diff --git a/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/goblin/goblin.hpp b/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/goblin/goblin.hpp
index 315b66657f3e..fb941c0f83eb 100644
--- a/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/goblin/goblin.hpp
+++ b/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/goblin/goblin.hpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "barretenberg/proof_system/circuit_builder/eccvm/eccvm_circuit_builder.hpp"
 #include "barretenberg/proof_system/circuit_builder/goblin_translator_circuit_builder.hpp"
 #include "barretenberg/proof_system/circuit_builder/goblin_ultra_circuit_builder.hpp"
+#include "barretenberg/stdlib/recursion/honk/verifier/merge_recursive_verifier.hpp"
 #include "barretenberg/translator_vm/goblin_translator_composer.hpp"
 #include "barretenberg/ultra_honk/ultra_composer.hpp"
 
@@ -41,8 +42,11 @@ class Goblin {
     using ECCVMComposer = proof_system::honk::ECCVMComposer;
     using TranslatorBuilder = proof_system::GoblinTranslatorCircuitBuilder;
     using TranslatorComposer = proof_system::honk::GoblinTranslatorComposer;
+    using RecursiveMergeVerifier =
+        proof_system::plonk::stdlib::recursion::goblin::MergeRecursiveVerifier_<GoblinUltraCircuitBuilder>;
 
     std::shared_ptr<OpQueue> op_queue = std::make_shared<OpQueue>();
+    HonkProof merge_proof;
 
   private:
     // TODO(https://github.com/AztecProtocol/barretenberg/issues/798) unique_ptr use is a hack
@@ -57,18 +61,26 @@ class Goblin {
      *
      * @param circuit_builder
      */
-    AccumulationOutput accumulate(GoblinUltraCircuitBuilder& circuit_builder)
+    AccumulationOutput accumulate(GoblinUltraCircuitBuilder& circuit_builder, bool verify_merge = true)
     {
-        // TODO(https://github.com/AztecProtocol/barretenberg/issues/797) Complete the "kernel" logic by recursively
-        // verifying previous merge proof
-
+        // Complete the circuit logic by recursively verifying previous merge proof
+        // Note: the first time we call accumulate there is no merge proof to recursively verify. This is related to
+        // issue (https://github.com/AztecProtocol/barretenberg/issues/723)
+        if (verify_merge) {
+            RecursiveMergeVerifier merge_verifier{ &circuit_builder };
+            // Recursively verify the merge proof constructed on the previous call to accumulate
+            [[maybe_unused]] auto pairing_points = merge_verifier.verify_proof(merge_proof);
+        }
+
+        // Construct a Honk proof for the main circuit
         GoblinUltraComposer composer;
         auto instance = composer.create_instance(circuit_builder);
         auto prover = composer.create_prover(instance);
         auto ultra_proof = prover.construct_proof();
 
+        // Construct and store the merge proof to be recursively verified on the next call to accumulate
         auto merge_prover = composer.create_merge_prover(op_queue);
-        [[maybe_unused]] auto merge_proof = merge_prover.construct_proof();
+        merge_proof = merge_prover.construct_proof();
 
         return { ultra_proof, instance->verification_key };
     };
diff --git a/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/stdlib/recursion/goblin/full_goblin_recursion.test.cpp b/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/stdlib/recursion/goblin/full_goblin_recursion.test.cpp
index 51d9f1943cbd..f21c21b92e1f 100644
--- a/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/stdlib/recursion/goblin/full_goblin_recursion.test.cpp
+++ b/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/stdlib/recursion/goblin/full_goblin_recursion.test.cpp
@@ -58,8 +58,11 @@ class GoblinRecursionTests : public ::testing::Test {
         // Execute recursive aggregation of previous kernel proof
         RecursiveVerifier verifier{ &builder, kernel_input.verification_key };
         // TODO(https://github.com/AztecProtocol/barretenberg/issues/801): Aggregation
-        auto pairing_points = verifier.verify_proof(kernel_input.proof); // app function proof
-        pairing_points = verifier.verify_proof(kernel_input.proof);      // previous kernel proof
+        auto pairing_points = verifier.verify_proof(kernel_input.proof); // previous kernel proof
+        // TODO(https://github.com/AztecProtocol/barretenberg/issues/803): Mock app circuit. In the absence of a mocked
+        // app circuit proof, we simply perform another recursive verification for the previous kernel proof to
+        // approximate the work done for the app proof.
+        pairing_points = verifier.verify_proof(kernel_input.proof); // app function proof
     }
 };
 
@@ -74,7 +77,18 @@ TEST_F(GoblinRecursionTests, Pseudo)
     // Construct an initial circuit; its proof will be recursively verified by the first kernel
     GoblinUltraBuilder initial_circuit{ goblin.op_queue };
     GoblinTestingUtils::construct_simple_initial_circuit(initial_circuit);
-    KernelInput kernel_input = goblin.accumulate(initial_circuit);
+
+    // GoblinUltraComposer composer;
+    // auto instance = composer.create_instance(initial_circuit);
+    // auto prover = composer.create_prover(instance);
+    // auto ultra_proof = prover.construct_proof();
+
+    // auto merge_prover = composer.create_merge_prover(goblin.op_queue);
+    // auto merge_proof = merge_prover.construct_proof();
+
+    // KernelInput kernel_input = { ultra_proof, instance->verification_key };
+
+    KernelInput kernel_input = goblin.accumulate(initial_circuit, /*verify_merge=*/false);
 
     // Construct a series of simple Goblin circuits; generate and verify their proofs
     size_t NUM_CIRCUITS = 2;