    };
+        .init_error_callback = [](const bilingual_str& user_message) {
+            InitError(user_message);
+        }};
     Assert(!ApplyArgsManOptions(args, blockman_opts)); // no error can happen, already checked in AppInitParameterInteraction
 
     // cache size calculations
diff --git a/src/ipc/interfaces.cpp b/src/ipc/interfaces.cpp
index d804d9d291fb8..e446cc98db518 100644
--- a/src/ipc/interfaces.cpp
+++ b/src/ipc/interfaces.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <interfaces/init.h>
 #include <interfaces/ipc.h>
 #include <ipc/capnp/protocol.h>
@@ -10,7 +11,6 @@
 #include <logging.h>
 #include <tinyformat.h>
 #include <util/fs.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <cstdio>
 #include <cstdlib>
diff --git a/src/kernel/blockmanager_opts.h b/src/kernel/blockmanager_opts.h
index 8f26422f72c3c..f6cfebd5807f9 100644
--- a/src/kernel/blockmanager_opts.h
+++ b/src/kernel/blockmanager_opts.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #define BITCOIN_KERNEL_BLOCKMANAGER_OPTS_H
 
 #include <util/fs.h>
+#include <util/translation.h>
 
 #include <cstdint>
 
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ struct BlockManagerOpts {
     bool fast_prune{false};
     bool stop_after_block_import{DEFAULT_STOPAFTERBLOCKIMPORT};
     const fs::path blocks_dir;
+    const std::function<void(const bilingual_str& str)> init_error_callback;
 };
 
 } // namespace kernel
diff --git a/src/kernel/chainstatemanager_opts.h b/src/kernel/chainstatemanager_opts.h
index 2395f60164566..6acf6db06f3a7 100644
--- a/src/kernel/chainstatemanager_opts.h
+++ b/src/kernel/chainstatemanager_opts.h
@@ -15,13 +15,29 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <optional>
 
+class CBlockIndex;
 class CChainParams;
+enum class SynchronizationState;
 
 static constexpr bool DEFAULT_CHECKPOINTS_ENABLED{true};
 static constexpr auto DEFAULT_MAX_TIP_AGE{24h};
 
 namespace kernel {
 
+/**
+ * A struct containing callback functions to issue notifications from the
+ * `ChainstateManager`. More ergonomically referred to as
+ * `ChainstateManager::NotificationCallbacks` due to the using-declaration in
+ * `ChainstateManager`.
+ */
+struct ChainstateManagerNotificationCallbacks {
+    const std::function<void(SynchronizationState state, CBlockIndex* index)> notify_block_tip;
+    const std::function<void(SynchronizationState state, int64_t height, int64_t timestamp, bool presync)> notify_header_tip;
+    const std::function<void(const std::string& title, int nProgress, bool resume_possible)> show_progress;
+    const std::function<void(const bilingual_str& warning)> do_warning;
+    const std::function<void(const bilingual_str& user_message)> init_error;
+};
+
 /**
  * An options struct for `ChainstateManager`, more ergonomically referred to as
  * `ChainstateManager::Options` due to the using-declaration in
@@ -42,6 +58,8 @@ struct ChainstateManagerOpts {
     DBOptions block_tree_db{};
     DBOptions coins_db{};
     CoinsViewOptions coins_view{};
+
+    const ChainstateManagerNotificationCallbacks notification_callbacks;
 };
 
 } // namespace kernel
diff --git a/src/mapport.cpp b/src/mapport.cpp
index 994fd12cf5068..76f8a4d0c9135 100644
--- a/src/mapport.cpp
+++ b/src/mapport.cpp
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@
 #include <mapport.h>
 
 #include <clientversion.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <logging.h>
 #include <net.h>
 #include <netaddress.h>
 #include <netbase.h>
 #include <util/syscall_sandbox.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/thread.h>
 #include <util/threadinterrupt.h>
 
diff --git a/src/net_permissions.cpp b/src/net_permissions.cpp
index f829e56aa2806..1e4ec5b529ce8 100644
--- a/src/net_permissions.cpp
+++ b/src/net_permissions.cpp
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 // Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <net_permissions.h>
 #include <netbase.h>
 #include <util/error.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 
 const std::vector<std::string> NET_PERMISSIONS_DOC{
diff --git a/src/node/blockstorage.cpp b/src/node/blockstorage.cpp
index 65dac459c55b8..bf657ba8cac3b 100644
--- a/src/node/blockstorage.cpp
+++ b/src/node/blockstorage.cpp
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@
 #include <signet.h>
 #include <streams.h>
 #include <undo.h>
+#include <util/batchpriority.h>
 #include <util/fs.h>
 #include <util/syscall_sandbox.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <validation.h>
 
 #include <map>
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ void BlockManager::FlushUndoFile(int block_file, bool finalize)
 {
     FlatFilePos undo_pos_old(block_file, m_blockfile_info[block_file].nUndoSize);
     if (!UndoFileSeq().Flush(undo_pos_old, finalize)) {
-        AbortNode("Flushing undo file to disk failed. This is likely the result of an I/O error.");
+        AbortNode("Flushing undo file to disk failed. This is likely the result of an I/O error.", m_opts.init_error_callback);
     }
 }
 
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ void BlockManager::FlushBlockFile(bool fFinalize, bool finalize_undo)
 
     FlatFilePos block_pos_old(m_last_blockfile, m_blockfile_info[m_last_blockfile].nSize);
     if (!BlockFileSeq().Flush(block_pos_old, fFinalize)) {
-        AbortNode("Flushing block file to disk failed. This is likely the result of an I/O error.");
+        AbortNode("Flushing block file to disk failed. This is likely the result of an I/O error.", m_opts.init_error_callback);
     }
     // we do not always flush the undo file, as the chain tip may be lagging behind the incoming blocks,
     // e.g. during IBD or a sync after a node going offline
@@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ bool BlockManager::FindBlockPos(FlatFilePos& pos, unsigned int nAddSize, unsigne
         bool out_of_space;
         size_t bytes_allocated = BlockFileSeq().Allocate(pos, nAddSize, out_of_space);
         if (out_of_space) {
-            return AbortNode("Disk space is too low!", _("Disk space is too low!"));
+            return AbortNode("Disk space is too low!", m_opts.init_error_callback, _("Disk space is too low!"));
         }
         if (bytes_allocated != 0 && IsPruneMode()) {
             m_check_for_pruning = true;
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ bool BlockManager::FindUndoPos(BlockValidationState& state, int nFile, FlatFileP
     bool out_of_space;
     size_t bytes_allocated = UndoFileSeq().Allocate(pos, nAddSize, out_of_space);
     if (out_of_space) {
-        return AbortNode(state, "Disk space is too low!", _("Disk space is too low!"));
+        return AbortNode(state, "Disk space is too low!", m_opts.init_error_callback, _("Disk space is too low!"));
     }
     if (bytes_allocated != 0 && IsPruneMode()) {
         m_check_for_pruning = true;
@@ -724,7 +724,7 @@ bool BlockManager::WriteUndoDataForBlock(const CBlockUndo& blockundo, BlockValid
             return error("ConnectBlock(): FindUndoPos failed");
         }
         if (!UndoWriteToDisk(blockundo, _pos, block.pprev->GetBlockHash(), GetParams().MessageStart())) {
-            return AbortNode(state, "Failed to write undo data");
+            return AbortNode(state, "Failed to write undo data", m_opts.init_error_callback);
         }
         // rev files are written in block height order, whereas blk files are written as blocks come in (often out of order)
         // we want to flush the rev (undo) file once we've written the last block, which is indicated by the last height
@@ -842,7 +842,7 @@ FlatFilePos BlockManager::SaveBlockToDisk(const CBlock& block, int nHeight, CCha
     }
     if (!position_known) {
         if (!WriteBlockToDisk(block, blockPos, GetParams().MessageStart())) {
-            AbortNode("Failed to write block");
+            AbortNode("Failed to write block", m_opts.init_error_callback);
             return FlatFilePos();
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/node/blockstorage.h b/src/node/blockstorage.h
index bce071c7df863..3eaf5a07b838c 100644
--- a/src/node/blockstorage.h
+++ b/src/node/blockstorage.h
@@ -154,7 +154,10 @@ class BlockManager
 
     explicit BlockManager(Options opts)
         : m_prune_mode{opts.prune_target > 0},
-          m_opts{std::move(opts)} {};
+          m_opts{std::move(opts)}
+    {
+        assert(m_opts.init_error_callback);
+    };
 
     std::atomic<bool> m_importing{false};
 
diff --git a/src/node/chainstate.cpp b/src/node/chainstate.cpp
index 40b609d0691a4..94f0d83b91f74 100644
--- a/src/node/chainstate.cpp
+++ b/src/node/chainstate.cpp
@@ -200,14 +200,17 @@ ChainstateLoadResult LoadChainstate(ChainstateManager& chainman, const CacheSize
     // snapshot is actually validated? Because this entails unusual
     // filesystem operations to move leveldb data directories around, and that seems
     // too risky to do in the middle of normal runtime.
-    auto snapshot_completion = chainman.MaybeCompleteSnapshotValidation();
+    auto snapshot_completion = chainman.MaybeCompleteSnapshotValidation(
+        [&init_error = chainman.GetInitErrorCb()](bilingual_str msg) {
+            AbortNode(msg.original, init_error, msg);
+        });
 
     if (snapshot_completion == SnapshotCompletionResult::SKIPPED) {
         // do nothing; expected case
     } else if (snapshot_completion == SnapshotCompletionResult::SUCCESS) {
         LogPrintf("[snapshot] cleaning up unneeded background chainstate, then reinitializing\n");
         if (!chainman.ValidatedSnapshotCleanup()) {
-            AbortNode("Background chainstate cleanup failed unexpectedly.");
+            AbortNode("Background chainstate cleanup failed unexpectedly.", chainman.GetInitErrorCb());
         }
 
         // Because ValidatedSnapshotCleanup() has torn down chainstates with
@@ -253,10 +256,7 @@ ChainstateLoadResult VerifyLoadedChainstate(ChainstateManager& chainman, const C
                                                          "Only rebuild the block database if you are sure that your computer's date and time are correct")};
             }
 
-            VerifyDBResult result = CVerifyDB().VerifyDB(
-                *chainstate, chainman.GetConsensus(), chainstate->CoinsDB(),
-                options.check_level,
-                options.check_blocks);
+            VerifyDBResult result = CVerifyDB(chainman.GetShowProgressCb()).VerifyDB(*chainstate, chainman.GetConsensus(), chainstate->CoinsDB(), options.check_level, options.check_blocks);
             switch (result) {
             case VerifyDBResult::SUCCESS:
             case VerifyDBResult::SKIPPED_MISSING_BLOCKS:
diff --git a/src/node/chainstatemanager_notifications.cpp b/src/node/chainstatemanager_notifications.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..af5e09152a387
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/node/chainstatemanager_notifications.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2023 The Bitcoin Core developers
+// Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
+// file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
+
+#include <node/chainstatemanager_notifications.h>
+
+#if defined(HAVE_CONFIG_H)
+#include <config/bitcoin-config.h>
+#endif
+
+#include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
+#include <kernel/chainstatemanager_opts.h>
+#include <node/interface_ui.h>
+#include <util/strencodings.h>
+#include <util/string.h>
+#include <util/translation.h>
+#include <warnings.h>
+
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <functional>
+#include <string>
+#include <thread>
+
+using kernel::ChainstateManagerNotificationCallbacks;
+
+class CBlockIndex;
+
+namespace node {
+
+static void AlertNotify(const std::string& strMessage)
+{
+    uiInterface.NotifyAlertChanged();
+#if HAVE_SYSTEM
+    std::string strCmd = gArgs.GetArg("-alertnotify", "");
+    if (strCmd.empty()) return;
+
+    // Alert text should be plain ascii coming from a trusted source, but to
+    // be safe we first strip anything not in safeChars, then add single quotes around
+    // the whole string before passing it to the shell:
+    std::string singleQuote("'");
+    std::string safeStatus = SanitizeString(strMessage);
+    safeStatus = singleQuote+safeStatus+singleQuote;
+    ReplaceAll(strCmd, "%s", safeStatus);
+
+    std::thread t(runCommand, strCmd);
+    t.detach(); // thread runs free
+#endif
+}
+
+static void DoWarning(const bilingual_str& warning)
+{
+    static bool fWarned = false;
+    SetMiscWarning(warning);
+    if (!fWarned) {
+        AlertNotify(warning.original);
+        fWarned = true;
+    }
+}
+
+ChainstateManagerNotificationCallbacks DefaultChainstateManagerNotifications()
+{
+    return ChainstateManagerNotificationCallbacks{
+        .notify_block_tip = [](SynchronizationState state, CBlockIndex* index) { uiInterface.NotifyBlockTip(state, index); },
+        .notify_header_tip = [](SynchronizationState state, int64_t height, int64_t timestamp, bool presync) { uiInterface.NotifyHeaderTip(state, height, timestamp, presync); },
+        .show_progress = [](const std::string& title, int nProgress, bool resume_possible) { uiInterface.ShowProgress(title, nProgress, resume_possible); },
+        .do_warning = [](const bilingual_str& warning) { DoWarning(warning); },
+        .init_error = [](const bilingual_str& user_message) { InitError(user_message); },
+    };
+}
+} // namespace node
diff --git a/src/node/chainstatemanager_notifications.h b/src/node/chainstatemanager_notifications.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..ad943bb6cb9df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/node/chainstatemanager_notifications.h
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2023 The Bitcoin Core developers
+// Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
+// file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
+
+#ifndef BITCOIN_NODE_CHAINSTATEMANAGER_NOTIFICATIONS_H
+#define BITCOIN_NODE_CHAINSTATEMANAGER_NOTIFICATIONS_H
+
+#include <kernel/chainstatemanager_opts.h>
+
+namespace node {
+kernel::ChainstateManagerNotificationCallbacks DefaultChainstateManagerNotifications();
+} // namespace node
+
+#endif // BITCOIN_NODE_CHAINSTATEMANAGER_NOTIFICATIONS_H
diff --git a/src/node/txreconciliation.cpp b/src/node/txreconciliation.cpp
index 993875907432d..d62046daaaa65 100644
--- a/src/node/txreconciliation.cpp
+++ b/src/node/txreconciliation.cpp
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 
 #include <node/txreconciliation.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <logging.h>
 #include <util/check.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <unordered_map>
 #include <variant>
diff --git a/src/policy/fees.cpp b/src/policy/fees.cpp
index 6121224979b04..ae226f7011470 100644
--- a/src/policy/fees.cpp
+++ b/src/policy/fees.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <policy/fees.h>
 
 #include <clientversion.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/amount.h>
 #include <kernel/mempool_entry.h>
 #include <logging.h>
@@ -19,7 +20,6 @@
 #include <uint256.h>
 #include <util/fs.h>
 #include <util/serfloat.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 
 #include <algorithm>
diff --git a/src/protocol.cpp b/src/protocol.cpp
index 5725813b7e58a..5ecaabec36710 100644
--- a/src/protocol.cpp
+++ b/src/protocol.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 #include <protocol.h>
 
-#include <util/system.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 
 #include <atomic>
 
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
index d602d2c1ac25a..e33753f5e77cb 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include <chainparams.h>
 #include <common/args.h>
 #include <common/init.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <init.h>
 #include <interfaces/handler.h>
 #include <interfaces/init.h>
@@ -32,7 +33,6 @@
 #include <uint256.h>
 #include <util/exception.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/threadnames.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 #include <validation.h>
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
index d26ef52eb4315..855fcff002249 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@
 #include <qt/macdockiconhandler.h>
 #endif
 
-#include <functional>
 #include <chain.h>
 #include <chainparams.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
+#include <functional>
 #include <interfaces/handler.h>
 #include <interfaces/node.h>
 #include <node/interface_ui.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 #include <validation.h>
 
diff --git a/src/qt/clientmodel.cpp b/src/qt/clientmodel.cpp
index b22f1bc35c809..ff7405d1395af 100644
--- a/src/qt/clientmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/clientmodel.cpp
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@
 
 #include <clientversion.h>
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <interfaces/handler.h>
 #include <interfaces/node.h>
 #include <net.h>
 #include <netbase.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/threadnames.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 #include <validation.h>
diff --git a/src/qt/optionsdialog.cpp b/src/qt/optionsdialog.cpp
index 6dec4b2e42e54..f23e025387b20 100644
--- a/src/qt/optionsdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/optionsdialog.cpp
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@
 #include <qt/guiutil.h>
 #include <qt/optionsmodel.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <interfaces/node.h>
-#include <validation.h> // for DEFAULT_SCRIPTCHECK_THREADS and MAX_SCRIPTCHECK_THREADS
 #include <netbase.h>
-#include <txdb.h> // for -dbcache defaults
-#include <util/system.h>
+#include <txdb.h>       // for -dbcache defaults
+#include <validation.h> // for DEFAULT_SCRIPTCHECK_THREADS and MAX_SCRIPTCHECK_THREADS
 
 #include <chrono>
 
diff --git a/src/qt/rpcconsole.cpp b/src/qt/rpcconsole.cpp
index bac64e3d5f61e..90aae0219eead 100644
--- a/src/qt/rpcconsole.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/rpcconsole.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <qt/forms/ui_debugwindow.h>
 
 #include <chainparams.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <interfaces/node.h>
 #include <qt/bantablemodel.h>
 #include <qt/clientmodel.h>
@@ -21,7 +22,6 @@
 #include <rpc/server.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/threadnames.h>
 
 #include <univalue.h>
diff --git a/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp b/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
index 096f8a0dedcf1..8872f8be321ce 100644
--- a/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@
 #include <qt/splashscreen.h>
 
 #include <clientversion.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <interfaces/handler.h>
 #include <interfaces/node.h>
 #include <interfaces/wallet.h>
 #include <qt/guiutil.h>
 #include <qt/networkstyle.h>
 #include <qt/walletmodel.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 
 #include <functional>
diff --git a/src/qt/test/rpcnestedtests.cpp b/src/qt/test/rpcnestedtests.cpp
index 669a05fe0f2e9..72e80554255a1 100644
--- a/src/qt/test/rpcnestedtests.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/rpcnestedtests.cpp
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 
 #include <qt/test/rpcnestedtests.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <interfaces/node.h>
-#include <rpc/server.h>
 #include <qt/rpcconsole.h>
+#include <rpc/server.h>
 #include <test/util/setup_common.h>
 #include <univalue.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <QTest>
 
diff --git a/src/qt/transactiondesc.cpp b/src/qt/transactiondesc.cpp
index 2461a0693071b..fa110cfbc9bae 100644
--- a/src/qt/transactiondesc.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/transactiondesc.cpp
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
 #include <qt/paymentserver.h>
 #include <qt/transactionrecord.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/consensus.h>
 #include <interfaces/node.h>
 #include <interfaces/wallet.h>
 #include <key_io.h>
 #include <policy/policy.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <validation.h>
 #include <wallet/types.h>
 
diff --git a/src/rest.cpp b/src/rest.cpp
index dae064f89d52d..7e0478809265a 100644
--- a/src/rest.cpp
+++ b/src/rest.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <blockfilter.h>
 #include <chain.h>
 #include <chainparams.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <core_io.h>
 #include <httpserver.h>
 #include <index/blockfilterindex.h>
@@ -25,7 +26,6 @@
 #include <sync.h>
 #include <txmempool.h>
 #include <util/check.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <validation.h>
 #include <version.h>
 
diff --git a/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp b/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
index 72866532d2a4c..3cd22b694a8e5 100644
--- a/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
@@ -1123,8 +1123,7 @@ static RPCHelpMan verifychain()
     LOCK(cs_main);
 
     Chainstate& active_chainstate = chainman.ActiveChainstate();
-    return CVerifyDB().VerifyDB(
-               active_chainstate, chainman.GetParams().GetConsensus(), active_chainstate.CoinsTip(), check_level, check_depth) == VerifyDBResult::SUCCESS;
+    return CVerifyDB(chainman.GetShowProgressCb()).VerifyDB(active_chainstate, chainman.GetParams().GetConsensus(), active_chainstate.CoinsTip(), check_level, check_depth) == VerifyDBResult::SUCCESS;
 },
     };
 }
diff --git a/src/rpc/external_signer.cpp b/src/rpc/external_signer.cpp
index ac135ba216a3e..310eec5f15ea5 100644
--- a/src/rpc/external_signer.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/external_signer.cpp
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <external_signer.h>
 #include <rpc/protocol.h>
 #include <rpc/server.h>
 #include <rpc/util.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
diff --git a/src/rpc/mining.cpp b/src/rpc/mining.cpp
index 68017e5af2539..eb61d58a33684 100644
--- a/src/rpc/mining.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/mining.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 #include <chain.h>
 #include <chainparams.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/amount.h>
 #include <consensus/consensus.h>
 #include <consensus/merkle.h>
@@ -32,7 +33,6 @@
 #include <univalue.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 #include <validation.h>
 #include <validationinterface.h>
diff --git a/src/rpc/node.cpp b/src/rpc/node.cpp
index 5918bc6e38353..730cc69bad276 100644
--- a/src/rpc/node.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/node.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
 #include <chainparams.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <httpserver.h>
 #include <index/blockfilterindex.h>
 #include <index/coinstatsindex.h>
@@ -21,7 +22,6 @@
 #include <univalue.h>
 #include <util/check.h>
 #include <util/syscall_sandbox.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <stdint.h>
 #ifdef HAVE_MALLOC_INFO
diff --git a/src/rpc/server.cpp b/src/rpc/server.cpp
index 354f949002464..474b318c66b44 100644
--- a/src/rpc/server.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/server.cpp
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
 #include <rpc/server.h>
 
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <logging.h>
 #include <rpc/util.h>
 #include <shutdown.h>
 #include <sync.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 
 #include <boost/signals2/signal.hpp>
diff --git a/src/rpc/server_util.cpp b/src/rpc/server_util.cpp
index 13d007b4962db..96e2d9df160d1 100644
--- a/src/rpc/server_util.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/server_util.cpp
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@
 #include <rpc/server_util.h>
 
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <net_processing.h>
 #include <node/context.h>
 #include <policy/fees.h>
 #include <rpc/protocol.h>
 #include <rpc/request.h>
 #include <txmempool.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <validation.h>
 
 #include <any>
diff --git a/src/script/sigcache.cpp b/src/script/sigcache.cpp
index e52e8cd30907e..7c6c282cc470d 100644
--- a/src/script/sigcache.cpp
+++ b/src/script/sigcache.cpp
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@
 
 #include <script/sigcache.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <logging.h>
 #include <pubkey.h>
 #include <random.h>
 #include <uint256.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <cuckoocache.h>
 
diff --git a/src/shutdown.cpp b/src/shutdown.cpp
index 2fffc0663c7bb..ff9a3e62e9243 100644
--- a/src/shutdown.cpp
+++ b/src/shutdown.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 #endif
 
 #include <logging.h>
-#include <node/interface_ui.h>
 #include <util/tokenpipe.h>
 #include <warnings.h>
 
@@ -20,14 +19,14 @@
 #include <condition_variable>
 #endif
 
-bool AbortNode(const std::string& strMessage, bilingual_str user_message)
+bool AbortNode(const std::string& strMessage, const std::function<void(const bilingual_str& user_message)>& init_error, bilingual_str user_message)
 {
     SetMiscWarning(Untranslated(strMessage));
     LogPrintf("*** %s\n", strMessage);
     if (user_message.empty()) {
         user_message = _("A fatal internal error occurred, see debug.log for details");
     }
-    InitError(user_message);
+    init_error(user_message);
     StartShutdown();
     return false;
 }
diff --git a/src/shutdown.h b/src/shutdown.h
index 07a8315788462..3d99c306a965c 100644
--- a/src/shutdown.h
+++ b/src/shutdown.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include <util/translation.h> // For bilingual_str
 
 /** Abort with a message */
-bool AbortNode(const std::string& strMessage, bilingual_str user_message = bilingual_str{});
+bool AbortNode(const std::string& strMessage, const std::function<void(const bilingual_str& user_message)>& init_error, bilingual_str user_message = bilingual_str{});
 
 /** Initialize shutdown state. This must be called before using either StartShutdown(),
  * AbortShutdown() or WaitForShutdown(). Calling ShutdownRequested() is always safe.
diff --git a/src/signet.cpp b/src/signet.cpp
index b76b1e342f66c..b73d82bb2e8d5 100644
--- a/src/signet.cpp
+++ b/src/signet.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/merkle.h>
 #include <consensus/params.h>
 #include <consensus/validation.h>
@@ -22,7 +23,6 @@
 #include <streams.h>
 #include <uint256.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 static constexpr uint8_t SIGNET_HEADER[4] = {0xec, 0xc7, 0xda, 0xa2};
 
diff --git a/src/test/allocator_tests.cpp b/src/test/allocator_tests.cpp
index f74e50a890c26..8c0af6f26fdfb 100644
--- a/src/test/allocator_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/allocator_tests.cpp
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 // Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <support/lockedpool.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <limits>
 #include <memory>
diff --git a/src/test/blockmanager_tests.cpp b/src/test/blockmanager_tests.cpp
index f094766886c46..5b3fac8ccbc5c 100644
--- a/src/test/blockmanager_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/blockmanager_tests.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include <chainparams.h>
 #include <node/blockstorage.h>
+#include <node/chainstatemanager_notifications.h>
 #include <node/context.h>
 #include <util/chaintype.h>
 #include <validation.h>
@@ -11,8 +12,9 @@
 #include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>
 #include <test/util/setup_common.h>
 
-using node::BlockManager;
 using node::BLOCK_SERIALIZATION_HEADER_SIZE;
+using node::BlockManager;
+using node::DefaultChainstateManagerNotifications;
 using node::MAX_BLOCKFILE_SIZE;
 
 // use BasicTestingSetup here for the data directory configuration, setup, and cleanup
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(blockmanager_find_block_pos)
     const BlockManager::Options blockman_opts{
         .chainparams = *params,
         .blocks_dir = m_args.GetBlocksDirPath(),
+        .init_error_callback = DefaultChainstateManagerNotifications().init_error,
     };
     BlockManager blockman{blockman_opts};
     CChain chain {};
diff --git a/src/test/bloom_tests.cpp b/src/test/bloom_tests.cpp
index 5d4c5eea0e1fb..93c0412593ac1 100644
--- a/src/test/bloom_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/bloom_tests.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <common/bloom.h>
 
 #include <clientversion.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <key.h>
 #include <key_io.h>
 #include <merkleblock.h>
@@ -16,7 +17,6 @@
 #include <test/util/setup_common.h>
 #include <uint256.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <vector>
 
diff --git a/src/test/fuzz/integer.cpp b/src/test/fuzz/integer.cpp
index 392f3591f1378..edb1dca4574e3 100644
--- a/src/test/fuzz/integer.cpp
+++ b/src/test/fuzz/integer.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include <arith_uint256.h>
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <compressor.h>
 #include <consensus/amount.h>
 #include <consensus/merkle.h>
@@ -32,7 +33,6 @@
 #include <util/overflow.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <version.h>
 
 #include <cassert>
diff --git a/src/test/fuzz/string.cpp b/src/test/fuzz/string.cpp
index 5de24a939d03d..75c78ce1bd58e 100644
--- a/src/test/fuzz/string.cpp
+++ b/src/test/fuzz/string.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <blockfilter.h>
 #include <clientversion.h>
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <common/url.h>
 #include <netbase.h>
 #include <outputtype.h>
@@ -24,7 +25,6 @@
 #include <util/settings.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 
 #include <cassert>
diff --git a/src/test/key_tests.cpp b/src/test/key_tests.cpp
index ea5b94f3a5cee..8f11bf5db26e4 100644
--- a/src/test/key_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/key_tests.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include <key.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <key_io.h>
 #include <streams.h>
 #include <test/util/random.h>
@@ -11,7 +12,6 @@
 #include <uint256.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
diff --git a/src/test/mempool_tests.cpp b/src/test/mempool_tests.cpp
index 94e553a30452c..db58a0baec131 100644
--- a/src/test/mempool_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/mempool_tests.cpp
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 // Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <policy/policy.h>
 #include <test/util/txmempool.h>
 #include <txmempool.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 
 #include <test/util/setup_common.h>
diff --git a/src/test/miner_tests.cpp b/src/test/miner_tests.cpp
index cfab762307dd8..94e3f27930b18 100644
--- a/src/test/miner_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/miner_tests.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
 #include <coins.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/consensus.h>
 #include <consensus/merkle.h>
 #include <consensus/tx_verify.h>
@@ -15,7 +16,6 @@
 #include <txmempool.h>
 #include <uint256.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 #include <validation.h>
 #include <versionbits.h>
diff --git a/src/test/rbf_tests.cpp b/src/test/rbf_tests.cpp
index 0ec253747b49d..10205cd6417cc 100644
--- a/src/test/rbf_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/rbf_tests.cpp
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 // Copyright (c) 2021-2022 The Bitcoin Core developers
 // Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <policy/rbf.h>
 #include <random.h>
 #include <test/util/txmempool.h>
 #include <txmempool.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 
 #include <test/util/setup_common.h>
diff --git a/src/test/script_tests.cpp b/src/test/script_tests.cpp
index d8898743b093c..c89f2c1f5bf58 100644
--- a/src/test/script_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/script_tests.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <test/data/script_tests.json.h>
 #include <test/data/bip341_wallet_vectors.json.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <core_io.h>
 #include <key.h>
 #include <rpc/util.h>
@@ -20,7 +21,6 @@
 #include <test/util/transaction_utils.h>
 #include <util/fs.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #if defined(HAVE_CONSENSUS_LIB)
 #include <script/bitcoinconsensus.h>
diff --git a/src/test/sighash_tests.cpp b/src/test/sighash_tests.cpp
index e2d11afa6aa30..68ef719c71432 100644
--- a/src/test/sighash_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/sighash_tests.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/tx_check.h>
 #include <consensus/validation.h>
 #include <hash.h>
@@ -14,7 +15,6 @@
 #include <test/util/random.h>
 #include <test/util/setup_common.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <version.h>
 
 #include <iostream>
diff --git a/src/test/sock_tests.cpp b/src/test/sock_tests.cpp
index 9e6f73745ecdd..26ee724bf806d 100644
--- a/src/test/sock_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/sock_tests.cpp
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 // Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <compat/compat.h>
 #include <test/util/setup_common.h>
 #include <util/sock.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/threadinterrupt.h>
 
 #include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>
diff --git a/src/test/util/setup_common.cpp b/src/test/util/setup_common.cpp
index 62d60d6774623..03b99dfdceea5 100644
--- a/src/test/util/setup_common.cpp
+++ b/src/test/util/setup_common.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <addrman.h>
 #include <banman.h>
 #include <chainparams.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <common/url.h>
 #include <consensus/consensus.h>
 #include <consensus/params.h>
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@
 #include <net_processing.h>
 #include <node/blockstorage.h>
 #include <node/chainstate.h>
+#include <node/chainstatemanager_notifications.h>
 #include <node/context.h>
 #include <node/mempool_args.h>
 #include <node/miner.h>
@@ -45,7 +47,6 @@
 #include <util/chaintype.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/thread.h>
 #include <util/threadnames.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ using node::ApplyArgsManOptions;
 using node::BlockAssembler;
 using node::BlockManager;
 using node::CalculateCacheSizes;
+using node::DefaultChainstateManagerNotifications;
 using node::LoadChainstate;
 using node::RegenerateCommitments;
 using node::VerifyLoadedChainstate;
@@ -186,10 +188,12 @@ ChainTestingSetup::ChainTestingSetup(const ChainType chainType, const std::vecto
         .datadir = m_args.GetDataDirNet(),
         .adjusted_time_callback = GetAdjustedTime,
         .check_block_index = true,
+        .notification_callbacks = DefaultChainstateManagerNotifications(),
     };
     const BlockManager::Options blockman_opts{
         .chainparams = chainman_opts.chainparams,
         .blocks_dir = m_args.GetBlocksDirPath(),
+        .init_error_callback = chainman_opts.notification_callbacks.init_error,
     };
     m_node.chainman = std::make_unique<ChainstateManager>(chainman_opts, blockman_opts);
     m_node.chainman->m_blockman.m_block_tree_db = std::make_unique<CBlockTreeDB>(DBParams{
diff --git a/src/test/util_tests.cpp b/src/test/util_tests.cpp
index 812737429d671..26677bfa55ee6 100644
--- a/src/test/util_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/util_tests.cpp
@@ -1687,7 +1687,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(message_hash)
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(remove_prefix)
 {
-    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(RemovePrefix("./util/system.h", "./"), "util/system.h");
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(RemovePrefix("./common/system.h", "./"), "common/system.h");
     BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(RemovePrefixView("foo", "foo"), "");
     BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(RemovePrefix("foo", "fo"), "o");
     BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(RemovePrefixView("foo", "f"), "oo");
diff --git a/src/test/validation_chainstatemanager_tests.cpp b/src/test/validation_chainstatemanager_tests.cpp
index 05e2787075333..f27785c127b56 100644
--- a/src/test/validation_chainstatemanager_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/validation_chainstatemanager_tests.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 //
 #include <chainparams.h>
 #include <consensus/validation.h>
+#include <node/chainstatemanager_notifications.h>
 #include <node/utxo_snapshot.h>
 #include <random.h>
 #include <rpc/blockchain.h>
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>
 
 using node::BlockManager;
+using node::DefaultChainstateManagerNotifications;
 using node::SnapshotMetadata;
 
 BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_SUITE(validation_chainstatemanager_tests, ChainTestingSetup)
@@ -381,10 +383,12 @@ struct SnapshotTestSetup : TestChain100Setup {
                 .chainparams = ::Params(),
                 .datadir = m_args.GetDataDirNet(),
                 .adjusted_time_callback = GetAdjustedTime,
+                .notification_callbacks = DefaultChainstateManagerNotifications(),
             };
             const BlockManager::Options blockman_opts{
                 .chainparams = chainman_opts.chainparams,
                 .blocks_dir = m_args.GetBlocksDirPath(),
+                .init_error_callback = chainman_opts.notification_callbacks.init_error,
             };
             // For robustness, ensure the old manager is destroyed before creating a
             // new one.
diff --git a/src/txmempool.cpp b/src/txmempool.cpp
index da875c271e37e..c95807733e304 100644
--- a/src/txmempool.cpp
+++ b/src/txmempool.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 #include <chain.h>
 #include <coins.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/consensus.h>
 #include <consensus/tx_verify.h>
 #include <consensus/validation.h>
@@ -19,7 +20,6 @@
 #include <util/moneystr.h>
 #include <util/overflow.h>
 #include <util/result.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 #include <util/trace.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
diff --git a/src/util/batchpriority.cpp b/src/util/batchpriority.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..c73aef1eb48b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/util/batchpriority.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2023 The Bitcoin Core developers
+// Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
+// file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
+
+#include <logging.h>
+#include <util/syserror.h>
+
+#if (defined(__FreeBSD__) || defined(__OpenBSD__) || defined(__DragonFly__))
+#include <pthread.h>
+#include <pthread_np.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifndef WIN32
+#include <sched.h>
+#endif
+
+void ScheduleBatchPriority()
+{
+#ifdef SCHED_BATCH
+    const static sched_param param{};
+    const int rc = pthread_setschedparam(pthread_self(), SCHED_BATCH, &param);
+    if (rc != 0) {
+        LogPrintf("Failed to pthread_setschedparam: %s\n", SysErrorString(rc));
+    }
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/src/util/batchpriority.h b/src/util/batchpriority.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..5ffc8dd684d62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/util/batchpriority.h
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2023 The Bitcoin Core developers
+// Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
+// file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
+
+#ifndef BITCOIN_UTIL_BATCHPRIORITY_H
+#define BITCOIN_UTIL_BATCHPRIORITY_H
+
+/**
+ * On platforms that support it, tell the kernel the calling thread is
+ * CPU-intensive and non-interactive. See SCHED_BATCH in sched(7) for details.
+ *
+ */
+void ScheduleBatchPriority();
+
+#endif // BITCOIN_UTIL_BATCHPRIORITY_H
diff --git a/src/util/sock.cpp b/src/util/sock.cpp
index 53d20bdf198eb..c83869bc776c0 100644
--- a/src/util/sock.cpp
+++ b/src/util/sock.cpp
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 // Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <compat/compat.h>
 #include <logging.h>
 #include <tinyformat.h>
 #include <util/sock.h>
 #include <util/syserror.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/threadinterrupt.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 
diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
index e536dfb4ebd95..8bb9527bf873e 100644
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 #include <logging.h>
 #include <logging/timer.h>
 #include <node/blockstorage.h>
-#include <node/interface_ui.h>
 #include <node/utxo_snapshot.h>
 #include <policy/policy.h>
 #include <policy/rbf.h>
@@ -52,7 +51,6 @@
 #include <util/moneystr.h>
 #include <util/rbf.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 #include <util/trace.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
@@ -1639,26 +1637,6 @@ bool Chainstate::IsInitialBlockDownload() const
     return false;
 }
 
-static void AlertNotify(const std::string& strMessage)
-{
-    uiInterface.NotifyAlertChanged();
-#if HAVE_SYSTEM
-    std::string strCmd = gArgs.GetArg("-alertnotify", "");
-    if (strCmd.empty()) return;
-
-    // Alert text should be plain ascii coming from a trusted source, but to
-    // be safe we first strip anything not in safeChars, then add single quotes around
-    // the whole string before passing it to the shell:
-    std::string singleQuote("'");
-    std::string safeStatus = SanitizeString(strMessage);
-    safeStatus = singleQuote+safeStatus+singleQuote;
-    ReplaceAll(strCmd, "%s", safeStatus);
-
-    std::thread t(runCommand, strCmd);
-    t.detach(); // thread runs free
-#endif
-}
-
 void Chainstate::CheckForkWarningConditions()
 {
     AssertLockHeld(cs_main);
@@ -1862,9 +1840,9 @@ bool CheckInputScripts(const CTransaction& tx, TxValidationState& state,
     return true;
 }
 
-bool AbortNode(BlockValidationState& state, const std::string& strMessage, const bilingual_str& userMessage)
+bool AbortNode(BlockValidationState& state, const std::string& strMessage, const std::function<void(const bilingual_str& user_message)>& init_error, const bilingual_str& userMessage)
 {
-    AbortNode(strMessage, userMessage);
+    AbortNode(strMessage, init_error, userMessage);
     return state.Error(strMessage);
 }
 
@@ -2101,7 +2079,7 @@ bool Chainstate::ConnectBlock(const CBlock& block, BlockValidationState& state,
             // We don't write down blocks to disk if they may have been
             // corrupted, so this should be impossible unless we're having hardware
             // problems.
-            return AbortNode(state, "Corrupt block found indicating potential hardware failure; shutting down");
+            return AbortNode(state, "Corrupt block found indicating potential hardware failure; shutting down", m_chainman.GetInitErrorCb());
         }
         return error("%s: Consensus::CheckBlock: %s", __func__, state.ToString());
     }
@@ -2521,7 +2499,7 @@ bool Chainstate::FlushStateToDisk(
         if (fDoFullFlush || fPeriodicWrite) {
             // Ensure we can write block index
             if (!CheckDiskSpace(gArgs.GetBlocksDirPath())) {
-                return AbortNode(state, "Disk space is too low!", _("Disk space is too low!"));
+                return AbortNode(state, "Disk space is too low!", m_chainman.GetInitErrorCb(), _("Disk space is too low!"));
             }
             {
                 LOG_TIME_MILLIS_WITH_CATEGORY("write block and undo data to disk", BCLog::BENCH);
@@ -2535,7 +2513,7 @@ bool Chainstate::FlushStateToDisk(
                 LOG_TIME_MILLIS_WITH_CATEGORY("write block index to disk", BCLog::BENCH);
 
                 if (!m_blockman.WriteBlockIndexDB()) {
-                    return AbortNode(state, "Failed to write to block index database");
+                    return AbortNode(state, "Failed to write to block index database", m_chainman.GetInitErrorCb());
                 }
             }
             // Finally remove any pruned files
@@ -2557,11 +2535,11 @@ bool Chainstate::FlushStateToDisk(
             // an overestimation, as most will delete an existing entry or
             // overwrite one. Still, use a conservative safety factor of 2.
             if (!CheckDiskSpace(gArgs.GetDataDirNet(), 48 * 2 * 2 * CoinsTip().GetCacheSize())) {
-                return AbortNode(state, "Disk space is too low!", _("Disk space is too low!"));
+                return AbortNode(state, "Disk space is too low!", m_chainman.GetInitErrorCb(), _("Disk space is too low!"));
             }
             // Flush the chainstate (which may refer to block index entries).
             if (!CoinsTip().Flush())
-                return AbortNode(state, "Failed to write to coin database");
+                return AbortNode(state, "Failed to write to coin database", m_chainman.GetInitErrorCb());
             m_last_flush = nNow;
             full_flush_completed = true;
             TRACE5(utxocache, flush,
@@ -2577,7 +2555,7 @@ bool Chainstate::FlushStateToDisk(
         GetMainSignals().ChainStateFlushed(m_chain.GetLocator());
     }
     } catch (const std::runtime_error& e) {
-        return AbortNode(state, std::string("System error while flushing: ") + e.what());
+        return AbortNode(state, std::string("System error while flushing: ") + e.what(), m_chainman.GetInitErrorCb());
     }
     return true;
 }
@@ -2599,16 +2577,6 @@ void Chainstate::PruneAndFlush()
     }
 }
 
-static void DoWarning(const bilingual_str& warning)
-{
-    static bool fWarned = false;
-    SetMiscWarning(warning);
-    if (!fWarned) {
-        AlertNotify(warning.original);
-        fWarned = true;
-    }
-}
-
 /** Private helper function that concatenates warning messages. */
 static void AppendWarning(bilingual_str& res, const bilingual_str& warn)
 {
@@ -2675,7 +2643,7 @@ void Chainstate::UpdateTip(const CBlockIndex* pindexNew)
             if (state == ThresholdState::ACTIVE || state == ThresholdState::LOCKED_IN) {
                 const bilingual_str warning = strprintf(_("Unknown new rules activated (versionbit %i)"), bit);
                 if (state == ThresholdState::ACTIVE) {
-                    DoWarning(warning);
+                    m_chainman.DoWarning(warning);
                 } else {
                     AppendWarning(warning_messages, warning);
                 }
@@ -2824,7 +2792,7 @@ bool Chainstate::ConnectTip(BlockValidationState& state, CBlockIndex* pindexNew,
     if (!pblock) {
         std::shared_ptr<CBlock> pblockNew = std::make_shared<CBlock>();
         if (!m_blockman.ReadBlockFromDisk(*pblockNew, *pindexNew)) {
-            return AbortNode(state, "Failed to read block");
+            return AbortNode(state, "Failed to read block", m_chainman.GetInitErrorCb());
         }
         pthisBlock = pblockNew;
     } else {
@@ -2901,7 +2869,10 @@ bool Chainstate::ConnectTip(BlockValidationState& state, CBlockIndex* pindexNew,
     if (this != &m_chainman.ActiveChainstate()) {
         // This call may set `m_disabled`, which is referenced immediately afterwards in
         // ActivateBestChain, so that we stop connecting blocks past the snapshot base.
-        m_chainman.MaybeCompleteSnapshotValidation();
+        m_chainman.MaybeCompleteSnapshotValidation(
+            [&init_error = m_chainman.GetInitErrorCb()](bilingual_str msg) {
+                AbortNode(msg.original, init_error, msg);
+            });
     }
 
     connectTrace.BlockConnected(pindexNew, std::move(pthisBlock));
@@ -3008,7 +2979,7 @@ bool Chainstate::ActivateBestChainStep(BlockValidationState& state, CBlockIndex*
             // If we're unable to disconnect a block during normal operation,
             // then that is a failure of our local system -- we should abort
             // rather than stay on a less work chain.
-            AbortNode(state, "Failed to disconnect block; see debug.log for details");
+            AbortNode(state, "Failed to disconnect block; see debug.log for details", m_chainman.GetInitErrorCb());
             return false;
         }
         fBlocksDisconnected = true;
@@ -3097,7 +3068,7 @@ static bool NotifyHeaderTip(Chainstate& chainstate) LOCKS_EXCLUDED(cs_main) {
     }
     // Send block tip changed notifications without cs_main
     if (fNotify) {
-        uiInterface.NotifyHeaderTip(GetSynchronizationState(fInitialBlockDownload), pindexHeader->nHeight, pindexHeader->nTime, false);
+        chainstate.m_chainman.NotifyHeaderTip(GetSynchronizationState(fInitialBlockDownload), pindexHeader->nHeight, pindexHeader->nTime, false);
     }
     return fNotify;
 }
@@ -3206,7 +3177,7 @@ bool Chainstate::ActivateBestChain(BlockValidationState& state, std::shared_ptr<
                 GetMainSignals().UpdatedBlockTip(pindexNewTip, pindexFork, fInitialDownload);
 
                 // Always notify the UI if a new block tip was connected
-                uiInterface.NotifyBlockTip(GetSynchronizationState(fInitialDownload), pindexNewTip);
+                m_chainman.NotifyBlockTip(GetSynchronizationState(fInitialDownload), pindexNewTip);
             }
         }
         // When we reach this point, we switched to a new tip (stored in pindexNewTip).
@@ -3403,7 +3374,7 @@ bool Chainstate::InvalidateBlock(BlockValidationState& state, CBlockIndex* pinde
 
     // Only notify about a new block tip if the active chain was modified.
     if (pindex_was_in_chain) {
-        uiInterface.NotifyBlockTip(GetSynchronizationState(IsInitialBlockDownload()), to_mark_failed->pprev);
+        m_chainman.NotifyBlockTip(GetSynchronizationState(IsInitialBlockDownload()), to_mark_failed->pprev);
     }
     return true;
 }
@@ -3568,6 +3539,36 @@ bool CheckBlock(const CBlock& block, BlockValidationState& state, const Consensu
     return true;
 }
 
+void ChainstateManager::NotifyBlockTip(SynchronizationState state, CBlockIndex* index) const
+{
+    return m_options.notification_callbacks.notify_block_tip(state, index);
+}
+
+void ChainstateManager::NotifyHeaderTip(SynchronizationState state, int64_t height, int64_t timestamp, bool presync) const
+{
+    return m_options.notification_callbacks.notify_header_tip(state, height, timestamp, presync);
+}
+
+void ChainstateManager::ShowProgress(const std::string& title, int nProgress, bool resume_possible) const
+{
+    return m_options.notification_callbacks.show_progress(title, nProgress, resume_possible);
+}
+
+std::function<void(const std::string&, int, bool)> ChainstateManager::GetShowProgressCb() const
+{
+    return m_options.notification_callbacks.show_progress;
+}
+
+void ChainstateManager::DoWarning(const bilingual_str& warning) const
+{
+    return m_options.notification_callbacks.do_warning(warning);
+}
+
+const std::function<void(const bilingual_str&)>& ChainstateManager::GetInitErrorCb() const
+{
+    return m_options.notification_callbacks.init_error;
+}
+
 void ChainstateManager::UpdateUncommittedBlockStructures(CBlock& block, const CBlockIndex* pindexPrev) const
 {
     int commitpos = GetWitnessCommitmentIndex(block);
@@ -3892,7 +3893,7 @@ bool ChainstateManager::ProcessNewBlockHeaders(const std::vector<CBlockHeader>&
             }
         }
     }
-    if (NotifyHeaderTip(ActiveChainstate())) {
+    if (::NotifyHeaderTip(ActiveChainstate())) {
         if (ActiveChainstate().IsInitialBlockDownload() && ppindex && *ppindex) {
             const CBlockIndex& last_accepted{**ppindex};
             const int64_t blocks_left{(GetTime() - last_accepted.GetBlockTime()) / GetConsensus().nPowTargetSpacing};
@@ -3920,7 +3921,7 @@ void ChainstateManager::ReportHeadersPresync(const arith_uint256& work, int64_t
         m_last_presync_update = now;
     }
     bool initial_download = chainstate.IsInitialBlockDownload();
-    uiInterface.NotifyHeaderTip(GetSynchronizationState(initial_download), height, timestamp, /*presync=*/true);
+    NotifyHeaderTip(GetSynchronizationState(initial_download), height, timestamp, /*presync=*/true);
     if (initial_download) {
         const int64_t blocks_left{(GetTime() - timestamp) / GetConsensus().nPowTargetSpacing};
         const double progress{100.0 * height / (height + blocks_left)};
@@ -4004,7 +4005,7 @@ bool Chainstate::AcceptBlock(const std::shared_ptr<const CBlock>& pblock, BlockV
         }
         ReceivedBlockTransactions(block, pindex, blockPos);
     } catch (const std::runtime_error& e) {
-        return AbortNode(state, std::string("System error: ") + e.what());
+        return AbortNode(state, std::string("System error: ") + e.what(), m_chainman.GetInitErrorCb());
     }
 
     FlushStateToDisk(state, FlushStateMode::NONE);
@@ -4043,7 +4044,7 @@ bool ChainstateManager::ProcessNewBlock(const std::shared_ptr<const CBlock>& blo
         }
     }
 
-    NotifyHeaderTip(ActiveChainstate());
+    ::NotifyHeaderTip(ActiveChainstate());
 
     BlockValidationState state; // Only used to report errors, not invalidity - ignore it
     if (!ActiveChainstate().ActivateBestChain(state, block)) {
@@ -4145,14 +4146,21 @@ bool Chainstate::LoadChainTip()
     return true;
 }
 
-CVerifyDB::CVerifyDB()
+CVerifyDB::CVerifyDB(std::function<void(const std::string& title, int nProgress, bool resume_possible)> show_progress)
+    : m_show_progress(std::move(show_progress))
 {
-    uiInterface.ShowProgress(_("Verifying blocks…").translated, 0, false);
+    assert(m_show_progress);
+    ShowProgress(_("Verifying blocks…").translated, 0, false);
+}
+
+void CVerifyDB::ShowProgress(const std::string& title, int nProgress, bool resume_possible) const
+{
+    m_show_progress(title, nProgress, resume_possible);
 }
 
 CVerifyDB::~CVerifyDB()
 {
-    uiInterface.ShowProgress("", 100, false);
+    ShowProgress("", 100, false);
 }
 
 VerifyDBResult CVerifyDB::VerifyDB(
@@ -4192,7 +4200,7 @@ VerifyDBResult CVerifyDB::VerifyDB(
             LogPrintf("Verification progress: %d%%\n", percentageDone);
             reportDone = percentageDone / 10;
         }
-        uiInterface.ShowProgress(_("Verifying blocks…").translated, percentageDone, false);
+        ShowProgress(_("Verifying blocks…").translated, percentageDone, false);
         if (pindex->nHeight <= chainstate.m_chain.Height() - nCheckDepth) {
             break;
         }
@@ -4268,7 +4276,7 @@ VerifyDBResult CVerifyDB::VerifyDB(
                 LogPrintf("Verification progress: %d%%\n", percentageDone);
                 reportDone = percentageDone / 10;
             }
-            uiInterface.ShowProgress(_("Verifying blocks…").translated, percentageDone, false);
+            ShowProgress(_("Verifying blocks…").translated, percentageDone, false);
             pindex = chainstate.m_chain.Next(pindex);
             CBlock block;
             if (!chainstate.m_blockman.ReadBlockFromDisk(block, *pindex)) {
@@ -4327,7 +4335,7 @@ bool Chainstate::ReplayBlocks()
     if (hashHeads.empty()) return true; // We're already in a consistent state.
     if (hashHeads.size() != 2) return error("ReplayBlocks(): unknown inconsistent state");
 
-    uiInterface.ShowProgress(_("Replaying blocks…").translated, 0, false);
+    m_chainman.ShowProgress(_("Replaying blocks…").translated, 0, false);
     LogPrintf("Replaying blocks\n");
 
     const CBlockIndex* pindexOld = nullptr;  // Old tip during the interrupted flush.
@@ -4374,13 +4382,13 @@ bool Chainstate::ReplayBlocks()
         const CBlockIndex& pindex{*Assert(pindexNew->GetAncestor(nHeight))};
 
         LogPrintf("Rolling forward %s (%i)\n", pindex.GetBlockHash().ToString(), nHeight);
-        uiInterface.ShowProgress(_("Replaying blocks…").translated, (int) ((nHeight - nForkHeight) * 100.0 / (pindexNew->nHeight - nForkHeight)) , false);
+        m_chainman.ShowProgress(_("Replaying blocks…").translated, (int)((nHeight - nForkHeight) * 100.0 / (pindexNew->nHeight - nForkHeight)), false);
         if (!RollforwardBlock(&pindex, cache)) return false;
     }
 
     cache.SetBestBlock(pindexNew->GetBlockHash());
     cache.Flush();
-    uiInterface.ShowProgress("", 100, false);
+    m_chainman.ShowProgress("", 100, false);
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -4694,7 +4702,7 @@ void Chainstate::LoadExternalBlockFile(
             }
         }
     } catch (const std::runtime_error& e) {
-        AbortNode(std::string("System error: ") + e.what());
+        AbortNode(std::string("System error: ") + e.what(), m_chainman.GetInitErrorCb());
     }
     LogPrintf("Loaded %i blocks from external file in %dms\n", nLoaded, Ticks<std::chrono::milliseconds>(SteadyClock::now() - start));
 }
@@ -5147,7 +5155,9 @@ bool ChainstateManager::ActivateSnapshot(
             bool removed = DeleteCoinsDBFromDisk(*snapshot_datadir, /*is_snapshot=*/true);
             if (!removed) {
                 AbortNode(strprintf("Failed to remove snapshot chainstate dir (%s). "
-                    "Manually remove it before restarting.\n", fs::PathToString(*snapshot_datadir)));
+                                    "Manually remove it before restarting.\n",
+                                    fs::PathToString(*snapshot_datadir)),
+                          m_options.notification_callbacks.init_error);
             }
         }
         return false;
@@ -5612,7 +5622,14 @@ static ChainstateManager::Options&& Flatten(ChainstateManager::Options&& opts)
 
 ChainstateManager::ChainstateManager(Options options, node::BlockManager::Options blockman_options)
     : m_options{Flatten(std::move(options))},
-      m_blockman{std::move(blockman_options)} {}
+      m_blockman{std::move(blockman_options)}
+{
+    assert(m_options.notification_callbacks.notify_block_tip);
+    assert(m_options.notification_callbacks.notify_header_tip);
+    assert(m_options.notification_callbacks.show_progress);
+    assert(m_options.notification_callbacks.do_warning);
+    assert(m_options.notification_callbacks.init_error);
+}
 
 ChainstateManager::~ChainstateManager()
 {
@@ -5696,11 +5713,12 @@ void Chainstate::InvalidateCoinsDBOnDisk()
         LogPrintf("%s: error renaming file '%s' -> '%s': %s\n",
                 __func__, src_str, dest_str, e.what());
         AbortNode(strprintf(
-            "Rename of '%s' -> '%s' failed. "
-            "You should resolve this by manually moving or deleting the invalid "
-            "snapshot directory %s, otherwise you will encounter the same error again "
-            "on the next startup.",
-            src_str, dest_str, src_str));
+                      "Rename of '%s' -> '%s' failed. "
+                      "You should resolve this by manually moving or deleting the invalid "
+                      "snapshot directory %s, otherwise you will encounter the same error again "
+                      "on the next startup.",
+                      src_str, dest_str, src_str),
+                  m_chainman.GetInitErrorCb());
     }
 }
 
@@ -5761,16 +5779,17 @@ bool ChainstateManager::ValidatedSnapshotCleanup()
 
     fs::path tmp_old{ibd_chainstate_path + "_todelete"};
 
-    auto rename_failed_abort = [](
+    auto rename_failed_abort = [&init_error = GetInitErrorCb()](
                                    fs::path p_old,
                                    fs::path p_new,
                                    const fs::filesystem_error& err) {
         LogPrintf("%s: error renaming file (%s): %s\n",
                 __func__, fs::PathToString(p_old), err.what());
         AbortNode(strprintf(
-            "Rename of '%s' -> '%s' failed. "
-            "Cannot clean up the background chainstate leveldb directory.",
-            fs::PathToString(p_old), fs::PathToString(p_new)));
+                      "Rename of '%s' -> '%s' failed. "
+                      "Cannot clean up the background chainstate leveldb directory.",
+                      fs::PathToString(p_old), fs::PathToString(p_new)),
+                  init_error);
     };
 
     try {
diff --git a/src/validation.h b/src/validation.h
index fd0e2115f7db9..32f3f80665ad4 100644
--- a/src/validation.h
+++ b/src/validation.h
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void StopScriptCheckWorkerThreads();
 
 CAmount GetBlockSubsidy(int nHeight, const Consensus::Params& consensusParams);
 
-bool AbortNode(BlockValidationState& state, const std::string& strMessage, const bilingual_str& userMessage = bilingual_str{});
+bool AbortNode(BlockValidationState& state, const std::string& strMessage, const std::function<void(const bilingual_str& user_message)>& init_error, const bilingual_str& userMessage = bilingual_str{});
 
 /** Guess verification progress (as a fraction between 0.0=genesis and 1.0=current tip). */
 double GuessVerificationProgress(const ChainTxData& data, const CBlockIndex* pindex);
@@ -365,8 +365,12 @@ enum class VerifyDBResult {
 
 /** RAII wrapper for VerifyDB: Verify consistency of the block and coin databases */
 class CVerifyDB {
+private:
+    const std::function<void(const std::string& title, int nProgress, bool resume_possible)> m_show_progress;
+    void ShowProgress(const std::string& title, int nProgress, bool resume_possible) const;
+
 public:
-    CVerifyDB();
+    explicit CVerifyDB(std::function<void(const std::string& title, int nProgress, bool resume_possible)> show_progress);
     ~CVerifyDB();
     [[nodiscard]] VerifyDBResult VerifyDB(
         Chainstate& chainstate,
@@ -947,6 +951,7 @@ class ChainstateManager
 
 public:
     using Options = kernel::ChainstateManagerOpts;
+    using NotificationCallbacks = kernel::ChainstateManagerNotificationCallbacks;
 
     explicit ChainstateManager(Options options, node::BlockManager::Options blockman_options);
 
@@ -956,6 +961,13 @@ class ChainstateManager
     const arith_uint256& MinimumChainWork() const { return *Assert(m_options.minimum_chain_work); }
     const uint256& AssumedValidBlock() const { return *Assert(m_options.assumed_valid_block); }
 
+    void NotifyBlockTip(SynchronizationState state, CBlockIndex* index) const;
+    void NotifyHeaderTip(SynchronizationState state, int64_t height, int64_t timestamp, bool presync) const;
+    void ShowProgress(const std::string& title, int nProgress, bool resume_possible) const;
+    std::function<void(const std::string&, int, bool)> GetShowProgressCb() const;
+    void DoWarning(const bilingual_str& warning) const;
+    const std::function<void(const bilingual_str&)>& GetInitErrorCb() const;
+
     /**
      * Alias for ::cs_main.
      * Should be used in new code to make it easier to make ::cs_main a member
@@ -1040,9 +1052,7 @@ class ChainstateManager
     //! deletion and continue using the snapshot chainstate as active.
     //! Otherwise, revert to using the ibd chainstate and shutdown.
     SnapshotCompletionResult MaybeCompleteSnapshotValidation(
-        std::function<void(bilingual_str)> shutdown_fnc =
-            [](bilingual_str msg) { AbortNode(msg.original, msg); })
-        EXCLUSIVE_LOCKS_REQUIRED(::cs_main);
+        std::function<void(bilingual_str)> shutdown_fnc) EXCLUSIVE_LOCKS_REQUIRED(::cs_main);
 
     //! The most-work chain.
     Chainstate& ActiveChainstate() const;
diff --git a/src/wallet/bdb.h b/src/wallet/bdb.h
index 4fac128bf166c..8af0e6e12a850 100644
--- a/src/wallet/bdb.h
+++ b/src/wallet/bdb.h
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@
 #define BITCOIN_WALLET_BDB_H
 
 #include <clientversion.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <serialize.h>
 #include <streams.h>
 #include <util/fs.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <wallet/db.h>
 
 #include <atomic>
diff --git a/src/wallet/coinselection.cpp b/src/wallet/coinselection.cpp
index 832d24746fbbc..bd74025f096dd 100644
--- a/src/wallet/coinselection.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/coinselection.cpp
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
 
 #include <wallet/coinselection.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/amount.h>
 #include <consensus/consensus.h>
 #include <logging.h>
 #include <policy/feerate.h>
 #include <util/check.h>
 #include <util/moneystr.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <numeric>
 #include <optional>
diff --git a/src/wallet/coinselection.h b/src/wallet/coinselection.h
index 723f5bbfb3a00..d352a50cb282a 100644
--- a/src/wallet/coinselection.h
+++ b/src/wallet/coinselection.h
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@
 #ifndef BITCOIN_WALLET_COINSELECTION_H
 #define BITCOIN_WALLET_COINSELECTION_H
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/amount.h>
 #include <consensus/consensus.h>
 #include <outputtype.h>
 #include <policy/feerate.h>
 #include <primitives/transaction.h>
 #include <random.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/check.h>
 #include <util/result.h>
 
diff --git a/src/wallet/crypter.cpp b/src/wallet/crypter.cpp
index cd414b3d44f58..e2799c2d057fa 100644
--- a/src/wallet/crypter.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/crypter.cpp
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 
 #include <wallet/crypter.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <crypto/aes.h>
 #include <crypto/sha512.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <vector>
 
diff --git a/src/wallet/external_signer_scriptpubkeyman.cpp b/src/wallet/external_signer_scriptpubkeyman.cpp
index e2852c5d52092..6d026d02c1109 100644
--- a/src/wallet/external_signer_scriptpubkeyman.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/external_signer_scriptpubkeyman.cpp
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 
 #include <chainparams.h>
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <external_signer.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <wallet/external_signer_scriptpubkeyman.h>
 
 #include <iostream>
diff --git a/src/wallet/feebumper.cpp b/src/wallet/feebumper.cpp
index b6b1fa1d3e256..0e1f1f984795a 100644
--- a/src/wallet/feebumper.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/feebumper.cpp
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@
 // Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/validation.h>
 #include <interfaces/chain.h>
 #include <policy/fees.h>
 #include <policy/policy.h>
 #include <util/moneystr.h>
 #include <util/rbf.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 #include <wallet/coincontrol.h>
 #include <wallet/feebumper.h>
diff --git a/src/wallet/rpc/util.cpp b/src/wallet/rpc/util.cpp
index 4ff44b84b0791..97dc8b04bfa0b 100644
--- a/src/wallet/rpc/util.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/rpc/util.cpp
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 
 #include <wallet/rpc/util.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <common/url.h>
 #include <rpc/util.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 #include <wallet/context.h>
 #include <wallet/wallet.h>
diff --git a/src/wallet/spend.cpp b/src/wallet/spend.cpp
index b14a30921b693..99c6582f9c7a1 100644
--- a/src/wallet/spend.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/spend.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <common/args.h>
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <consensus/amount.h>
 #include <consensus/validation.h>
 #include <interfaces/chain.h>
@@ -15,7 +16,6 @@
 #include <util/fees.h>
 #include <util/moneystr.h>
 #include <util/rbf.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/trace.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 #include <wallet/coincontrol.h>
diff --git a/src/wallet/walletdb.cpp b/src/wallet/walletdb.cpp
index 005592d720360..7cd0e9ad1abdb 100644
--- a/src/wallet/walletdb.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/walletdb.cpp
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@
 
 #include <wallet/walletdb.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <key_io.h>
 #include <protocol.h>
 #include <serialize.h>
 #include <sync.h>
 #include <util/bip32.h>
 #include <util/fs.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/time.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 #ifdef USE_BDB
diff --git a/src/warnings.cpp b/src/warnings.cpp
index d0de7069531ea..cb73c7aea2db4 100644
--- a/src/warnings.cpp
+++ b/src/warnings.cpp
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 
 #include <warnings.h>
 
+#include <common/system.h>
 #include <sync.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
 #include <util/translation.h>
 
 #include <vector>