diff --git a/core/block_processor.go b/core/block_processor.go
index 60f0258c4..5172636dd 100644
--- a/core/block_processor.go
+++ b/core/block_processor.go
@@ -195,14 +195,16 @@ func (sm *BlockProcessor) Process(block *types.Block) (logs vm.Logs, receipts ty
 	defer sm.mutex.Unlock()
 
 	if sm.bc.HasBlock(block.Hash()) {
-		return nil, nil, &KnownBlockError{block.Number(), block.Hash()}
+		if _, err := state.New(block.Root(), sm.chainDb); err == nil {
+			return nil, nil, &KnownBlockError{block.Number(), block.Hash()}
+		}
 	}
-
-	if !sm.bc.HasBlock(block.ParentHash()) {
-		return nil, nil, ParentError(block.ParentHash())
+	if parent := sm.bc.GetBlock(block.ParentHash()); parent != nil {
+		if _, err := state.New(parent.Root(), sm.chainDb); err == nil {
+			return sm.processWithParent(block, parent)
+		}
 	}
-	parent := sm.bc.GetBlock(block.ParentHash())
-	return sm.processWithParent(block, parent)
+	return nil, nil, ParentError(block.ParentHash())
 }
 
 func (sm *BlockProcessor) processWithParent(block, parent *types.Block) (logs vm.Logs, receipts types.Receipts, err error) {
diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index 490552ea0..f14ff363c 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -18,11 +18,13 @@
 package core
 
 import (
+	crand "crypto/rand"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"math"
 	"math/big"
-	"math/rand"
+	mrand "math/rand"
 	"runtime"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
@@ -89,7 +91,8 @@ type BlockChain struct {
 	procInterrupt int32 // interrupt signaler for block processing
 	wg            sync.WaitGroup
 
-	pow pow.PoW
+	pow  pow.PoW
+	rand *mrand.Rand
 }
 
 func NewBlockChain(chainDb ethdb.Database, pow pow.PoW, mux *event.TypeMux) (*BlockChain, error) {
@@ -112,6 +115,12 @@ func NewBlockChain(chainDb ethdb.Database, pow pow.PoW, mux *event.TypeMux) (*Bl
 		futureBlocks: futureBlocks,
 		pow:          pow,
 	}
+	// Seed a fast but crypto originating random generator
+	seed, err := crand.Int(crand.Reader, big.NewInt(math.MaxInt64))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	bc.rand = mrand.New(mrand.NewSource(seed.Int64()))
 
 	bc.genesisBlock = bc.GetBlockByNumber(0)
 	if bc.genesisBlock == nil {
@@ -178,21 +187,21 @@ func (self *BlockChain) loadLastState() error {
 	fastTd := self.GetTd(self.currentFastBlock.Hash())
 
 	glog.V(logger.Info).Infof("Last header: #%d [%x…] TD=%v", self.currentHeader.Number, self.currentHeader.Hash().Bytes()[:4], headerTd)
-	glog.V(logger.Info).Infof("Fast block: #%d [%x…] TD=%v", self.currentFastBlock.Number(), self.currentFastBlock.Hash().Bytes()[:4], fastTd)
 	glog.V(logger.Info).Infof("Last block: #%d [%x…] TD=%v", self.currentBlock.Number(), self.currentBlock.Hash().Bytes()[:4], blockTd)
+	glog.V(logger.Info).Infof("Fast block: #%d [%x…] TD=%v", self.currentFastBlock.Number(), self.currentFastBlock.Hash().Bytes()[:4], fastTd)
 
 	return nil
 }
 
-// SetHead rewind the local chain to a new head entity. In the case of headers,
-// everything above the new head will be deleted and the new one set. In the case
-// of blocks though, the head may be further rewound if block bodies are missing
-// (non-archive nodes after a fast sync).
+// SetHead rewinds the local chain to a new head. In the case of headers, everything
+// above the new head will be deleted and the new one set. In the case of blocks
+// though, the head may be further rewound if block bodies are missing (non-archive
+// nodes after a fast sync).
 func (bc *BlockChain) SetHead(head uint64) {
 	bc.mu.Lock()
 	defer bc.mu.Unlock()
 
-	// Figure out the highest known canonical assignment
+	// Figure out the highest known canonical headers and/or blocks
 	height := uint64(0)
 	if bc.currentHeader != nil {
 		if hh := bc.currentHeader.Number.Uint64(); hh > height {
@@ -266,7 +275,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) SetHead(head uint64) {
 // FastSyncCommitHead sets the current head block to the one defined by the hash
 // irrelevant what the chain contents were prior.
 func (self *BlockChain) FastSyncCommitHead(hash common.Hash) error {
-	// Make sure that both the block as well at it's state trie exists
+	// Make sure that both the block as well at its state trie exists
 	block := self.GetBlock(hash)
 	if block == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("non existent block [%x…]", hash[:4])
@@ -298,7 +307,7 @@ func (self *BlockChain) LastBlockHash() common.Hash {
 }
 
 // CurrentHeader retrieves the current head header of the canonical chain. The
-// header is retrieved from the chain manager's internal cache.
+// header is retrieved from the blockchain's internal cache.
 func (self *BlockChain) CurrentHeader() *types.Header {
 	self.mu.RLock()
 	defer self.mu.RUnlock()
@@ -307,7 +316,7 @@ func (self *BlockChain) CurrentHeader() *types.Header {
 }
 
 // CurrentBlock retrieves the current head block of the canonical chain. The
-// block is retrieved from the chain manager's internal cache.
+// block is retrieved from the blockchain's internal cache.
 func (self *BlockChain) CurrentBlock() *types.Block {
 	self.mu.RLock()
 	defer self.mu.RUnlock()
@@ -316,7 +325,7 @@ func (self *BlockChain) CurrentBlock() *types.Block {
 }
 
 // CurrentFastBlock retrieves the current fast-sync head block of the canonical
-// chain. The block is retrieved from the chain manager's internal cache.
+// chain. The block is retrieved from the blockchain's internal cache.
 func (self *BlockChain) CurrentFastBlock() *types.Block {
 	self.mu.RLock()
 	defer self.mu.RUnlock()
@@ -353,7 +362,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ResetWithGenesisBlock(genesis *types.Block) {
 	bc.mu.Lock()
 	defer bc.mu.Unlock()
 
-	// Prepare the genesis block and reinitialize the chain
+	// Prepare the genesis block and reinitialise the chain
 	if err := WriteTd(bc.chainDb, genesis.Hash(), genesis.Difficulty()); err != nil {
 		glog.Fatalf("failed to write genesis block TD: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -403,7 +412,7 @@ func (self *BlockChain) ExportN(w io.Writer, first uint64, last uint64) error {
 // insert injects a new head block into the current block chain. This method
 // assumes that the block is indeed a true head. It will also reset the head
 // header and the head fast sync block to this very same block to prevent them
-// from diverging on a different header chain.
+// from pointing to a possibly old canonical chain (i.e. side chain by now).
 //
 // Note, this function assumes that the `mu` mutex is held!
 func (bc *BlockChain) insert(block *types.Block) {
@@ -625,10 +634,10 @@ const (
 
 // writeHeader writes a header into the local chain, given that its parent is
 // already known. If the total difficulty of the newly inserted header becomes
-// greater than the old known TD, the canonical chain is re-routed.
+// greater than the current known TD, the canonical chain is re-routed.
 //
 // Note: This method is not concurrent-safe with inserting blocks simultaneously
-// into the chain, as side effects caused by reorganizations cannot be emulated
+// into the chain, as side effects caused by reorganisations cannot be emulated
 // without the real blocks. Hence, writing headers directly should only be done
 // in two scenarios: pure-header mode of operation (light clients), or properly
 // separated header/block phases (non-archive clients).
@@ -678,10 +687,9 @@ func (self *BlockChain) writeHeader(header *types.Header) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// InsertHeaderChain will attempt to insert the given header chain in to the
-// local chain, possibly creating a fork. If an error is returned,  it will
-// return the index number of the failing header as well an error describing
-// what went wrong.
+// InsertHeaderChain attempts to insert the given header chain in to the local
+// chain, possibly creating a reorg. If an error is returned, it will return the
+// index number of the failing header as well an error describing what went wrong.
 //
 // The verify parameter can be used to fine tune whether nonce verification
 // should be done or not. The reason behind the optional check is because some
@@ -702,7 +710,7 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertHeaderChain(chain []*types.Header, checkFreq int)
 	// Generate the list of headers that should be POW verified
 	verify := make([]bool, len(chain))
 	for i := 0; i < len(verify)/checkFreq; i++ {
-		index := i*checkFreq + rand.Intn(checkFreq)
+		index := i*checkFreq + self.rand.Intn(checkFreq)
 		if index >= len(verify) {
 			index = len(verify) - 1
 		}
@@ -766,10 +774,6 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertHeaderChain(chain []*types.Header, checkFreq int)
 	pending.Wait()
 
 	// If anything failed, report
-	if atomic.LoadInt32(&self.procInterrupt) == 1 {
-		glog.V(logger.Debug).Infoln("premature abort during receipt chain processing")
-		return 0, nil
-	}
 	if failed > 0 {
 		for i, err := range errs {
 			if err != nil {
@@ -807,6 +811,9 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertHeaderChain(chain []*types.Header, checkFreq int)
 // Rollback is designed to remove a chain of links from the database that aren't
 // certain enough to be valid.
 func (self *BlockChain) Rollback(chain []common.Hash) {
+	self.mu.Lock()
+	defer self.mu.Unlock()
+
 	for i := len(chain) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
 		hash := chain[i]
 
@@ -905,6 +912,12 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain
 				glog.Fatal(errs[index])
 				return
 			}
+			if err := WriteMipmapBloom(self.chainDb, block.NumberU64(), receipts); err != nil {
+				errs[index] = fmt.Errorf("failed to write log blooms: %v", err)
+				atomic.AddInt32(&failed, 1)
+				glog.Fatal(errs[index])
+				return
+			}
 			atomic.AddInt32(&stats.processed, 1)
 		}
 	}
@@ -920,10 +933,6 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain
 	pending.Wait()
 
 	// If anything failed, report
-	if atomic.LoadInt32(&self.procInterrupt) == 1 {
-		glog.V(logger.Debug).Infoln("premature abort during receipt chain processing")
-		return 0, nil
-	}
 	if failed > 0 {
 		for i, err := range errs {
 			if err != nil {
@@ -931,6 +940,10 @@ func (self *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	if atomic.LoadInt32(&self.procInterrupt) == 1 {
+		glog.V(logger.Debug).Infoln("premature abort during receipt chain processing")
+		return 0, nil
+	}
 	// Update the head fast sync block if better
 	self.mu.Lock()
 	head := blockChain[len(errs)-1]
diff --git a/core/blockchain_test.go b/core/blockchain_test.go
index 01667c21e..8ddc5032b 100644
--- a/core/blockchain_test.go
+++ b/core/blockchain_test.go
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ func makeBlockChainWithDiff(genesis *types.Block, d []int, seed byte) []*types.B
 
 func chm(genesis *types.Block, db ethdb.Database) *BlockChain {
 	var eventMux event.TypeMux
-	bc := &BlockChain{chainDb: db, genesisBlock: genesis, eventMux: &eventMux, pow: FakePow{}}
+	bc := &BlockChain{chainDb: db, genesisBlock: genesis, eventMux: &eventMux, pow: FakePow{}, rand: rand.New(rand.NewSource(0))}
 	bc.headerCache, _ = lru.New(100)
 	bc.bodyCache, _ = lru.New(100)
 	bc.bodyRLPCache, _ = lru.New(100)
diff --git a/core/chain_util.go b/core/chain_util.go
index 907e6668c..ddff381a1 100644
--- a/core/chain_util.go
+++ b/core/chain_util.go
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ func WriteMipmapBloom(db ethdb.Database, number uint64, receipts types.Receipts)
 		bloomDat, _ := db.Get(key)
 		bloom := types.BytesToBloom(bloomDat)
 		for _, receipt := range receipts {
-			for _, log := range receipt.Logs() {
+			for _, log := range receipt.Logs {
 				bloom.Add(log.Address.Big())
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/core/chain_util_test.go b/core/chain_util_test.go
index bc5aa9776..0bbcbbe53 100644
--- a/core/chain_util_test.go
+++ b/core/chain_util_test.go
@@ -345,15 +345,15 @@ func TestMipmapBloom(t *testing.T) {
 	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 
 	receipt1 := new(types.Receipt)
-	receipt1.SetLogs(vm.Logs{
+	receipt1.Logs = vm.Logs{
 		&vm.Log{Address: common.BytesToAddress([]byte("test"))},
 		&vm.Log{Address: common.BytesToAddress([]byte("address"))},
-	})
+	}
 	receipt2 := new(types.Receipt)
-	receipt2.SetLogs(vm.Logs{
+	receipt2.Logs = vm.Logs{
 		&vm.Log{Address: common.BytesToAddress([]byte("test"))},
 		&vm.Log{Address: common.BytesToAddress([]byte("address1"))},
-	})
+	}
 
 	WriteMipmapBloom(db, 1, types.Receipts{receipt1})
 	WriteMipmapBloom(db, 2, types.Receipts{receipt2})
@@ -368,15 +368,15 @@ func TestMipmapBloom(t *testing.T) {
 	// reset
 	db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	receipt := new(types.Receipt)
-	receipt.SetLogs(vm.Logs{
+	receipt.Logs = vm.Logs{
 		&vm.Log{Address: common.BytesToAddress([]byte("test"))},
-	})
+	}
 	WriteMipmapBloom(db, 999, types.Receipts{receipt1})
 
 	receipt = new(types.Receipt)
-	receipt.SetLogs(vm.Logs{
+	receipt.Logs = vm.Logs{
 		&vm.Log{Address: common.BytesToAddress([]byte("test 1"))},
-	})
+	}
 	WriteMipmapBloom(db, 1000, types.Receipts{receipt})
 
 	bloom := GetMipmapBloom(db, 1000, 1000)
@@ -403,22 +403,22 @@ func TestMipmapChain(t *testing.T) {
 	defer db.Close()
 
 	genesis := WriteGenesisBlockForTesting(db, GenesisAccount{addr, big.NewInt(1000000)})
-	chain := GenerateChain(genesis, db, 1010, func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {
+	chain, receipts := GenerateChain(genesis, db, 1010, func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {
 		var receipts types.Receipts
 		switch i {
 		case 1:
 			receipt := types.NewReceipt(nil, new(big.Int))
-			receipt.SetLogs(vm.Logs{
+			receipt.Logs = vm.Logs{
 				&vm.Log{
 					Address: addr,
 					Topics:  []common.Hash{hash1},
 				},
-			})
+			}
 			gen.AddUncheckedReceipt(receipt)
 			receipts = types.Receipts{receipt}
 		case 1000:
 			receipt := types.NewReceipt(nil, new(big.Int))
-			receipt.SetLogs(vm.Logs{&vm.Log{Address: addr2}})
+			receipt.Logs = vm.Logs{&vm.Log{Address: addr2}}
 			gen.AddUncheckedReceipt(receipt)
 			receipts = types.Receipts{receipt}
 
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ func TestMipmapChain(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		WriteMipmapBloom(db, uint64(i+1), receipts)
 	})
-	for _, block := range chain {
+	for i, block := range chain {
 		WriteBlock(db, block)
 		if err := WriteCanonicalHash(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ func TestMipmapChain(t *testing.T) {
 		if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
 		}
-		if err := PutBlockReceipts(db, block, block.Receipts()); err != nil {
+		if err := PutBlockReceipts(db, block.Hash(), receipts[i]); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal("error writing block receipts:", err)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/core/state/sync.go b/core/state/sync.go
index 5a388886c..ef2b4b84c 100644
--- a/core/state/sync.go
+++ b/core/state/sync.go
@@ -26,14 +26,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie"
 )
 
-// StateSync is the main state  synchronisation scheduler, which provides yet the
+// StateSync is the main state synchronisation scheduler, which provides yet the
 // unknown state hashes to retrieve, accepts node data associated with said hashes
 // and reconstructs the state database step by step until all is done.
 type StateSync trie.TrieSync
 
 // NewStateSync create a new state trie download scheduler.
 func NewStateSync(root common.Hash, database ethdb.Database) *StateSync {
-	// Pre-declare the result syncer t
 	var syncer *trie.TrieSync
 
 	callback := func(leaf []byte, parent common.Hash) error {
diff --git a/core/state/sync_test.go b/core/state/sync_test.go
index f0376d484..0dab372ba 100644
--- a/core/state/sync_test.go
+++ b/core/state/sync_test.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ type testAccount struct {
 func makeTestState() (ethdb.Database, common.Hash, []*testAccount) {
 	// Create an empty state
 	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	state := New(common.Hash{}, db)
+	state, _ := New(common.Hash{}, db)
 
 	// Fill it with some arbitrary data
 	accounts := []*testAccount{}
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func makeTestState() (ethdb.Database, common.Hash, []*testAccount) {
 // checkStateAccounts cross references a reconstructed state with an expected
 // account array.
 func checkStateAccounts(t *testing.T, db ethdb.Database, root common.Hash, accounts []*testAccount) {
-	state := New(root, db)
+	state, _ := New(root, db)
 	for i, acc := range accounts {
 
 		if balance := state.GetBalance(acc.address); balance.Cmp(acc.balance) != 0 {
diff --git a/core/types/receipt.go b/core/types/receipt.go
index aea5b3e91..e7d5203a3 100644
--- a/core/types/receipt.go
+++ b/core/types/receipt.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func (r *Receipt) DecodeRLP(s *rlp.Stream) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// RlpEncode implements common.RlpEncode required for SHA derivation.
+// RlpEncode implements common.RlpEncode required for SHA3 derivation.
 func (r *Receipt) RlpEncode() []byte {
 	bytes, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(r)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func (r *Receipt) String() string {
 }
 
 // ReceiptForStorage is a wrapper around a Receipt that flattens and parses the
-// entire content of a receipt, opposed to only the consensus fields originally.
+// entire content of a receipt, as opposed to only the consensus fields originally.
 type ReceiptForStorage Receipt
 
 // EncodeRLP implements rlp.Encoder, and flattens all content fields of a receipt
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ func (r *ReceiptForStorage) EncodeRLP(w io.Writer) error {
 	return rlp.Encode(w, []interface{}{r.PostState, r.CumulativeGasUsed, r.Bloom, r.TxHash, r.ContractAddress, logs, r.GasUsed})
 }
 
-// DecodeRLP implements rlp.Decoder, and loads the consensus fields of a receipt
-// from an RLP stream.
+// DecodeRLP implements rlp.Decoder, and loads both consensus and implementation
+// fields of a receipt from an RLP stream.
 func (r *ReceiptForStorage) DecodeRLP(s *rlp.Stream) error {
 	var receipt struct {
 		PostState         []byte
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func (r *ReceiptForStorage) DecodeRLP(s *rlp.Stream) error {
 // Receipts is a wrapper around a Receipt array to implement types.DerivableList.
 type Receipts []*Receipt
 
-// RlpEncode implements common.RlpEncode required for SHA derivation.
+// RlpEncode implements common.RlpEncode required for SHA3 derivation.
 func (r Receipts) RlpEncode() []byte {
 	bytes, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(r)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/core/vm/log.go b/core/vm/log.go
index 526221e43..191e3a253 100644
--- a/core/vm/log.go
+++ b/core/vm/log.go
@@ -66,6 +66,6 @@ func (l *Log) String() string {
 type Logs []*Log
 
 // LogForStorage is a wrapper around a Log that flattens and parses the entire
-// content of a log, opposed to only the consensus fields originally (by hiding
+// content of a log, as opposed to only the consensus fields originally (by hiding
 // the rlp interface methods).
 type LogForStorage Log
diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index 0a3791783..a4f656ecd 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -391,7 +391,6 @@ func New(config *Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 		if err == core.ErrNoGenesis {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf(`Genesis block not found. Please supply a genesis block with the "--genesis /path/to/file" argument`)
 		}
-
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	newPool := core.NewTxPool(eth.EventMux(), eth.blockchain.State, eth.blockchain.GasLimit)
diff --git a/eth/backend_test.go b/eth/backend_test.go
index 220426c17..0379fc843 100644
--- a/eth/backend_test.go
+++ b/eth/backend_test.go
@@ -16,17 +16,17 @@ func TestMipmapUpgrade(t *testing.T) {
 	addr := common.BytesToAddress([]byte("jeff"))
 	genesis := core.WriteGenesisBlockForTesting(db)
 
-	chain := core.GenerateChain(genesis, db, 10, func(i int, gen *core.BlockGen) {
+	chain, receipts := core.GenerateChain(genesis, db, 10, func(i int, gen *core.BlockGen) {
 		var receipts types.Receipts
 		switch i {
 		case 1:
 			receipt := types.NewReceipt(nil, new(big.Int))
-			receipt.SetLogs(vm.Logs{&vm.Log{Address: addr}})
+			receipt.Logs = vm.Logs{&vm.Log{Address: addr}}
 			gen.AddUncheckedReceipt(receipt)
 			receipts = types.Receipts{receipt}
 		case 2:
 			receipt := types.NewReceipt(nil, new(big.Int))
-			receipt.SetLogs(vm.Logs{&vm.Log{Address: addr}})
+			receipt.Logs = vm.Logs{&vm.Log{Address: addr}}
 			gen.AddUncheckedReceipt(receipt)
 			receipts = types.Receipts{receipt}
 		}
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func TestMipmapUpgrade(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 	})
-	for _, block := range chain {
+	for i, block := range chain {
 		core.WriteBlock(db, block)
 		if err := core.WriteCanonicalHash(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func TestMipmapUpgrade(t *testing.T) {
 		if err := core.WriteHeadBlockHash(db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
 		}
-		if err := core.PutBlockReceipts(db, block, block.Receipts()); err != nil {
+		if err := core.PutBlockReceipts(db, block.Hash(), receipts[i]); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal("error writing block receipts:", err)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader.go b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
index 0298dfa0b..4bcbd8557 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@
 package downloader
 
 import (
+	"crypto/rand"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"math"
 	"math/big"
 	"strings"
@@ -59,9 +61,11 @@ var (
 	maxQueuedStates   = 256 * 1024 // [eth/63] Maximum number of state requests to queue (DOS protection)
 	maxResultsProcess = 256        // Number of download results to import at once into the chain
 
-	headerCheckFrequency = 100  // Verification frequency of the downloaded headers during fast sync
-	minCheckedHeaders    = 2048 // Number of headers to verify fully when approaching the chain head
-	minFullBlocks        = 1024 // Number of blocks to retrieve fully even in fast sync
+	fsHeaderCheckFrequency = 100  // Verification frequency of the downloaded headers during fast sync
+	fsHeaderSafetyNet      = 2048 // Number of headers to discard in case a chain violation is detected
+	fsHeaderForceVerify    = 24   // Number of headers to verify before and after the pivot to accept it
+	fsPivotInterval        = 512  // Number of headers out of which to randomize the pivot point
+	fsMinFullBlocks        = 1024 // Number of blocks to retrieve fully even in fast sync
 )
 
 var (
@@ -85,12 +89,14 @@ var (
 	errCancelHeaderFetch  = errors.New("block header download canceled (requested)")
 	errCancelBodyFetch    = errors.New("block body download canceled (requested)")
 	errCancelReceiptFetch = errors.New("receipt download canceled (requested)")
+	errCancelStateFetch   = errors.New("state data download canceled (requested)")
 	errNoSyncActive       = errors.New("no sync active")
 )
 
 type Downloader struct {
-	mode SyncMode       // Synchronisation mode defining the strategies used
-	mux  *event.TypeMux // Event multiplexer to announce sync operation events
+	mode   SyncMode       // Synchronisation mode defining the strategy used (per sync cycle)
+	noFast bool           // Flag to disable fast syncing in case of a security error
+	mux    *event.TypeMux // Event multiplexer to announce sync operation events
 
 	queue *queue   // Scheduler for selecting the hashes to download
 	peers *peerSet // Set of active peers from which download can proceed
@@ -150,13 +156,13 @@ type Downloader struct {
 }
 
 // New creates a new downloader to fetch hashes and blocks from remote peers.
-func New(mode SyncMode, stateDb ethdb.Database, mux *event.TypeMux, hasHeader headerCheckFn, hasBlock blockCheckFn, getHeader headerRetrievalFn,
+func New(stateDb ethdb.Database, mux *event.TypeMux, hasHeader headerCheckFn, hasBlock blockCheckFn, getHeader headerRetrievalFn,
 	getBlock blockRetrievalFn, headHeader headHeaderRetrievalFn, headBlock headBlockRetrievalFn, headFastBlock headFastBlockRetrievalFn,
 	commitHeadBlock headBlockCommitterFn, getTd tdRetrievalFn, insertHeaders headerChainInsertFn, insertBlocks blockChainInsertFn,
 	insertReceipts receiptChainInsertFn, rollback chainRollbackFn, dropPeer peerDropFn) *Downloader {
 
 	return &Downloader{
-		mode:            mode,
+		mode:            FullSync,
 		mux:             mux,
 		queue:           newQueue(stateDb),
 		peers:           newPeerSet(),
@@ -188,19 +194,28 @@ func New(mode SyncMode, stateDb ethdb.Database, mux *event.TypeMux, hasHeader he
 	}
 }
 
-// Boundaries retrieves the synchronisation boundaries, specifically the origin
-// block where synchronisation started at (may have failed/suspended) and the
-// latest known block which the synchonisation targets.
-func (d *Downloader) Boundaries() (uint64, uint64) {
+// Progress retrieves the synchronisation boundaries, specifically the origin
+// block where synchronisation started at (may have failed/suspended); the block
+// or header sync is currently at; and the latest known block which the sync targets.
+func (d *Downloader) Progress() (uint64, uint64, uint64) {
 	d.syncStatsLock.RLock()
 	defer d.syncStatsLock.RUnlock()
 
-	return d.syncStatsChainOrigin, d.syncStatsChainHeight
+	current := uint64(0)
+	switch d.mode {
+	case FullSync:
+		current = d.headBlock().NumberU64()
+	case FastSync:
+		current = d.headFastBlock().NumberU64()
+	case LightSync:
+		current = d.headHeader().Number.Uint64()
+	}
+	return d.syncStatsChainOrigin, current, d.syncStatsChainHeight
 }
 
 // Synchronising returns whether the downloader is currently retrieving blocks.
 func (d *Downloader) Synchronising() bool {
-	return atomic.LoadInt32(&d.synchronising) > 0
+	return atomic.LoadInt32(&d.synchronising) > 0 || atomic.LoadInt32(&d.processing) > 0
 }
 
 // RegisterPeer injects a new download peer into the set of block source to be
@@ -233,10 +248,10 @@ func (d *Downloader) UnregisterPeer(id string) error {
 
 // Synchronise tries to sync up our local block chain with a remote peer, both
 // adding various sanity checks as well as wrapping it with various log entries.
-func (d *Downloader) Synchronise(id string, head common.Hash, td *big.Int) {
+func (d *Downloader) Synchronise(id string, head common.Hash, td *big.Int, mode SyncMode) {
 	glog.V(logger.Detail).Infof("Attempting synchronisation: %v, head [%x…], TD %v", id, head[:4], td)
 
-	switch err := d.synchronise(id, head, td); err {
+	switch err := d.synchronise(id, head, td, mode); err {
 	case nil:
 		glog.V(logger.Detail).Infof("Synchronisation completed")
 
@@ -258,7 +273,7 @@ func (d *Downloader) Synchronise(id string, head common.Hash, td *big.Int) {
 // synchronise will select the peer and use it for synchronising. If an empty string is given
 // it will use the best peer possible and synchronize if it's TD is higher than our own. If any of the
 // checks fail an error will be returned. This method is synchronous
-func (d *Downloader) synchronise(id string, hash common.Hash, td *big.Int) error {
+func (d *Downloader) synchronise(id string, hash common.Hash, td *big.Int, mode SyncMode) error {
 	// Mock out the synchonisation if testing
 	if d.synchroniseMock != nil {
 		return d.synchroniseMock(id, hash)
@@ -298,6 +313,11 @@ func (d *Downloader) synchronise(id string, hash common.Hash, td *big.Int) error
 	d.cancelCh = make(chan struct{})
 	d.cancelLock.Unlock()
 
+	// Set the requested sync mode, unless it's forbidden
+	d.mode = mode
+	if d.mode == FastSync && d.noFast {
+		d.mode = FullSync
+	}
 	// Retrieve the origin peer and initiate the downloading process
 	p := d.peers.Peer(id)
 	if p == nil {
@@ -306,13 +326,6 @@ func (d *Downloader) synchronise(id string, hash common.Hash, td *big.Int) error
 	return d.syncWithPeer(p, hash, td)
 }
 
-/*
-// Has checks if the downloader knows about a particular hash, meaning that its
-// either already downloaded of pending retrieval.
-func (d *Downloader) Has(hash common.Hash) bool {
-	return d.queue.Has(hash)
-}
-*/
 // syncWithPeer starts a block synchronization based on the hash chain from the
 // specified peer and head hash.
 func (d *Downloader) syncWithPeer(p *peer, hash common.Hash, td *big.Int) (err error) {
@@ -387,8 +400,28 @@ func (d *Downloader) syncWithPeer(p *peer, hash common.Hash, td *big.Int) (err e
 
 		// Initiate the sync using a concurrent header and content retrieval algorithm
 		pivot := uint64(0)
-		if latest > uint64(minFullBlocks) {
-			pivot = latest - uint64(minFullBlocks)
+		switch d.mode {
+		case LightSync:
+			pivot = latest
+
+		case FastSync:
+			// Calculate the new fast/slow sync pivot point
+			pivotOffset, err := rand.Int(rand.Reader, big.NewInt(int64(fsPivotInterval)))
+			if err != nil {
+				panic(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to access crypto random source: %v", err))
+			}
+			if latest > uint64(fsMinFullBlocks)+pivotOffset.Uint64() {
+				pivot = latest - uint64(fsMinFullBlocks) - pivotOffset.Uint64()
+			}
+			// If the point is below the origin, move origin back to ensure state download
+			if pivot < origin {
+				if pivot > 0 {
+					origin = pivot - 1
+				} else {
+					origin = 0
+				}
+			}
+			glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("Fast syncing until pivot block #%d", pivot)
 		}
 		d.queue.Prepare(origin+1, d.mode, pivot)
 
@@ -396,10 +429,10 @@ func (d *Downloader) syncWithPeer(p *peer, hash common.Hash, td *big.Int) (err e
 			d.syncInitHook(origin, latest)
 		}
 		errc := make(chan error, 4)
-		go func() { errc <- d.fetchHeaders(p, td, origin+1, latest) }() // Headers are always retrieved
-		go func() { errc <- d.fetchBodies(origin + 1) }()               // Bodies are retrieved during normal and fast sync
-		go func() { errc <- d.fetchReceipts(origin + 1) }()             // Receipts are retrieved during fast sync
-		go func() { errc <- d.fetchNodeData() }()                       // Node state data is retrieved during fast sync
+		go func() { errc <- d.fetchHeaders(p, td, origin+1) }() // Headers are always retrieved
+		go func() { errc <- d.fetchBodies(origin + 1) }()       // Bodies are retrieved during normal and fast sync
+		go func() { errc <- d.fetchReceipts(origin + 1) }()     // Receipts are retrieved during fast sync
+		go func() { errc <- d.fetchNodeData() }()               // Node state data is retrieved during fast sync
 
 		// If any fetcher fails, cancel the others
 		var fail error
@@ -844,7 +877,7 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchBlocks61(from uint64) error {
 
 			for _, peer := range idles {
 				// Short circuit if throttling activated
-				if d.queue.ThrottleBlocks() {
+				if d.queue.ShouldThrottleBlocks() {
 					throttled = true
 					break
 				}
@@ -860,8 +893,13 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchBlocks61(from uint64) error {
 				}
 				// Fetch the chunk and make sure any errors return the hashes to the queue
 				if err := peer.Fetch61(request); err != nil {
-					glog.V(logger.Error).Infof("%v: fetch failed, rescheduling", peer)
-					d.queue.CancelBlocks(request)
+					// Although we could try and make an attempt to fix this, this error really
+					// means that we've double allocated a fetch task to a peer. If that is the
+					// case, the internal state of the downloader and the queue is very wrong so
+					// better hard crash and note the error instead of silently accumulating into
+					// a much bigger issue.
+					panic(fmt.Sprintf("%v: fetch assignment failed, hard panic", peer))
+					d.queue.CancelBlocks(request) // noop for now
 				}
 			}
 			// Make sure that we have peers available for fetching. If all peers have been tried
@@ -1051,28 +1089,34 @@ func (d *Downloader) findAncestor(p *peer) (uint64, error) {
 //
 // The queue parameter can be used to switch between queuing headers for block
 // body download too, or directly import as pure header chains.
-func (d *Downloader) fetchHeaders(p *peer, td *big.Int, from, latest uint64) error {
+func (d *Downloader) fetchHeaders(p *peer, td *big.Int, from uint64) error {
 	glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("%v: downloading headers from #%d", p, from)
 	defer glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("%v: header download terminated", p)
 
+	// Calculate the pivoting point for switching from fast to slow sync
+	pivot := d.queue.FastSyncPivot()
+
 	// Keep a count of uncertain headers to roll back
 	rollback := []*types.Header{}
 	defer func() {
 		if len(rollback) > 0 {
+			// Flatten the headers and roll them back
 			hashes := make([]common.Hash, len(rollback))
 			for i, header := range rollback {
 				hashes[i] = header.Hash()
 			}
+			lh, lfb, lb := d.headHeader().Number, d.headFastBlock().Number(), d.headBlock().Number()
 			d.rollback(hashes)
+			glog.V(logger.Warn).Infof("Rolled back %d headers (LH: %d->%d, FB: %d->%d, LB: %d->%d)",
+				len(hashes), lh, d.headHeader().Number, lfb, d.headFastBlock().Number(), lb, d.headBlock().Number())
+
+			// If we're already past the pivot point, this could be an attack, disable fast sync
+			if rollback[len(rollback)-1].Number.Uint64() > pivot {
+				d.noFast = true
+			}
 		}
 	}()
-	// Calculate the pivoting point for switching from fast to slow sync
-	pivot := uint64(0)
-	if d.mode == FastSync && latest > uint64(minFullBlocks) {
-		pivot = latest - uint64(minFullBlocks)
-	} else if d.mode == LightSync {
-		pivot = latest
-	}
+
 	// Create a timeout timer, and the associated hash fetcher
 	request := time.Now()       // time of the last fetch request
 	timeout := time.NewTimer(0) // timer to dump a non-responsive active peer
@@ -1135,6 +1179,19 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchHeaders(p *peer, td *big.Int, from, latest uint64) err
 				if !gotHeaders && td.Cmp(d.getTd(d.headBlock().Hash())) > 0 {
 					return errStallingPeer
 				}
+				// If fast or light syncing, ensure promised headers are indeed delivered. This is
+				// needed to detect scenarios where an attacker feeds a bad pivot and then bails out
+				// of delivering the post-pivot blocks that would flag the invalid content.
+				//
+				// This check cannot be executed "as is" for full imports, since blocks may still be
+				// queued for processing when the header download completes. However, as long as the
+				// peer gave us something useful, we're already happy/progressed (above check).
+				if d.mode == FastSync || d.mode == LightSync {
+					if td.Cmp(d.getTd(d.headHeader().Hash())) > 0 {
+						return errStallingPeer
+					}
+				}
+				rollback = nil
 				return nil
 			}
 			gotHeaders = true
@@ -1152,8 +1209,8 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchHeaders(p *peer, td *big.Int, from, latest uint64) err
 					}
 				}
 				// If we're importing pure headers, verify based on their recentness
-				frequency := headerCheckFrequency
-				if headers[len(headers)-1].Number.Uint64()+uint64(minCheckedHeaders) > pivot {
+				frequency := fsHeaderCheckFrequency
+				if headers[len(headers)-1].Number.Uint64()+uint64(fsHeaderForceVerify) > pivot {
 					frequency = 1
 				}
 				if n, err := d.insertHeaders(headers, frequency); err != nil {
@@ -1162,11 +1219,8 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchHeaders(p *peer, td *big.Int, from, latest uint64) err
 				}
 				// All verifications passed, store newly found uncertain headers
 				rollback = append(rollback, unknown...)
-				if len(rollback) > minCheckedHeaders {
-					rollback = append(rollback[:0], rollback[len(rollback)-minCheckedHeaders:]...)
-				}
-				if headers[len(headers)-1].Number.Uint64() >= pivot {
-					rollback = rollback[:0]
+				if len(rollback) > fsHeaderSafetyNet {
+					rollback = append(rollback[:0], rollback[len(rollback)-fsHeaderSafetyNet:]...)
 				}
 			}
 			if d.mode == FullSync || d.mode == FastSync {
@@ -1230,12 +1284,11 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchBodies(from uint64) error {
 		expire   = func() []string { return d.queue.ExpireBodies(bodyHardTTL) }
 		fetch    = func(p *peer, req *fetchRequest) error { return p.FetchBodies(req) }
 		capacity = func(p *peer) int { return p.BlockCapacity() }
-		getIdles = func() ([]*peer, int) { return d.peers.BodyIdlePeers() }
-		setIdle  = func(p *peer) { p.SetBlocksIdle() }
+		setIdle  = func(p *peer) { p.SetBodiesIdle() }
 	)
 	err := d.fetchParts(errCancelBodyFetch, d.bodyCh, deliver, d.bodyWakeCh, expire,
-		d.queue.PendingBlocks, d.queue.InFlightBlocks, d.queue.ThrottleBlocks, d.queue.ReserveBodies,
-		d.bodyFetchHook, fetch, d.queue.CancelBodies, capacity, getIdles, setIdle, "Body")
+		d.queue.PendingBlocks, d.queue.InFlightBlocks, d.queue.ShouldThrottleBlocks, d.queue.ReserveBodies,
+		d.bodyFetchHook, fetch, d.queue.CancelBodies, capacity, d.peers.BodyIdlePeers, setIdle, "Body")
 
 	glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("Block body download terminated: %v", err)
 	return err
@@ -1252,13 +1305,13 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchReceipts(from uint64) error {
 			pack := packet.(*receiptPack)
 			return d.queue.DeliverReceipts(pack.peerId, pack.receipts)
 		}
-		expire   = func() []string { return d.queue.ExpireReceipts(bodyHardTTL) }
+		expire   = func() []string { return d.queue.ExpireReceipts(receiptHardTTL) }
 		fetch    = func(p *peer, req *fetchRequest) error { return p.FetchReceipts(req) }
 		capacity = func(p *peer) int { return p.ReceiptCapacity() }
 		setIdle  = func(p *peer) { p.SetReceiptsIdle() }
 	)
 	err := d.fetchParts(errCancelReceiptFetch, d.receiptCh, deliver, d.receiptWakeCh, expire,
-		d.queue.PendingReceipts, d.queue.InFlightReceipts, d.queue.ThrottleReceipts, d.queue.ReserveReceipts,
+		d.queue.PendingReceipts, d.queue.InFlightReceipts, d.queue.ShouldThrottleReceipts, d.queue.ReserveReceipts,
 		d.receiptFetchHook, fetch, d.queue.CancelReceipts, capacity, d.peers.ReceiptIdlePeers, setIdle, "Receipt")
 
 	glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("Receipt download terminated: %v", err)
@@ -1307,9 +1360,9 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchNodeData() error {
 		capacity = func(p *peer) int { return p.NodeDataCapacity() }
 		setIdle  = func(p *peer) { p.SetNodeDataIdle() }
 	)
-	err := d.fetchParts(errCancelReceiptFetch, d.stateCh, deliver, d.stateWakeCh, expire,
+	err := d.fetchParts(errCancelStateFetch, d.stateCh, deliver, d.stateWakeCh, expire,
 		d.queue.PendingNodeData, d.queue.InFlightNodeData, throttle, reserve, nil, fetch,
-		d.queue.CancelNodeData, capacity, d.peers.ReceiptIdlePeers, setIdle, "State")
+		d.queue.CancelNodeData, capacity, d.peers.NodeDataIdlePeers, setIdle, "State")
 
 	glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("Node state data download terminated: %v", err)
 	return err
@@ -1323,7 +1376,7 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchParts(errCancel error, deliveryCh chan dataPack, deliv
 	fetchHook func([]*types.Header), fetch func(*peer, *fetchRequest) error, cancel func(*fetchRequest), capacity func(*peer) int,
 	idle func() ([]*peer, int), setIdle func(*peer), kind string) error {
 
-	// Create a ticker to detect expired retreival tasks
+	// Create a ticker to detect expired retrieval tasks
 	ticker := time.NewTicker(100 * time.Millisecond)
 	defer ticker.Stop()
 
@@ -1366,11 +1419,6 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchParts(errCancel error, deliveryCh chan dataPack, deliv
 					// The hash chain is invalid (blocks are not ordered properly), abort
 					return err
 
-				case errInvalidBody, errInvalidReceipt:
-					// The peer delivered something very bad, drop immediately
-					glog.V(logger.Error).Infof("%s: delivered invalid %s, dropping", peer, strings.ToLower(kind))
-					d.dropPeer(peer.id)
-
 				case errNoFetchesPending:
 					// Peer probably timed out with its delivery but came through
 					// in the end, demote, but allow to to pull from this peer.
@@ -1475,8 +1523,13 @@ func (d *Downloader) fetchParts(errCancel error, deliveryCh chan dataPack, deliv
 					fetchHook(request.Headers)
 				}
 				if err := fetch(peer, request); err != nil {
-					glog.V(logger.Error).Infof("%v: %s fetch failed, rescheduling", peer, strings.ToLower(kind))
-					cancel(request)
+					// Although we could try and make an attempt to fix this, this error really
+					// means that we've double allocated a fetch task to a peer. If that is the
+					// case, the internal state of the downloader and the queue is very wrong so
+					// better hard crash and note the error instead of silently accumulating into
+					// a much bigger issue.
+					panic(fmt.Sprintf("%v: %s fetch assignment failed, hard panic", peer, strings.ToLower(kind)))
+					cancel(request) // noop for now
 				}
 				running = true
 			}
@@ -1526,6 +1579,7 @@ func (d *Downloader) process() {
 	// Repeat the processing as long as there are results to process
 	for {
 		// Fetch the next batch of results
+		pivot := d.queue.FastSyncPivot() // Fetch pivot before results to prevent reset race
 		results := d.queue.TakeResults()
 		if len(results) == 0 {
 			return
@@ -1545,7 +1599,6 @@ func (d *Downloader) process() {
 			}
 			// Retrieve the a batch of results to import
 			var (
-				headers  = make([]*types.Header, 0, maxResultsProcess)
 				blocks   = make([]*types.Block, 0, maxResultsProcess)
 				receipts = make([]types.Receipts, 0, maxResultsProcess)
 			)
@@ -1556,11 +1609,9 @@ func (d *Downloader) process() {
 					blocks = append(blocks, types.NewBlockWithHeader(result.Header).WithBody(result.Transactions, result.Uncles))
 				case d.mode == FastSync:
 					blocks = append(blocks, types.NewBlockWithHeader(result.Header).WithBody(result.Transactions, result.Uncles))
-					if result.Header.Number.Uint64() <= d.queue.fastSyncPivot {
+					if result.Header.Number.Uint64() <= pivot {
 						receipts = append(receipts, result.Receipts)
 					}
-				case d.mode == LightSync:
-					headers = append(headers, result.Header)
 				}
 			}
 			// Try to process the results, aborting if there's an error
@@ -1569,12 +1620,10 @@ func (d *Downloader) process() {
 				index int
 			)
 			switch {
-			case len(headers) > 0:
-				index, err = d.insertHeaders(headers, headerCheckFrequency)
-
 			case len(receipts) > 0:
 				index, err = d.insertReceipts(blocks, receipts)
-				if err == nil && blocks[len(blocks)-1].NumberU64() == d.queue.fastSyncPivot {
+				if err == nil && blocks[len(blocks)-1].NumberU64() == pivot {
+					glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("Committing block #%d [%x…] as the new head", blocks[len(blocks)-1].Number(), blocks[len(blocks)-1].Hash().Bytes()[:4])
 					index, err = len(blocks)-1, d.commitHeadBlock(blocks[len(blocks)-1].Hash())
 				}
 			default:
diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go b/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
index f01650ebd..ef6f74a6b 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ type downloadTester struct {
 }
 
 // newTester creates a new downloader test mocker.
-func newTester(mode SyncMode) *downloadTester {
+func newTester() *downloadTester {
 	tester := &downloadTester{
 		ownHashes:    []common.Hash{genesis.Hash()},
 		ownHeaders:   map[common.Hash]*types.Header{genesis.Hash(): genesis.Header()},
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func newTester(mode SyncMode) *downloadTester {
 		peerChainTds: make(map[string]map[common.Hash]*big.Int),
 	}
 	tester.stateDb, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	tester.downloader = New(mode, tester.stateDb, new(event.TypeMux), tester.hasHeader, tester.hasBlock, tester.getHeader,
+	tester.downloader = New(tester.stateDb, new(event.TypeMux), tester.hasHeader, tester.hasBlock, tester.getHeader,
 		tester.getBlock, tester.headHeader, tester.headBlock, tester.headFastBlock, tester.commitHeadBlock, tester.getTd,
 		tester.insertHeaders, tester.insertBlocks, tester.insertReceipts, tester.rollback, tester.dropPeer)
 
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func newTester(mode SyncMode) *downloadTester {
 }
 
 // sync starts synchronizing with a remote peer, blocking until it completes.
-func (dl *downloadTester) sync(id string, td *big.Int) error {
+func (dl *downloadTester) sync(id string, td *big.Int, mode SyncMode) error {
 	dl.lock.RLock()
 	hash := dl.peerHashes[id][0]
 	// If no particular TD was requested, load from the peer's blockchain
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ func (dl *downloadTester) sync(id string, td *big.Int) error {
 	}
 	dl.lock.RUnlock()
 
-	err := dl.downloader.synchronise(id, hash, td)
+	err := dl.downloader.synchronise(id, hash, td, mode)
 	for {
 		// If the queue is empty and processing stopped, break
 		if dl.downloader.queue.Idle() && atomic.LoadInt32(&dl.downloader.processing) == 0 {
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ func (dl *downloadTester) headHeader() *types.Header {
 	defer dl.lock.RUnlock()
 
 	for i := len(dl.ownHashes) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
-		if header := dl.getHeader(dl.ownHashes[i]); header != nil {
+		if header := dl.ownHeaders[dl.ownHashes[i]]; header != nil {
 			return header
 		}
 	}
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ func (dl *downloadTester) headBlock() *types.Block {
 	defer dl.lock.RUnlock()
 
 	for i := len(dl.ownHashes) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
-		if block := dl.getBlock(dl.ownHashes[i]); block != nil {
+		if block := dl.ownBlocks[dl.ownHashes[i]]; block != nil {
 			if _, err := dl.stateDb.Get(block.Root().Bytes()); err == nil {
 				return block
 			}
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func (dl *downloadTester) headFastBlock() *types.Block {
 	defer dl.lock.RUnlock()
 
 	for i := len(dl.ownHashes) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
-		if block := dl.getBlock(dl.ownHashes[i]); block != nil {
+		if block := dl.ownBlocks[dl.ownHashes[i]]; block != nil {
 			return block
 		}
 	}
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ func (dl *downloadTester) insertHeaders(headers []*types.Header, checkFreq int)
 		}
 		dl.ownHashes = append(dl.ownHashes, header.Hash())
 		dl.ownHeaders[header.Hash()] = header
-		dl.ownChainTd[header.Hash()] = dl.ownChainTd[header.ParentHash]
+		dl.ownChainTd[header.Hash()] = new(big.Int).Add(dl.ownChainTd[header.ParentHash], header.Difficulty)
 	}
 	return len(headers), nil
 }
@@ -305,11 +305,13 @@ func (dl *downloadTester) insertBlocks(blocks types.Blocks) (int, error) {
 		if _, ok := dl.ownBlocks[block.ParentHash()]; !ok {
 			return i, errors.New("unknown parent")
 		}
-		dl.ownHashes = append(dl.ownHashes, block.Hash())
-		dl.ownHeaders[block.Hash()] = block.Header()
+		if _, ok := dl.ownHeaders[block.Hash()]; !ok {
+			dl.ownHashes = append(dl.ownHashes, block.Hash())
+			dl.ownHeaders[block.Hash()] = block.Header()
+		}
 		dl.ownBlocks[block.Hash()] = block
-		dl.stateDb.Put(block.Root().Bytes(), []byte{})
-		dl.ownChainTd[block.Hash()] = dl.ownChainTd[block.ParentHash()]
+		dl.stateDb.Put(block.Root().Bytes(), []byte{0x00})
+		dl.ownChainTd[block.Hash()] = new(big.Int).Add(dl.ownChainTd[block.ParentHash()], block.Difficulty())
 	}
 	return len(blocks), nil
 }
@@ -381,7 +383,19 @@ func (dl *downloadTester) newSlowPeer(id string, version int, hashes []common.Ha
 		dl.peerReceipts[id] = make(map[common.Hash]types.Receipts)
 		dl.peerChainTds[id] = make(map[common.Hash]*big.Int)
 
-		for _, hash := range hashes {
+		genesis := hashes[len(hashes)-1]
+		if header := headers[genesis]; header != nil {
+			dl.peerHeaders[id][genesis] = header
+			dl.peerChainTds[id][genesis] = header.Difficulty
+		}
+		if block := blocks[genesis]; block != nil {
+			dl.peerBlocks[id][genesis] = block
+			dl.peerChainTds[id][genesis] = block.Difficulty()
+		}
+
+		for i := len(hashes) - 2; i >= 0; i-- {
+			hash := hashes[i]
+
 			if header, ok := headers[hash]; ok {
 				dl.peerHeaders[id][hash] = header
 				if _, ok := dl.peerHeaders[id][header.ParentHash]; ok {
@@ -627,21 +641,28 @@ func assertOwnChain(t *testing.T, tester *downloadTester, length int) {
 // number of items of the various chain components.
 func assertOwnForkedChain(t *testing.T, tester *downloadTester, common int, lengths []int) {
 	// Initialize the counters for the first fork
-	headers, blocks, receipts := lengths[0], lengths[0], lengths[0]-minFullBlocks
-	if receipts < 0 {
-		receipts = 1
+	headers, blocks := lengths[0], lengths[0]
+
+	minReceipts, maxReceipts := lengths[0]-fsMinFullBlocks-fsPivotInterval, lengths[0]-fsMinFullBlocks
+	if minReceipts < 0 {
+		minReceipts = 1
+	}
+	if maxReceipts < 0 {
+		maxReceipts = 1
 	}
 	// Update the counters for each subsequent fork
 	for _, length := range lengths[1:] {
 		headers += length - common
 		blocks += length - common
-		receipts += length - common - minFullBlocks
+
+		minReceipts += length - common - fsMinFullBlocks - fsPivotInterval
+		maxReceipts += length - common - fsMinFullBlocks
 	}
 	switch tester.downloader.mode {
 	case FullSync:
-		receipts = 1
+		minReceipts, maxReceipts = 1, 1
 	case LightSync:
-		blocks, receipts = 1, 1
+		blocks, minReceipts, maxReceipts = 1, 1, 1
 	}
 	if hs := len(tester.ownHeaders); hs != headers {
 		t.Fatalf("synchronised headers mismatch: have %v, want %v", hs, headers)
@@ -649,14 +670,20 @@ func assertOwnForkedChain(t *testing.T, tester *downloadTester, common int, leng
 	if bs := len(tester.ownBlocks); bs != blocks {
 		t.Fatalf("synchronised blocks mismatch: have %v, want %v", bs, blocks)
 	}
-	if rs := len(tester.ownReceipts); rs != receipts {
-		t.Fatalf("synchronised receipts mismatch: have %v, want %v", rs, receipts)
+	if rs := len(tester.ownReceipts); rs < minReceipts || rs > maxReceipts {
+		t.Fatalf("synchronised receipts mismatch: have %v, want between [%v, %v]", rs, minReceipts, maxReceipts)
 	}
 	// Verify the state trie too for fast syncs
 	if tester.downloader.mode == FastSync {
-		if index := lengths[len(lengths)-1] - minFullBlocks - 1; index > 0 {
-			if statedb := state.New(tester.ownHeaders[tester.ownHashes[index]].Root, tester.stateDb); statedb == nil {
-				t.Fatalf("state reconstruction failed")
+		index := 0
+		if pivot := int(tester.downloader.queue.fastSyncPivot); pivot < common {
+			index = pivot
+		} else {
+			index = len(tester.ownHashes) - lengths[len(lengths)-1] + int(tester.downloader.queue.fastSyncPivot)
+		}
+		if index > 0 {
+			if statedb, err := state.New(tester.ownHeaders[tester.ownHashes[index]].Root, tester.stateDb); statedb == nil || err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("state reconstruction failed: %v", err)
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -678,11 +705,11 @@ func testCanonicalSynchronisation(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 	tester.newPeer("peer", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
 
 	// Synchronise with the peer and make sure all relevant data was retrieved
-	if err := tester.sync("peer", nil); err != nil {
+	if err := tester.sync("peer", nil, mode); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertOwnChain(t, tester, targetBlocks+1)
@@ -702,7 +729,7 @@ func testThrottling(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	targetBlocks := 8 * blockCacheLimit
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 	tester.newPeer("peer", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
 
 	// Wrap the importer to allow stepping
@@ -714,7 +741,7 @@ func testThrottling(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	// Start a synchronisation concurrently
 	errc := make(chan error)
 	go func() {
-		errc <- tester.sync("peer", nil)
+		errc <- tester.sync("peer", nil, mode)
 	}()
 	// Iteratively take some blocks, always checking the retrieval count
 	for {
@@ -726,10 +753,11 @@ func testThrottling(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 			break
 		}
 		// Wait a bit for sync to throttle itself
-		var cached int
+		var cached, frozen int
 		for start := time.Now(); time.Since(start) < time.Second; {
 			time.Sleep(25 * time.Millisecond)
 
+			tester.lock.RLock()
 			tester.downloader.queue.lock.RLock()
 			cached = len(tester.downloader.queue.blockDonePool)
 			if mode == FastSync {
@@ -739,16 +767,23 @@ func testThrottling(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 					}
 				}
 			}
+			frozen = int(atomic.LoadUint32(&blocked))
+			retrieved = len(tester.ownBlocks)
 			tester.downloader.queue.lock.RUnlock()
+			tester.lock.RUnlock()
 
-			if cached == blockCacheLimit || len(tester.ownBlocks)+cached+int(atomic.LoadUint32(&blocked)) == targetBlocks+1 {
+			if cached == blockCacheLimit || retrieved+cached+frozen == targetBlocks+1 {
 				break
 			}
 		}
 		// Make sure we filled up the cache, then exhaust it
 		time.Sleep(25 * time.Millisecond) // give it a chance to screw up
-		if cached != blockCacheLimit && len(tester.ownBlocks)+cached+int(atomic.LoadUint32(&blocked)) != targetBlocks+1 {
-			t.Fatalf("block count mismatch: have %v, want %v (owned %v, target %v)", cached, blockCacheLimit, len(tester.ownBlocks), targetBlocks+1)
+
+		tester.lock.RLock()
+		retrieved = len(tester.ownBlocks)
+		tester.lock.RUnlock()
+		if cached != blockCacheLimit && retrieved+cached+frozen != targetBlocks+1 {
+			t.Fatalf("block count mismatch: have %v, want %v (owned %v, blocked %v, target %v)", cached, blockCacheLimit, retrieved, frozen, targetBlocks+1)
 		}
 		// Permit the blocked blocks to import
 		if atomic.LoadUint32(&blocked) > 0 {
@@ -779,18 +814,18 @@ func testForkedSynchronisation(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	common, fork := MaxHashFetch, 2*MaxHashFetch
 	hashesA, hashesB, headersA, headersB, blocksA, blocksB, receiptsA, receiptsB := makeChainFork(common+fork, fork, genesis, nil)
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 	tester.newPeer("fork A", protocol, hashesA, headersA, blocksA, receiptsA)
 	tester.newPeer("fork B", protocol, hashesB, headersB, blocksB, receiptsB)
 
 	// Synchronise with the peer and make sure all blocks were retrieved
-	if err := tester.sync("fork A", nil); err != nil {
+	if err := tester.sync("fork A", nil, mode); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertOwnChain(t, tester, common+fork+1)
 
 	// Synchronise with the second peer and make sure that fork is pulled too
-	if err := tester.sync("fork B", nil); err != nil {
+	if err := tester.sync("fork B", nil, mode); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertOwnForkedChain(t, tester, common+1, []int{common + fork + 1, common + fork + 1})
@@ -798,7 +833,7 @@ func testForkedSynchronisation(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 
 // Tests that an inactive downloader will not accept incoming hashes and blocks.
 func TestInactiveDownloader61(t *testing.T) {
-	tester := newTester(FullSync)
+	tester := newTester()
 
 	// Check that neither hashes nor blocks are accepted
 	if err := tester.downloader.DeliverHashes("bad peer", []common.Hash{}); err != errNoSyncActive {
@@ -812,7 +847,7 @@ func TestInactiveDownloader61(t *testing.T) {
 // Tests that an inactive downloader will not accept incoming block headers and
 // bodies.
 func TestInactiveDownloader62(t *testing.T) {
-	tester := newTester(FullSync)
+	tester := newTester()
 
 	// Check that neither block headers nor bodies are accepted
 	if err := tester.downloader.DeliverHeaders("bad peer", []*types.Header{}); err != errNoSyncActive {
@@ -826,7 +861,7 @@ func TestInactiveDownloader62(t *testing.T) {
 // Tests that an inactive downloader will not accept incoming block headers,
 // bodies and receipts.
 func TestInactiveDownloader63(t *testing.T) {
-	tester := newTester(FullSync)
+	tester := newTester()
 
 	// Check that neither block headers nor bodies are accepted
 	if err := tester.downloader.DeliverHeaders("bad peer", []*types.Header{}); err != errNoSyncActive {
@@ -860,7 +895,7 @@ func testCancel(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	}
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 	tester.newPeer("peer", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
 
 	// Make sure canceling works with a pristine downloader
@@ -869,7 +904,7 @@ func testCancel(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 		t.Errorf("download queue not idle")
 	}
 	// Synchronise with the peer, but cancel afterwards
-	if err := tester.sync("peer", nil); err != nil {
+	if err := tester.sync("peer", nil, mode); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 	}
 	tester.downloader.cancel()
@@ -893,12 +928,12 @@ func testMultiSynchronisation(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	targetBlocks := targetPeers*blockCacheLimit - 15
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 	for i := 0; i < targetPeers; i++ {
 		id := fmt.Sprintf("peer #%d", i)
 		tester.newPeer(id, protocol, hashes[i*blockCacheLimit:], headers, blocks, receipts)
 	}
-	if err := tester.sync("peer #0", nil); err != nil {
+	if err := tester.sync("peer #0", nil, mode); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertOwnChain(t, tester, targetBlocks+1)
@@ -920,14 +955,14 @@ func testMultiProtoSync(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
 
 	// Create peers of every type
-	tester := newTester(mode)
-	tester.newPeer("peer 61", 61, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
-	tester.newPeer("peer 62", 62, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
+	tester := newTester()
+	tester.newPeer("peer 61", 61, hashes, nil, blocks, nil)
+	tester.newPeer("peer 62", 62, hashes, headers, blocks, nil)
 	tester.newPeer("peer 63", 63, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
 	tester.newPeer("peer 64", 64, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
 
-	// Synchronise with the requestd peer and make sure all blocks were retrieved
-	if err := tester.sync(fmt.Sprintf("peer %d", protocol), nil); err != nil {
+	// Synchronise with the requested peer and make sure all blocks were retrieved
+	if err := tester.sync(fmt.Sprintf("peer %d", protocol), nil, mode); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertOwnChain(t, tester, targetBlocks+1)
@@ -955,7 +990,7 @@ func testEmptyShortCircuit(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	targetBlocks := 2*blockCacheLimit - 15
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 	tester.newPeer("peer", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
 
 	// Instrument the downloader to signal body requests
@@ -967,7 +1002,7 @@ func testEmptyShortCircuit(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 		atomic.AddInt32(&receiptsHave, int32(len(headers)))
 	}
 	// Synchronise with the peer and make sure all blocks were retrieved
-	if err := tester.sync("peer", nil); err != nil {
+	if err := tester.sync("peer", nil, mode); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertOwnChain(t, tester, targetBlocks+1)
@@ -980,7 +1015,7 @@ func testEmptyShortCircuit(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 		}
 	}
 	for hash, receipt := range receipts {
-		if mode == FastSync && len(receipt) > 0 && headers[hash].Number.Uint64() <= uint64(targetBlocks-minFullBlocks) {
+		if mode == FastSync && len(receipt) > 0 && headers[hash].Number.Uint64() <= tester.downloader.queue.fastSyncPivot {
 			receiptsNeeded++
 		}
 	}
@@ -1006,19 +1041,19 @@ func testMissingHeaderAttack(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 
 	// Attempt a full sync with an attacker feeding gapped headers
 	tester.newPeer("attack", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
 	missing := targetBlocks / 2
 	delete(tester.peerHeaders["attack"], hashes[missing])
 
-	if err := tester.sync("attack", nil); err == nil {
+	if err := tester.sync("attack", nil, mode); err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("succeeded attacker synchronisation")
 	}
 	// Synchronise with the valid peer and make sure sync succeeds
 	tester.newPeer("valid", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
-	if err := tester.sync("valid", nil); err != nil {
+	if err := tester.sync("valid", nil, mode); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertOwnChain(t, tester, targetBlocks+1)
@@ -1038,7 +1073,7 @@ func testShiftedHeaderAttack(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 
 	// Attempt a full sync with an attacker feeding shifted headers
 	tester.newPeer("attack", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
@@ -1046,12 +1081,12 @@ func testShiftedHeaderAttack(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	delete(tester.peerBlocks["attack"], hashes[len(hashes)-2])
 	delete(tester.peerReceipts["attack"], hashes[len(hashes)-2])
 
-	if err := tester.sync("attack", nil); err == nil {
+	if err := tester.sync("attack", nil, mode); err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("succeeded attacker synchronisation")
 	}
 	// Synchronise with the valid peer and make sure sync succeeds
 	tester.newPeer("valid", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
-	if err := tester.sync("valid", nil); err != nil {
+	if err := tester.sync("valid", nil, mode); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 	}
 	assertOwnChain(t, tester, targetBlocks+1)
@@ -1064,92 +1099,81 @@ func TestInvalidHeaderRollback64Light(t *testing.T) { testInvalidHeaderRollback(
 
 func testInvalidHeaderRollback(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	// Create a small enough block chain to download
-	targetBlocks := 3*minCheckedHeaders + minFullBlocks
+	targetBlocks := 3*fsHeaderSafetyNet + fsMinFullBlocks
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 
-	// Attempt to sync with an attacker that feeds junk during the fast sync phase
+	// Attempt to sync with an attacker that feeds junk during the fast sync phase.
+	// This should result in the last fsHeaderSafetyNet headers being rolled back.
 	tester.newPeer("fast-attack", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
-	missing := minCheckedHeaders + MaxHeaderFetch + 1
+	missing := fsHeaderSafetyNet + MaxHeaderFetch + 1
 	delete(tester.peerHeaders["fast-attack"], hashes[len(hashes)-missing])
 
-	if err := tester.sync("fast-attack", nil); err == nil {
+	if err := tester.sync("fast-attack", nil, mode); err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("succeeded fast attacker synchronisation")
 	}
 	if head := tester.headHeader().Number.Int64(); int(head) > MaxHeaderFetch {
-		t.Fatalf("rollback head mismatch: have %v, want at most %v", head, MaxHeaderFetch)
+		t.Errorf("rollback head mismatch: have %v, want at most %v", head, MaxHeaderFetch)
 	}
-	// Attempt to sync with an attacker that feeds junk during the block import phase
+	// Attempt to sync with an attacker that feeds junk during the block import phase.
+	// This should result in both the last fsHeaderSafetyNet number of headers being
+	// rolled back, and also the pivot point being reverted to a non-block status.
 	tester.newPeer("block-attack", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
-	missing = 3*minCheckedHeaders + MaxHeaderFetch + 1
+	missing = 3*fsHeaderSafetyNet + MaxHeaderFetch + 1
 	delete(tester.peerHeaders["block-attack"], hashes[len(hashes)-missing])
 
-	if err := tester.sync("block-attack", nil); err == nil {
+	if err := tester.sync("block-attack", nil, mode); err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("succeeded block attacker synchronisation")
 	}
+	if head := tester.headHeader().Number.Int64(); int(head) > 2*fsHeaderSafetyNet+MaxHeaderFetch {
+		t.Errorf("rollback head mismatch: have %v, want at most %v", head, 2*fsHeaderSafetyNet+MaxHeaderFetch)
+	}
 	if mode == FastSync {
-		// Fast sync should not discard anything below the verified pivot point
-		if head := tester.headHeader().Number.Int64(); int(head) < 3*minCheckedHeaders {
-			t.Fatalf("rollback head mismatch: have %v, want at least %v", head, 3*minCheckedHeaders)
+		if head := tester.headBlock().NumberU64(); head != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("fast sync pivot block #%d not rolled back", head)
 		}
-	} else if mode == LightSync {
-		// Light sync should still discard data as before
-		if head := tester.headHeader().Number.Int64(); int(head) > 3*minCheckedHeaders {
-			t.Fatalf("rollback head mismatch: have %v, want at most %v", head, 3*minCheckedHeaders)
-		}
-	}
-	// Synchronise with the valid peer and make sure sync succeeds
-	tester.newPeer("valid", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
-	if err := tester.sync("valid", nil); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 	}
-	assertOwnChain(t, tester, targetBlocks+1)
-}
+	// Attempt to sync with an attacker that withholds promised blocks after the
+	// fast sync pivot point. This could be a trial to leave the node with a bad
+	// but already imported pivot block.
+	tester.newPeer("withhold-attack", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
+	missing = 3*fsHeaderSafetyNet + MaxHeaderFetch + 1
 
-// Tests that if a peer sends an invalid block piece (body or receipt) for a
-// requested block, it gets dropped immediately by the downloader.
-func TestInvalidContentAttack62(t *testing.T)      { testInvalidContentAttack(t, 62, FullSync) }
-func TestInvalidContentAttack63Full(t *testing.T)  { testInvalidContentAttack(t, 63, FullSync) }
-func TestInvalidContentAttack63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testInvalidContentAttack(t, 63, FastSync) }
-func TestInvalidContentAttack64Full(t *testing.T)  { testInvalidContentAttack(t, 64, FullSync) }
-func TestInvalidContentAttack64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testInvalidContentAttack(t, 64, FastSync) }
-func TestInvalidContentAttack64Light(t *testing.T) { testInvalidContentAttack(t, 64, LightSync) }
-
-func testInvalidContentAttack(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
-	// Create two peers, one feeding invalid block bodies
-	targetBlocks := 4*blockCacheLimit - 15
-	hashes, headers, validBlocks, validReceipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
-
-	invalidBlocks := make(map[common.Hash]*types.Block)
-	for hash, block := range validBlocks {
-		invalidBlocks[hash] = types.NewBlockWithHeader(block.Header())
-	}
-	invalidReceipts := make(map[common.Hash]types.Receipts)
-	for hash, _ := range validReceipts {
-		invalidReceipts[hash] = types.Receipts{&types.Receipt{}}
+	tester.downloader.noFast = false
+	tester.downloader.syncInitHook = func(uint64, uint64) {
+		for i := missing; i <= len(hashes); i++ {
+			delete(tester.peerHeaders["withhold-attack"], hashes[len(hashes)-i])
+		}
+		tester.downloader.syncInitHook = nil
 	}
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
-	tester.newPeer("valid", protocol, hashes, headers, validBlocks, validReceipts)
-	if mode != LightSync {
-		tester.newPeer("body attack", protocol, hashes, headers, invalidBlocks, validReceipts)
+	if err := tester.sync("withhold-attack", nil, mode); err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("succeeded withholding attacker synchronisation")
+	}
+	if head := tester.headHeader().Number.Int64(); int(head) > 2*fsHeaderSafetyNet+MaxHeaderFetch {
+		t.Errorf("rollback head mismatch: have %v, want at most %v", head, 2*fsHeaderSafetyNet+MaxHeaderFetch)
 	}
 	if mode == FastSync {
-		tester.newPeer("receipt attack", protocol, hashes, headers, validBlocks, invalidReceipts)
+		if head := tester.headBlock().NumberU64(); head != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("fast sync pivot block #%d not rolled back", head)
+		}
 	}
-	// Synchronise with the valid peer (will pull contents from the attacker too)
-	if err := tester.sync("valid", nil); err != nil {
+	// Synchronise with the valid peer and make sure sync succeeds. Since the last
+	// rollback should also disable fast syncing for this process, verify that we
+	// did a fresh full sync. Note, we can't assert anything about the receipts
+	// since we won't purge the database of them, hence we can't use asserOwnChain.
+	tester.newPeer("valid", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
+	if err := tester.sync("valid", nil, mode); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 	}
-	assertOwnChain(t, tester, targetBlocks+1)
-
-	// Make sure the attacker was detected and dropped in the mean time
-	if _, ok := tester.peerHashes["body attack"]; ok {
-		t.Fatalf("block body attacker not detected/dropped")
+	if hs := len(tester.ownHeaders); hs != len(headers) {
+		t.Fatalf("synchronised headers mismatch: have %v, want %v", hs, len(headers))
 	}
-	if _, ok := tester.peerHashes["receipt attack"]; ok {
-		t.Fatalf("receipt attacker not detected/dropped")
+	if mode != LightSync {
+		if bs := len(tester.ownBlocks); bs != len(blocks) {
+			t.Fatalf("synchronised blocks mismatch: have %v, want %v", bs, len(blocks))
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1164,11 +1188,11 @@ func TestHighTDStarvationAttack64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testHighTDStarvationAttac
 func TestHighTDStarvationAttack64Light(t *testing.T) { testHighTDStarvationAttack(t, 64, LightSync) }
 
 func testHighTDStarvationAttack(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(0, 0, genesis, nil)
 
 	tester.newPeer("attack", protocol, []common.Hash{hashes[0]}, headers, blocks, receipts)
-	if err := tester.sync("attack", big.NewInt(1000000)); err != errStallingPeer {
+	if err := tester.sync("attack", big.NewInt(1000000), mode); err != errStallingPeer {
 		t.Fatalf("synchronisation error mismatch: have %v, want %v", err, errStallingPeer)
 	}
 }
@@ -1206,7 +1230,7 @@ func testBlockHeaderAttackerDropping(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 		{errCancelBodyFetch, false},   // Synchronisation was canceled, origin may be innocent, don't drop
 	}
 	// Run the tests and check disconnection status
-	tester := newTester(FullSync)
+	tester := newTester()
 	for i, tt := range tests {
 		// Register a new peer and ensure it's presence
 		id := fmt.Sprintf("test %d", i)
@@ -1219,120 +1243,125 @@ func testBlockHeaderAttackerDropping(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 		// Simulate a synchronisation and check the required result
 		tester.downloader.synchroniseMock = func(string, common.Hash) error { return tt.result }
 
-		tester.downloader.Synchronise(id, genesis.Hash(), big.NewInt(1000))
+		tester.downloader.Synchronise(id, genesis.Hash(), big.NewInt(1000), FullSync)
 		if _, ok := tester.peerHashes[id]; !ok != tt.drop {
 			t.Errorf("test %d: peer drop mismatch for %v: have %v, want %v", i, tt.result, !ok, tt.drop)
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-// Tests that synchronisation boundaries (origin block number and highest block
-// number) is tracked and updated correctly.
-func TestSyncBoundaries61(t *testing.T)      { testSyncBoundaries(t, 61, FullSync) }
-func TestSyncBoundaries62(t *testing.T)      { testSyncBoundaries(t, 62, FullSync) }
-func TestSyncBoundaries63Full(t *testing.T)  { testSyncBoundaries(t, 63, FullSync) }
-func TestSyncBoundaries63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testSyncBoundaries(t, 63, FastSync) }
-func TestSyncBoundaries64Full(t *testing.T)  { testSyncBoundaries(t, 64, FullSync) }
-func TestSyncBoundaries64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testSyncBoundaries(t, 64, FastSync) }
-func TestSyncBoundaries64Light(t *testing.T) { testSyncBoundaries(t, 64, LightSync) }
-
-func testSyncBoundaries(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
+// Tests that synchronisation progress (origin block number, current block number
+// and highest block number) is tracked and updated correctly.
+func TestSyncProgress61(t *testing.T)      { testSyncProgress(t, 61, FullSync) }
+func TestSyncProgress62(t *testing.T)      { testSyncProgress(t, 62, FullSync) }
+func TestSyncProgress63Full(t *testing.T)  { testSyncProgress(t, 63, FullSync) }
+func TestSyncProgress63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testSyncProgress(t, 63, FastSync) }
+func TestSyncProgress64Full(t *testing.T)  { testSyncProgress(t, 64, FullSync) }
+func TestSyncProgress64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testSyncProgress(t, 64, FastSync) }
+func TestSyncProgress64Light(t *testing.T) { testSyncProgress(t, 64, LightSync) }
+
+func testSyncProgress(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	// Create a small enough block chain to download
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
 
-	// Set a sync init hook to catch boundary changes
+	// Set a sync init hook to catch progress changes
 	starting := make(chan struct{})
 	progress := make(chan struct{})
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 	tester.downloader.syncInitHook = func(origin, latest uint64) {
 		starting <- struct{}{}
 		<-progress
 	}
-	// Retrieve the sync boundaries and ensure they are zero (pristine sync)
-	if origin, latest := tester.downloader.Boundaries(); origin != 0 || latest != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("Pristine boundary mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", origin, latest, 0, 0)
+	// Retrieve the sync progress and ensure they are zero (pristine sync)
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != 0 || current != 0 || latest != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("Pristine progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, 0, 0, 0)
 	}
-	// Synchronise half the blocks and check initial boundaries
+	// Synchronise half the blocks and check initial progress
 	tester.newPeer("peer-half", protocol, hashes[targetBlocks/2:], headers, blocks, receipts)
 	pending := new(sync.WaitGroup)
 	pending.Add(1)
 
 	go func() {
 		defer pending.Done()
-		if err := tester.sync("peer-half", nil); err != nil {
+		if err := tester.sync("peer-half", nil, mode); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 		}
 	}()
 	<-starting
-	if origin, latest := tester.downloader.Boundaries(); origin != 0 || latest != uint64(targetBlocks/2+1) {
-		t.Fatalf("Initial boundary mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", origin, latest, 0, targetBlocks/2+1)
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != 0 || current != 0 || latest != uint64(targetBlocks/2+1) {
+		t.Fatalf("Initial progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, 0, 0, targetBlocks/2+1)
 	}
 	progress <- struct{}{}
 	pending.Wait()
 
-	// Synchronise all the blocks and check continuation boundaries
+	// Synchronise all the blocks and check continuation progress
 	tester.newPeer("peer-full", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
 	pending.Add(1)
 
 	go func() {
 		defer pending.Done()
-		if err := tester.sync("peer-full", nil); err != nil {
+		if err := tester.sync("peer-full", nil, mode); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 		}
 	}()
 	<-starting
-	if origin, latest := tester.downloader.Boundaries(); origin != uint64(targetBlocks/2+1) || latest != uint64(targetBlocks) {
-		t.Fatalf("Completing boundary mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", origin, latest, targetBlocks/2+1, targetBlocks)
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != uint64(targetBlocks/2+1) || current != uint64(targetBlocks/2+1) || latest != uint64(targetBlocks) {
+		t.Fatalf("Completing progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, targetBlocks/2+1, targetBlocks/2+1, targetBlocks)
 	}
 	progress <- struct{}{}
 	pending.Wait()
+
+	// Check final progress after successful sync
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != uint64(targetBlocks/2+1) || current != uint64(targetBlocks) || latest != uint64(targetBlocks) {
+		t.Fatalf("Final progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, targetBlocks/2+1, targetBlocks, targetBlocks)
+	}
 }
 
-// Tests that synchronisation boundaries (origin block number and highest block
+// Tests that synchronisation progress (origin block number and highest block
 // number) is tracked and updated correctly in case of a fork (or manual head
 // revertal).
-func TestForkedSyncBoundaries61(t *testing.T)      { testForkedSyncBoundaries(t, 61, FullSync) }
-func TestForkedSyncBoundaries62(t *testing.T)      { testForkedSyncBoundaries(t, 62, FullSync) }
-func TestForkedSyncBoundaries63Full(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSyncBoundaries(t, 63, FullSync) }
-func TestForkedSyncBoundaries63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSyncBoundaries(t, 63, FastSync) }
-func TestForkedSyncBoundaries64Full(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSyncBoundaries(t, 64, FullSync) }
-func TestForkedSyncBoundaries64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSyncBoundaries(t, 64, FastSync) }
-func TestForkedSyncBoundaries64Light(t *testing.T) { testForkedSyncBoundaries(t, 64, LightSync) }
-
-func testForkedSyncBoundaries(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
+func TestForkedSyncProgress61(t *testing.T)      { testForkedSyncProgress(t, 61, FullSync) }
+func TestForkedSyncProgress62(t *testing.T)      { testForkedSyncProgress(t, 62, FullSync) }
+func TestForkedSyncProgress63Full(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSyncProgress(t, 63, FullSync) }
+func TestForkedSyncProgress63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSyncProgress(t, 63, FastSync) }
+func TestForkedSyncProgress64Full(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSyncProgress(t, 64, FullSync) }
+func TestForkedSyncProgress64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testForkedSyncProgress(t, 64, FastSync) }
+func TestForkedSyncProgress64Light(t *testing.T) { testForkedSyncProgress(t, 64, LightSync) }
+
+func testForkedSyncProgress(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	// Create a forked chain to simulate origin revertal
 	common, fork := MaxHashFetch, 2*MaxHashFetch
 	hashesA, hashesB, headersA, headersB, blocksA, blocksB, receiptsA, receiptsB := makeChainFork(common+fork, fork, genesis, nil)
 
-	// Set a sync init hook to catch boundary changes
+	// Set a sync init hook to catch progress changes
 	starting := make(chan struct{})
 	progress := make(chan struct{})
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 	tester.downloader.syncInitHook = func(origin, latest uint64) {
 		starting <- struct{}{}
 		<-progress
 	}
-	// Retrieve the sync boundaries and ensure they are zero (pristine sync)
-	if origin, latest := tester.downloader.Boundaries(); origin != 0 || latest != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("Pristine boundary mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", origin, latest, 0, 0)
+	// Retrieve the sync progress and ensure they are zero (pristine sync)
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != 0 || current != 0 || latest != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("Pristine progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, 0, 0, 0)
 	}
-	// Synchronise with one of the forks and check boundaries
+	// Synchronise with one of the forks and check progress
 	tester.newPeer("fork A", protocol, hashesA, headersA, blocksA, receiptsA)
 	pending := new(sync.WaitGroup)
 	pending.Add(1)
 
 	go func() {
 		defer pending.Done()
-		if err := tester.sync("fork A", nil); err != nil {
+		if err := tester.sync("fork A", nil, mode); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 		}
 	}()
 	<-starting
-	if origin, latest := tester.downloader.Boundaries(); origin != 0 || latest != uint64(len(hashesA)-1) {
-		t.Fatalf("Initial boundary mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", origin, latest, 0, len(hashesA)-1)
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != 0 || current != 0 || latest != uint64(len(hashesA)-1) {
+		t.Fatalf("Initial progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, 0, 0, len(hashesA)-1)
 	}
 	progress <- struct{}{}
 	pending.Wait()
@@ -1340,52 +1369,57 @@ func testForkedSyncBoundaries(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	// Simulate a successful sync above the fork
 	tester.downloader.syncStatsChainOrigin = tester.downloader.syncStatsChainHeight
 
-	// Synchronise with the second fork and check boundary resets
+	// Synchronise with the second fork and check progress resets
 	tester.newPeer("fork B", protocol, hashesB, headersB, blocksB, receiptsB)
 	pending.Add(1)
 
 	go func() {
 		defer pending.Done()
-		if err := tester.sync("fork B", nil); err != nil {
+		if err := tester.sync("fork B", nil, mode); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 		}
 	}()
 	<-starting
-	if origin, latest := tester.downloader.Boundaries(); origin != uint64(common) || latest != uint64(len(hashesB)-1) {
-		t.Fatalf("Forking boundary mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", origin, latest, common, len(hashesB)-1)
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != uint64(common) || current != uint64(len(hashesA)-1) || latest != uint64(len(hashesB)-1) {
+		t.Fatalf("Forking progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, common, len(hashesA)-1, len(hashesB)-1)
 	}
 	progress <- struct{}{}
 	pending.Wait()
+
+	// Check final progress after successful sync
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != uint64(common) || current != uint64(len(hashesB)-1) || latest != uint64(len(hashesB)-1) {
+		t.Fatalf("Final progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, common, len(hashesB)-1, len(hashesB)-1)
+	}
 }
 
-// Tests that if synchronisation is aborted due to some failure, then the boundary
+// Tests that if synchronisation is aborted due to some failure, then the progress
 // origin is not updated in the next sync cycle, as it should be considered the
 // continuation of the previous sync and not a new instance.
-func TestFailedSyncBoundaries61(t *testing.T)      { testFailedSyncBoundaries(t, 61, FullSync) }
-func TestFailedSyncBoundaries62(t *testing.T)      { testFailedSyncBoundaries(t, 62, FullSync) }
-func TestFailedSyncBoundaries63Full(t *testing.T)  { testFailedSyncBoundaries(t, 63, FullSync) }
-func TestFailedSyncBoundaries63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testFailedSyncBoundaries(t, 63, FastSync) }
-func TestFailedSyncBoundaries64Full(t *testing.T)  { testFailedSyncBoundaries(t, 64, FullSync) }
-func TestFailedSyncBoundaries64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testFailedSyncBoundaries(t, 64, FastSync) }
-func TestFailedSyncBoundaries64Light(t *testing.T) { testFailedSyncBoundaries(t, 64, LightSync) }
-
-func testFailedSyncBoundaries(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
+func TestFailedSyncProgress61(t *testing.T)      { testFailedSyncProgress(t, 61, FullSync) }
+func TestFailedSyncProgress62(t *testing.T)      { testFailedSyncProgress(t, 62, FullSync) }
+func TestFailedSyncProgress63Full(t *testing.T)  { testFailedSyncProgress(t, 63, FullSync) }
+func TestFailedSyncProgress63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testFailedSyncProgress(t, 63, FastSync) }
+func TestFailedSyncProgress64Full(t *testing.T)  { testFailedSyncProgress(t, 64, FullSync) }
+func TestFailedSyncProgress64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testFailedSyncProgress(t, 64, FastSync) }
+func TestFailedSyncProgress64Light(t *testing.T) { testFailedSyncProgress(t, 64, LightSync) }
+
+func testFailedSyncProgress(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	// Create a small enough block chain to download
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis, nil)
 
-	// Set a sync init hook to catch boundary changes
+	// Set a sync init hook to catch progress changes
 	starting := make(chan struct{})
 	progress := make(chan struct{})
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 	tester.downloader.syncInitHook = func(origin, latest uint64) {
 		starting <- struct{}{}
 		<-progress
 	}
-	// Retrieve the sync boundaries and ensure they are zero (pristine sync)
-	if origin, latest := tester.downloader.Boundaries(); origin != 0 || latest != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("Pristine boundary mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", origin, latest, 0, 0)
+	// Retrieve the sync progress and ensure they are zero (pristine sync)
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != 0 || current != 0 || latest != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("Pristine progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, 0, 0, 0)
 	}
 	// Attempt a full sync with a faulty peer
 	tester.newPeer("faulty", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
@@ -1399,62 +1433,67 @@ func testFailedSyncBoundaries(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 
 	go func() {
 		defer pending.Done()
-		if err := tester.sync("faulty", nil); err == nil {
+		if err := tester.sync("faulty", nil, mode); err == nil {
 			t.Fatalf("succeeded faulty synchronisation")
 		}
 	}()
 	<-starting
-	if origin, latest := tester.downloader.Boundaries(); origin != 0 || latest != uint64(targetBlocks) {
-		t.Fatalf("Initial boundary mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", origin, latest, 0, targetBlocks)
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != 0 || current != 0 || latest != uint64(targetBlocks) {
+		t.Fatalf("Initial progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, 0, 0, targetBlocks)
 	}
 	progress <- struct{}{}
 	pending.Wait()
 
-	// Synchronise with a good peer and check that the boundary origin remind the same after a failure
+	// Synchronise with a good peer and check that the progress origin remind the same after a failure
 	tester.newPeer("valid", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
 	pending.Add(1)
 
 	go func() {
 		defer pending.Done()
-		if err := tester.sync("valid", nil); err != nil {
+		if err := tester.sync("valid", nil, mode); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 		}
 	}()
 	<-starting
-	if origin, latest := tester.downloader.Boundaries(); origin != 0 || latest != uint64(targetBlocks) {
-		t.Fatalf("Completing boundary mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", origin, latest, 0, targetBlocks)
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != 0 || current > uint64(targetBlocks/2) || latest != uint64(targetBlocks) {
+		t.Fatalf("Completing progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/0-%v/%v", origin, current, latest, 0, targetBlocks/2, targetBlocks)
 	}
 	progress <- struct{}{}
 	pending.Wait()
+
+	// Check final progress after successful sync
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin > uint64(targetBlocks/2) || current != uint64(targetBlocks) || latest != uint64(targetBlocks) {
+		t.Fatalf("Final progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want 0-%v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, targetBlocks/2, targetBlocks, targetBlocks)
+	}
 }
 
 // Tests that if an attacker fakes a chain height, after the attack is detected,
-// the boundary height is successfully reduced at the next sync invocation.
-func TestFakedSyncBoundaries61(t *testing.T)      { testFakedSyncBoundaries(t, 61, FullSync) }
-func TestFakedSyncBoundaries62(t *testing.T)      { testFakedSyncBoundaries(t, 62, FullSync) }
-func TestFakedSyncBoundaries63Full(t *testing.T)  { testFakedSyncBoundaries(t, 63, FullSync) }
-func TestFakedSyncBoundaries63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testFakedSyncBoundaries(t, 63, FastSync) }
-func TestFakedSyncBoundaries64Full(t *testing.T)  { testFakedSyncBoundaries(t, 64, FullSync) }
-func TestFakedSyncBoundaries64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testFakedSyncBoundaries(t, 64, FastSync) }
-func TestFakedSyncBoundaries64Light(t *testing.T) { testFakedSyncBoundaries(t, 64, LightSync) }
-
-func testFakedSyncBoundaries(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
+// the progress height is successfully reduced at the next sync invocation.
+func TestFakedSyncProgress61(t *testing.T)      { testFakedSyncProgress(t, 61, FullSync) }
+func TestFakedSyncProgress62(t *testing.T)      { testFakedSyncProgress(t, 62, FullSync) }
+func TestFakedSyncProgress63Full(t *testing.T)  { testFakedSyncProgress(t, 63, FullSync) }
+func TestFakedSyncProgress63Fast(t *testing.T)  { testFakedSyncProgress(t, 63, FastSync) }
+func TestFakedSyncProgress64Full(t *testing.T)  { testFakedSyncProgress(t, 64, FullSync) }
+func TestFakedSyncProgress64Fast(t *testing.T)  { testFakedSyncProgress(t, 64, FastSync) }
+func TestFakedSyncProgress64Light(t *testing.T) { testFakedSyncProgress(t, 64, LightSync) }
+
+func testFakedSyncProgress(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 	// Create a small block chain
 	targetBlocks := blockCacheLimit - 15
 	hashes, headers, blocks, receipts := makeChain(targetBlocks+3, 0, genesis, nil)
 
-	// Set a sync init hook to catch boundary changes
+	// Set a sync init hook to catch progress changes
 	starting := make(chan struct{})
 	progress := make(chan struct{})
 
-	tester := newTester(mode)
+	tester := newTester()
 	tester.downloader.syncInitHook = func(origin, latest uint64) {
 		starting <- struct{}{}
 		<-progress
 	}
-	// Retrieve the sync boundaries and ensure they are zero (pristine sync)
-	if origin, latest := tester.downloader.Boundaries(); origin != 0 || latest != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("Pristine boundary mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", origin, latest, 0, 0)
+	// Retrieve the sync progress and ensure they are zero (pristine sync)
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != 0 || current != 0 || latest != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("Pristine progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, 0, 0, 0)
 	}
 	//  Create and sync with an attacker that promises a higher chain than available
 	tester.newPeer("attack", protocol, hashes, headers, blocks, receipts)
@@ -1469,31 +1508,36 @@ func testFakedSyncBoundaries(t *testing.T, protocol int, mode SyncMode) {
 
 	go func() {
 		defer pending.Done()
-		if err := tester.sync("attack", nil); err == nil {
+		if err := tester.sync("attack", nil, mode); err == nil {
 			t.Fatalf("succeeded attacker synchronisation")
 		}
 	}()
 	<-starting
-	if origin, latest := tester.downloader.Boundaries(); origin != 0 || latest != uint64(targetBlocks+3) {
-		t.Fatalf("Initial boundary mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", origin, latest, 0, targetBlocks+3)
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != 0 || current != 0 || latest != uint64(targetBlocks+3) {
+		t.Fatalf("Initial progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, 0, 0, targetBlocks+3)
 	}
 	progress <- struct{}{}
 	pending.Wait()
 
-	// Synchronise with a good peer and check that the boundary height has been reduced to the true value
+	// Synchronise with a good peer and check that the progress height has been reduced to the true value
 	tester.newPeer("valid", protocol, hashes[3:], headers, blocks, receipts)
 	pending.Add(1)
 
 	go func() {
 		defer pending.Done()
-		if err := tester.sync("valid", nil); err != nil {
+		if err := tester.sync("valid", nil, mode); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 		}
 	}()
 	<-starting
-	if origin, latest := tester.downloader.Boundaries(); origin != 0 || latest != uint64(targetBlocks) {
-		t.Fatalf("Initial boundary mismatch: have %v/%v, want %v/%v", origin, latest, 0, targetBlocks)
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin != 0 || current > uint64(targetBlocks) || latest != uint64(targetBlocks) {
+		t.Fatalf("Completing progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want %v/0-%v/%v", origin, current, latest, 0, targetBlocks, targetBlocks)
 	}
 	progress <- struct{}{}
 	pending.Wait()
+
+	// Check final progress after successful sync
+	if origin, current, latest := tester.downloader.Progress(); origin > uint64(targetBlocks) || current != uint64(targetBlocks) || latest != uint64(targetBlocks) {
+		t.Fatalf("Final progress mismatch: have %v/%v/%v, want 0-%v/%v/%v", origin, current, latest, targetBlocks, targetBlocks, targetBlocks)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/eth/downloader/modes.go b/eth/downloader/modes.go
index 8916dbb79..ec339c074 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/modes.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/modes.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ package downloader
 type SyncMode int
 
 const (
-	FullSync  SyncMode = iota // Synchronise the entire block-chain history from full blocks
-	FastSync                  // Quikcly download the headers, full sync only at the chain head
+	FullSync  SyncMode = iota // Synchronise the entire blockchain history from full blocks
+	FastSync                  // Quickly download the headers, full sync only at the chain head
 	LightSync                 // Download only the headers and terminate afterwards
 )
diff --git a/eth/downloader/peer.go b/eth/downloader/peer.go
index 5011d5d46..1f457cb15 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/peer.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/peer.go
@@ -124,6 +124,10 @@ func (p *peer) Reset() {
 
 // Fetch61 sends a block retrieval request to the remote peer.
 func (p *peer) Fetch61(request *fetchRequest) error {
+	// Sanity check the protocol version
+	if p.version != 61 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("block fetch [eth/61] requested on eth/%d", p.version))
+	}
 	// Short circuit if the peer is already fetching
 	if !atomic.CompareAndSwapInt32(&p.blockIdle, 0, 1) {
 		return errAlreadyFetching
@@ -142,6 +146,10 @@ func (p *peer) Fetch61(request *fetchRequest) error {
 
 // FetchBodies sends a block body retrieval request to the remote peer.
 func (p *peer) FetchBodies(request *fetchRequest) error {
+	// Sanity check the protocol version
+	if p.version < 62 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("body fetch [eth/62+] requested on eth/%d", p.version))
+	}
 	// Short circuit if the peer is already fetching
 	if !atomic.CompareAndSwapInt32(&p.blockIdle, 0, 1) {
 		return errAlreadyFetching
@@ -160,6 +168,10 @@ func (p *peer) FetchBodies(request *fetchRequest) error {
 
 // FetchReceipts sends a receipt retrieval request to the remote peer.
 func (p *peer) FetchReceipts(request *fetchRequest) error {
+	// Sanity check the protocol version
+	if p.version < 63 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("body fetch [eth/63+] requested on eth/%d", p.version))
+	}
 	// Short circuit if the peer is already fetching
 	if !atomic.CompareAndSwapInt32(&p.receiptIdle, 0, 1) {
 		return errAlreadyFetching
@@ -178,6 +190,10 @@ func (p *peer) FetchReceipts(request *fetchRequest) error {
 
 // FetchNodeData sends a node state data retrieval request to the remote peer.
 func (p *peer) FetchNodeData(request *fetchRequest) error {
+	// Sanity check the protocol version
+	if p.version < 63 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("node data fetch [eth/63+] requested on eth/%d", p.version))
+	}
 	// Short circuit if the peer is already fetching
 	if !atomic.CompareAndSwapInt32(&p.stateIdle, 0, 1) {
 		return errAlreadyFetching
@@ -196,35 +212,35 @@ func (p *peer) FetchNodeData(request *fetchRequest) error {
 
 // SetBlocksIdle sets the peer to idle, allowing it to execute new retrieval requests.
 // Its block retrieval allowance will also be updated either up- or downwards,
-// depending on whether the previous fetch completed in time or not.
+// depending on whether the previous fetch completed in time.
 func (p *peer) SetBlocksIdle() {
 	p.setIdle(p.blockStarted, blockSoftTTL, blockHardTTL, MaxBlockFetch, &p.blockCapacity, &p.blockIdle)
 }
 
 // SetBodiesIdle sets the peer to idle, allowing it to execute new retrieval requests.
 // Its block body retrieval allowance will also be updated either up- or downwards,
-// depending on whether the previous fetch completed in time or not.
+// depending on whether the previous fetch completed in time.
 func (p *peer) SetBodiesIdle() {
-	p.setIdle(p.blockStarted, bodySoftTTL, bodyHardTTL, MaxBlockFetch, &p.blockCapacity, &p.blockIdle)
+	p.setIdle(p.blockStarted, bodySoftTTL, bodyHardTTL, MaxBodyFetch, &p.blockCapacity, &p.blockIdle)
 }
 
 // SetReceiptsIdle sets the peer to idle, allowing it to execute new retrieval requests.
 // Its receipt retrieval allowance will also be updated either up- or downwards,
-// depending on whether the previous fetch completed in time or not.
+// depending on whether the previous fetch completed in time.
 func (p *peer) SetReceiptsIdle() {
 	p.setIdle(p.receiptStarted, receiptSoftTTL, receiptHardTTL, MaxReceiptFetch, &p.receiptCapacity, &p.receiptIdle)
 }
 
 // SetNodeDataIdle sets the peer to idle, allowing it to execute new retrieval
 // requests. Its node data retrieval allowance will also be updated either up- or
-// downwards, depending on whether the previous fetch completed in time or not.
+// downwards, depending on whether the previous fetch completed in time.
 func (p *peer) SetNodeDataIdle() {
 	p.setIdle(p.stateStarted, stateSoftTTL, stateSoftTTL, MaxStateFetch, &p.stateCapacity, &p.stateIdle)
 }
 
 // setIdle sets the peer to idle, allowing it to execute new retrieval requests.
 // Its data retrieval allowance will also be updated either up- or downwards,
-// depending on whether the previous fetch completed in time or not.
+// depending on whether the previous fetch completed in time.
 func (p *peer) setIdle(started time.Time, softTTL, hardTTL time.Duration, maxFetch int, capacity, idle *int32) {
 	// Update the peer's download allowance based on previous performance
 	scale := 2.0
diff --git a/eth/downloader/queue.go b/eth/downloader/queue.go
index 17fbb1c7f..56b46e285 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/queue.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/queue.go
@@ -56,9 +56,8 @@ type fetchRequest struct {
 	Time    time.Time           // Time when the request was made
 }
 
-// fetchResult is the assembly collecting partial results from potentially more
-// than one fetcher routines, until all outstanding retrievals complete and the
-// result as a whole can be processed.
+// fetchResult is a struct collecting partial results from data fetchers until
+// all outstanding pieces complete and the result as a whole can be processed.
 type fetchResult struct {
 	Pending int // Number of data fetches still pending
 
@@ -89,7 +88,7 @@ type queue struct {
 	receiptPendPool  map[string]*fetchRequest      // [eth/63] Currently pending receipt retrieval operations
 	receiptDonePool  map[common.Hash]struct{}      // [eth/63] Set of the completed receipt fetches
 
-	stateTaskIndex int                      // [eth/63] Counter indexing the added hashes to ensure prioritized retrieval order
+	stateTaskIndex int                      // [eth/63] Counter indexing the added hashes to ensure prioritised retrieval order
 	stateTaskPool  map[common.Hash]int      // [eth/63] Pending node data retrieval tasks, mapping to their priority
 	stateTaskQueue *prque.Prque             // [eth/63] Priority queue of the hashes to fetch the node data for
 	statePendPool  map[string]*fetchRequest // [eth/63] Currently pending node data retrieval operations
@@ -97,10 +96,10 @@ type queue struct {
 	stateDatabase   ethdb.Database   // [eth/63] Trie database to populate during state reassembly
 	stateScheduler  *state.StateSync // [eth/63] State trie synchronisation scheduler and integrator
 	stateProcessors int32            // [eth/63] Number of currently running state processors
-	stateSchedLock  sync.RWMutex     // [eth/63] Lock serializing access to the state scheduler
+	stateSchedLock  sync.RWMutex     // [eth/63] Lock serialising access to the state scheduler
 
 	resultCache  []*fetchResult // Downloaded but not yet delivered fetch results
-	resultOffset uint64         // Offset of the first cached fetch result in the block-chain
+	resultOffset uint64         // Offset of the first cached fetch result in the block chain
 
 	lock sync.RWMutex
 }
@@ -131,6 +130,9 @@ func (q *queue) Reset() {
 	q.lock.Lock()
 	defer q.lock.Unlock()
 
+	q.stateSchedLock.Lock()
+	defer q.stateSchedLock.Unlock()
+
 	q.mode = FullSync
 	q.fastSyncPivot = 0
 
@@ -233,9 +235,17 @@ func (q *queue) Idle() bool {
 	return (queued + pending + cached) == 0
 }
 
-// ThrottleBlocks checks if the download should be throttled (active block (body)
+// FastSyncPivot retrieves the currently used fast sync pivot point.
+func (q *queue) FastSyncPivot() uint64 {
+	q.lock.RLock()
+	defer q.lock.RUnlock()
+
+	return q.fastSyncPivot
+}
+
+// ShouldThrottleBlocks checks if the download should be throttled (active block (body)
 // fetches exceed block cache).
-func (q *queue) ThrottleBlocks() bool {
+func (q *queue) ShouldThrottleBlocks() bool {
 	q.lock.RLock()
 	defer q.lock.RUnlock()
 
@@ -248,9 +258,9 @@ func (q *queue) ThrottleBlocks() bool {
 	return pending >= len(q.resultCache)-len(q.blockDonePool)
 }
 
-// ThrottleReceipts checks if the download should be throttled (active receipt
+// ShouldThrottleReceipts checks if the download should be throttled (active receipt
 // fetches exceed block cache).
-func (q *queue) ThrottleReceipts() bool {
+func (q *queue) ShouldThrottleReceipts() bool {
 	q.lock.RLock()
 	defer q.lock.RUnlock()
 
@@ -269,7 +279,7 @@ func (q *queue) Schedule61(hashes []common.Hash, fifo bool) []common.Hash {
 	q.lock.Lock()
 	defer q.lock.Unlock()
 
-	// Insert all the hashes prioritized in the arrival order
+	// Insert all the hashes prioritised in the arrival order
 	inserts := make([]common.Hash, 0, len(hashes))
 	for _, hash := range hashes {
 		// Skip anything we already have
@@ -297,10 +307,10 @@ func (q *queue) Schedule(headers []*types.Header, from uint64) []*types.Header {
 	q.lock.Lock()
 	defer q.lock.Unlock()
 
-	// Insert all the headers prioritized by the contained block number
+	// Insert all the headers prioritised by the contained block number
 	inserts := make([]*types.Header, 0, len(headers))
 	for _, header := range headers {
-		// Make sure chain order is honored and preserved throughout
+		// Make sure chain order is honoured and preserved throughout
 		hash := header.Hash()
 		if header.Number == nil || header.Number.Uint64() != from {
 			glog.V(logger.Warn).Infof("Header #%v [%x] broke chain ordering, expected %d", header.Number, hash[:4], from)
@@ -347,19 +357,29 @@ func (q *queue) GetHeadResult() *fetchResult {
 	q.lock.RLock()
 	defer q.lock.RUnlock()
 
+	// If there are no results pending, return nil
 	if len(q.resultCache) == 0 || q.resultCache[0] == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
+	// If the next result is still incomplete, return nil
 	if q.resultCache[0].Pending > 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
+	// If the next result is the fast sync pivot...
 	if q.mode == FastSync && q.resultCache[0].Header.Number.Uint64() == q.fastSyncPivot {
+		// If the pivot state trie is still being pulled, return nil
 		if len(q.stateTaskPool) > 0 {
 			return nil
 		}
 		if q.PendingNodeData() > 0 {
 			return nil
 		}
+		// If the state is done, but not enough post-pivot headers were verified, stall...
+		for i := 0; i < fsHeaderForceVerify; i++ {
+			if i+1 >= len(q.resultCache) || q.resultCache[i+1] == nil {
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	return q.resultCache[0]
 }
@@ -372,7 +392,7 @@ func (q *queue) TakeResults() []*fetchResult {
 
 	// Accumulate all available results
 	results := []*fetchResult{}
-	for _, result := range q.resultCache {
+	for i, result := range q.resultCache {
 		// Stop if no more results are ready
 		if result == nil || result.Pending > 0 {
 			break
@@ -385,6 +405,16 @@ func (q *queue) TakeResults() []*fetchResult {
 			if q.PendingNodeData() > 0 {
 				break
 			}
+			// Even is state fetch is done, ensure post-pivot headers passed verifications
+			safe := true
+			for j := 0; j < fsHeaderForceVerify; j++ {
+				if i+j+1 >= len(q.resultCache) || q.resultCache[i+j+1] == nil {
+					safe = false
+				}
+			}
+			if !safe {
+				break
+			}
 		}
 		// If we've just inserted the fast sync pivot, stop as the following batch needs different insertion
 		if q.mode == FastSync && result.Header.Number.Uint64() == q.fastSyncPivot+1 && len(results) > 0 {
@@ -411,6 +441,9 @@ func (q *queue) TakeResults() []*fetchResult {
 // ReserveBlocks reserves a set of block hashes for the given peer, skipping any
 // previously failed download.
 func (q *queue) ReserveBlocks(p *peer, count int) *fetchRequest {
+	q.lock.Lock()
+	defer q.lock.Unlock()
+
 	return q.reserveHashes(p, count, q.hashQueue, nil, q.blockPendPool, len(q.resultCache)-len(q.blockDonePool))
 }
 
@@ -430,17 +463,21 @@ func (q *queue) ReserveNodeData(p *peer, count int) *fetchRequest {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	q.lock.Lock()
+	defer q.lock.Unlock()
+
 	return q.reserveHashes(p, count, q.stateTaskQueue, generator, q.statePendPool, count)
 }
 
 // reserveHashes reserves a set of hashes for the given peer, skipping previously
 // failed ones.
+//
+// Note, this method expects the queue lock to be already held for writing. The
+// reason the lock is not obtained in here is because the parameters already need
+// to access the queue, so they already need a lock anyway.
 func (q *queue) reserveHashes(p *peer, count int, taskQueue *prque.Prque, taskGen func(int), pendPool map[string]*fetchRequest, maxPending int) *fetchRequest {
-	q.lock.Lock()
-	defer q.lock.Unlock()
-
-	// Short circuit if the peer's already downloading something (sanity check not
-	// to corrupt state)
+	// Short circuit if the peer's already downloading something (sanity check to
+	// not corrupt state)
 	if _, ok := pendPool[p.id]; ok {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -492,30 +529,37 @@ func (q *queue) reserveHashes(p *peer, count int, taskQueue *prque.Prque, taskGe
 // previously failed downloads. Beside the next batch of needed fetches, it also
 // returns a flag whether empty blocks were queued requiring processing.
 func (q *queue) ReserveBodies(p *peer, count int) (*fetchRequest, bool, error) {
-	noop := func(header *types.Header) bool {
+	isNoop := func(header *types.Header) bool {
 		return header.TxHash == types.EmptyRootHash && header.UncleHash == types.EmptyUncleHash
 	}
-	return q.reserveHeaders(p, count, q.blockTaskPool, q.blockTaskQueue, q.blockPendPool, q.blockDonePool, noop)
+	q.lock.Lock()
+	defer q.lock.Unlock()
+
+	return q.reserveHeaders(p, count, q.blockTaskPool, q.blockTaskQueue, q.blockPendPool, q.blockDonePool, isNoop)
 }
 
 // ReserveReceipts reserves a set of receipt fetches for the given peer, skipping
 // any previously failed downloads. Beside the next batch of needed fetches, it
 // also returns a flag whether empty receipts were queued requiring importing.
 func (q *queue) ReserveReceipts(p *peer, count int) (*fetchRequest, bool, error) {
-	noop := func(header *types.Header) bool {
+	isNoop := func(header *types.Header) bool {
 		return header.ReceiptHash == types.EmptyRootHash
 	}
-	return q.reserveHeaders(p, count, q.receiptTaskPool, q.receiptTaskQueue, q.receiptPendPool, q.receiptDonePool, noop)
+	q.lock.Lock()
+	defer q.lock.Unlock()
+
+	return q.reserveHeaders(p, count, q.receiptTaskPool, q.receiptTaskQueue, q.receiptPendPool, q.receiptDonePool, isNoop)
 }
 
 // reserveHeaders reserves a set of data download operations for a given peer,
 // skipping any previously failed ones. This method is a generic version used
 // by the individual special reservation functions.
+//
+// Note, this method expects the queue lock to be already held for writing. The
+// reason the lock is not obtained in here is because the parameters already need
+// to access the queue, so they already need a lock anyway.
 func (q *queue) reserveHeaders(p *peer, count int, taskPool map[common.Hash]*types.Header, taskQueue *prque.Prque,
-	pendPool map[string]*fetchRequest, donePool map[common.Hash]struct{}, noop func(*types.Header) bool) (*fetchRequest, bool, error) {
-	q.lock.Lock()
-	defer q.lock.Unlock()
-
+	pendPool map[string]*fetchRequest, donePool map[common.Hash]struct{}, isNoop func(*types.Header) bool) (*fetchRequest, bool, error) {
 	// Short circuit if the pool has been depleted, or if the peer's already
 	// downloading something (sanity check not to corrupt state)
 	if taskQueue.Empty() {
@@ -537,7 +581,7 @@ func (q *queue) reserveHeaders(p *peer, count int, taskPool map[common.Hash]*typ
 	for proc := 0; proc < space && len(send) < count && !taskQueue.Empty(); proc++ {
 		header := taskQueue.PopItem().(*types.Header)
 
-		// If we're the first to request this task, initialize the result container
+		// If we're the first to request this task, initialise the result container
 		index := int(header.Number.Int64() - int64(q.resultOffset))
 		if index >= len(q.resultCache) || index < 0 {
 			return nil, false, errInvalidChain
@@ -553,7 +597,7 @@ func (q *queue) reserveHeaders(p *peer, count int, taskPool map[common.Hash]*typ
 			}
 		}
 		// If this fetch task is a noop, skip this fetch operation
-		if noop(header) {
+		if isNoop(header) {
 			donePool[header.Hash()] = struct{}{}
 			delete(taskPool, header.Hash())
 
@@ -562,7 +606,7 @@ func (q *queue) reserveHeaders(p *peer, count int, taskPool map[common.Hash]*typ
 			progress = true
 			continue
 		}
-		// Otherwise if not a known unknown block, add to the retrieve list
+		// Otherwise unless the peer is known not to have the data, add to the retrieve list
 		if p.ignored.Has(header.Hash()) {
 			skip = append(skip, header)
 		} else {
@@ -655,35 +699,48 @@ func (q *queue) Revoke(peerId string) {
 }
 
 // ExpireBlocks checks for in flight requests that exceeded a timeout allowance,
-// canceling them and returning the responsible peers for penalization.
+// canceling them and returning the responsible peers for penalisation.
 func (q *queue) ExpireBlocks(timeout time.Duration) []string {
+	q.lock.Lock()
+	defer q.lock.Unlock()
+
 	return q.expire(timeout, q.blockPendPool, q.hashQueue, blockTimeoutMeter)
 }
 
 // ExpireBodies checks for in flight block body requests that exceeded a timeout
-// allowance, canceling them and returning the responsible peers for penalization.
+// allowance, canceling them and returning the responsible peers for penalisation.
 func (q *queue) ExpireBodies(timeout time.Duration) []string {
+	q.lock.Lock()
+	defer q.lock.Unlock()
+
 	return q.expire(timeout, q.blockPendPool, q.blockTaskQueue, bodyTimeoutMeter)
 }
 
 // ExpireReceipts checks for in flight receipt requests that exceeded a timeout
-// allowance, canceling them and returning the responsible peers for penalization.
+// allowance, canceling them and returning the responsible peers for penalisation.
 func (q *queue) ExpireReceipts(timeout time.Duration) []string {
+	q.lock.Lock()
+	defer q.lock.Unlock()
+
 	return q.expire(timeout, q.receiptPendPool, q.receiptTaskQueue, receiptTimeoutMeter)
 }
 
 // ExpireNodeData checks for in flight node data requests that exceeded a timeout
-// allowance, canceling them and returning the responsible peers for penalization.
+// allowance, canceling them and returning the responsible peers for penalisation.
 func (q *queue) ExpireNodeData(timeout time.Duration) []string {
+	q.lock.Lock()
+	defer q.lock.Unlock()
+
 	return q.expire(timeout, q.statePendPool, q.stateTaskQueue, stateTimeoutMeter)
 }
 
 // expire is the generic check that move expired tasks from a pending pool back
 // into a task pool, returning all entities caught with expired tasks.
+//
+// Note, this method expects the queue lock to be already held for writing. The
+// reason the lock is not obtained in here is because the parameters already need
+// to access the queue, so they already need a lock anyway.
 func (q *queue) expire(timeout time.Duration, pendPool map[string]*fetchRequest, taskQueue *prque.Prque, timeoutMeter metrics.Meter) []string {
-	q.lock.Lock()
-	defer q.lock.Unlock()
-
 	// Iterate over the expired requests and return each to the queue
 	peers := []string{}
 	for id, request := range pendPool {
@@ -764,7 +821,7 @@ func (q *queue) DeliverBlocks(id string, blocks []*types.Block) error {
 	case len(errs) == 1 && (errs[0] == errInvalidChain || errs[0] == errInvalidBlock):
 		return errs[0]
 
-	case len(errs) == len(request.Headers):
+	case len(errs) == len(blocks):
 		return errStaleDelivery
 
 	default:
@@ -774,6 +831,9 @@ func (q *queue) DeliverBlocks(id string, blocks []*types.Block) error {
 
 // DeliverBodies injects a block body retrieval response into the results queue.
 func (q *queue) DeliverBodies(id string, txLists [][]*types.Transaction, uncleLists [][]*types.Header) error {
+	q.lock.Lock()
+	defer q.lock.Unlock()
+
 	reconstruct := func(header *types.Header, index int, result *fetchResult) error {
 		if types.DeriveSha(types.Transactions(txLists[index])) != header.TxHash || types.CalcUncleHash(uncleLists[index]) != header.UncleHash {
 			return errInvalidBody
@@ -787,6 +847,9 @@ func (q *queue) DeliverBodies(id string, txLists [][]*types.Transaction, uncleLi
 
 // DeliverReceipts injects a receipt retrieval response into the results queue.
 func (q *queue) DeliverReceipts(id string, receiptList [][]*types.Receipt) error {
+	q.lock.Lock()
+	defer q.lock.Unlock()
+
 	reconstruct := func(header *types.Header, index int, result *fetchResult) error {
 		if types.DeriveSha(types.Receipts(receiptList[index])) != header.ReceiptHash {
 			return errInvalidReceipt
@@ -798,11 +861,12 @@ func (q *queue) DeliverReceipts(id string, receiptList [][]*types.Receipt) error
 }
 
 // deliver injects a data retrieval response into the results queue.
+//
+// Note, this method expects the queue lock to be already held for writing. The
+// reason the lock is not obtained in here is because the parameters already need
+// to access the queue, so they already need a lock anyway.
 func (q *queue) deliver(id string, taskPool map[common.Hash]*types.Header, taskQueue *prque.Prque, pendPool map[string]*fetchRequest,
 	donePool map[common.Hash]struct{}, reqTimer metrics.Timer, results int, reconstruct func(header *types.Header, index int, result *fetchResult) error) error {
-	q.lock.Lock()
-	defer q.lock.Unlock()
-
 	// Short circuit if the data was never requested
 	request := pendPool[id]
 	if request == nil {
@@ -818,7 +882,10 @@ func (q *queue) deliver(id string, taskPool map[common.Hash]*types.Header, taskQ
 		}
 	}
 	// Assemble each of the results with their headers and retrieved data parts
-	errs := make([]error, 0)
+	var (
+		failure error
+		useful  bool
+	)
 	for i, header := range request.Headers {
 		// Short circuit assembly if no more fetch results are found
 		if i >= results {
@@ -827,15 +894,16 @@ func (q *queue) deliver(id string, taskPool map[common.Hash]*types.Header, taskQ
 		// Reconstruct the next result if contents match up
 		index := int(header.Number.Int64() - int64(q.resultOffset))
 		if index >= len(q.resultCache) || index < 0 || q.resultCache[index] == nil {
-			errs = []error{errInvalidChain}
+			failure = errInvalidChain
 			break
 		}
 		if err := reconstruct(header, i, q.resultCache[index]); err != nil {
-			errs = []error{err}
+			failure = err
 			break
 		}
 		donePool[header.Hash()] = struct{}{}
 		q.resultCache[index].Pending--
+		useful = true
 
 		// Clean up a successful fetch
 		request.Headers[i] = nil
@@ -847,19 +915,16 @@ func (q *queue) deliver(id string, taskPool map[common.Hash]*types.Header, taskQ
 			taskQueue.Push(header, -float32(header.Number.Uint64()))
 		}
 	}
-	// If none of the blocks were good, it's a stale delivery
+	// If none of the data was good, it's a stale delivery
 	switch {
-	case len(errs) == 0:
-		return nil
-
-	case len(errs) == 1 && (errs[0] == errInvalidChain || errs[0] == errInvalidBody || errs[0] == errInvalidReceipt):
-		return errs[0]
+	case failure == nil || failure == errInvalidChain:
+		return failure
 
-	case len(errs) == len(request.Headers):
-		return errStaleDelivery
+	case useful:
+		return fmt.Errorf("partial failure: %v", failure)
 
 	default:
-		return fmt.Errorf("multiple failures: %v", errs)
+		return errStaleDelivery
 	}
 }
 
@@ -876,7 +941,7 @@ func (q *queue) DeliverNodeData(id string, data [][]byte, callback func(error, i
 	stateReqTimer.UpdateSince(request.Time)
 	delete(q.statePendPool, id)
 
-	// If no data was retrieved, mark them as unavailable for the origin peer
+	// If no data was retrieved, mark their hashes as unavailable for the origin peer
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		for hash, _ := range request.Hashes {
 			request.Peer.ignored.Add(hash)
@@ -955,9 +1020,6 @@ func (q *queue) Prepare(offset uint64, mode SyncMode, pivot uint64) {
 	if q.resultOffset < offset {
 		q.resultOffset = offset
 	}
-	q.fastSyncPivot = 0
-	if mode == FastSync {
-		q.fastSyncPivot = pivot
-	}
+	q.fastSyncPivot = pivot
 	q.mode = mode
 }
diff --git a/eth/fetcher/fetcher.go b/eth/fetcher/fetcher.go
index b8ec1fc55..d88d91982 100644
--- a/eth/fetcher/fetcher.go
+++ b/eth/fetcher/fetcher.go
@@ -142,9 +142,11 @@ type Fetcher struct {
 	dropPeer       peerDropFn         // Drops a peer for misbehaving
 
 	// Testing hooks
-	fetchingHook   func([]common.Hash) // Method to call upon starting a block (eth/61) or header (eth/62) fetch
-	completingHook func([]common.Hash) // Method to call upon starting a block body fetch (eth/62)
-	importedHook   func(*types.Block)  // Method to call upon successful block import (both eth/61 and eth/62)
+	announceChangeHook func(common.Hash, bool) // Method to call upon adding or deleting a hash from the announce list
+	queueChangeHook    func(common.Hash, bool) // Method to call upon adding or deleting a block from the import queue
+	fetchingHook       func([]common.Hash)     // Method to call upon starting a block (eth/61) or header (eth/62) fetch
+	completingHook     func([]common.Hash)     // Method to call upon starting a block body fetch (eth/62)
+	importedHook       func(*types.Block)      // Method to call upon successful block import (both eth/61 and eth/62)
 }
 
 // New creates a block fetcher to retrieve blocks based on hash announcements.
@@ -324,11 +326,16 @@ func (f *Fetcher) loop() {
 		height := f.chainHeight()
 		for !f.queue.Empty() {
 			op := f.queue.PopItem().(*inject)
-
+			if f.queueChangeHook != nil {
+				f.queueChangeHook(op.block.Hash(), false)
+			}
 			// If too high up the chain or phase, continue later
 			number := op.block.NumberU64()
 			if number > height+1 {
 				f.queue.Push(op, -float32(op.block.NumberU64()))
+				if f.queueChangeHook != nil {
+					f.queueChangeHook(op.block.Hash(), true)
+				}
 				break
 			}
 			// Otherwise if fresh and still unknown, try and import
@@ -372,6 +379,9 @@ func (f *Fetcher) loop() {
 			}
 			f.announces[notification.origin] = count
 			f.announced[notification.hash] = append(f.announced[notification.hash], notification)
+			if f.announceChangeHook != nil && len(f.announced[notification.hash]) == 1 {
+				f.announceChangeHook(notification.hash, true)
+			}
 			if len(f.announced) == 1 {
 				f.rescheduleFetch(fetchTimer)
 			}
@@ -714,7 +724,9 @@ func (f *Fetcher) enqueue(peer string, block *types.Block) {
 		f.queues[peer] = count
 		f.queued[hash] = op
 		f.queue.Push(op, -float32(block.NumberU64()))
-
+		if f.queueChangeHook != nil {
+			f.queueChangeHook(op.block.Hash(), true)
+		}
 		if glog.V(logger.Debug) {
 			glog.Infof("Peer %s: queued block #%d [%x…], total %v", peer, block.NumberU64(), hash.Bytes()[:4], f.queue.Size())
 		}
@@ -781,7 +793,9 @@ func (f *Fetcher) forgetHash(hash common.Hash) {
 		}
 	}
 	delete(f.announced, hash)
-
+	if f.announceChangeHook != nil {
+		f.announceChangeHook(hash, false)
+	}
 	// Remove any pending fetches and decrement the DOS counters
 	if announce := f.fetching[hash]; announce != nil {
 		f.announces[announce.origin]--
diff --git a/eth/fetcher/fetcher_test.go b/eth/fetcher/fetcher_test.go
index 170a80aba..2404c8cfa 100644
--- a/eth/fetcher/fetcher_test.go
+++ b/eth/fetcher/fetcher_test.go
@@ -145,6 +145,9 @@ func (f *fetcherTester) insertChain(blocks types.Blocks) (int, error) {
 // dropPeer is an emulator for the peer removal, simply accumulating the various
 // peers dropped by the fetcher.
 func (f *fetcherTester) dropPeer(peer string) {
+	f.lock.Lock()
+	defer f.lock.Unlock()
+
 	f.drops[peer] = true
 }
 
@@ -608,8 +611,11 @@ func TestDistantPropagationDiscarding(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Create a tester and simulate a head block being the middle of the above chain
 	tester := newTester()
+
+	tester.lock.Lock()
 	tester.hashes = []common.Hash{head}
 	tester.blocks = map[common.Hash]*types.Block{head: blocks[head]}
+	tester.lock.Unlock()
 
 	// Ensure that a block with a lower number than the threshold is discarded
 	tester.fetcher.Enqueue("lower", blocks[hashes[low]])
@@ -641,8 +647,11 @@ func testDistantAnnouncementDiscarding(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 
 	// Create a tester and simulate a head block being the middle of the above chain
 	tester := newTester()
+
+	tester.lock.Lock()
 	tester.hashes = []common.Hash{head}
 	tester.blocks = map[common.Hash]*types.Block{head: blocks[head]}
+	tester.lock.Unlock()
 
 	headerFetcher := tester.makeHeaderFetcher(blocks, -gatherSlack)
 	bodyFetcher := tester.makeBodyFetcher(blocks, 0)
@@ -687,14 +696,22 @@ func testInvalidNumberAnnouncement(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 	tester.fetcher.Notify("bad", hashes[0], 2, time.Now().Add(-arriveTimeout), nil, headerFetcher, bodyFetcher)
 	verifyImportEvent(t, imported, false)
 
-	if !tester.drops["bad"] {
+	tester.lock.RLock()
+	dropped := tester.drops["bad"]
+	tester.lock.RUnlock()
+
+	if !dropped {
 		t.Fatalf("peer with invalid numbered announcement not dropped")
 	}
 	// Make sure a good announcement passes without a drop
 	tester.fetcher.Notify("good", hashes[0], 1, time.Now().Add(-arriveTimeout), nil, headerFetcher, bodyFetcher)
 	verifyImportEvent(t, imported, true)
 
-	if tester.drops["good"] {
+	tester.lock.RLock()
+	dropped = tester.drops["good"]
+	tester.lock.RUnlock()
+
+	if dropped {
 		t.Fatalf("peer with valid numbered announcement dropped")
 	}
 	verifyImportDone(t, imported)
@@ -752,9 +769,15 @@ func testHashMemoryExhaustionAttack(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 	// Create a tester with instrumented import hooks
 	tester := newTester()
 
-	imported := make(chan *types.Block)
+	imported, announces := make(chan *types.Block), int32(0)
 	tester.fetcher.importedHook = func(block *types.Block) { imported <- block }
-
+	tester.fetcher.announceChangeHook = func(hash common.Hash, added bool) {
+		if added {
+			atomic.AddInt32(&announces, 1)
+		} else {
+			atomic.AddInt32(&announces, -1)
+		}
+	}
 	// Create a valid chain and an infinite junk chain
 	targetBlocks := hashLimit + 2*maxQueueDist
 	hashes, blocks := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis)
@@ -782,8 +805,8 @@ func testHashMemoryExhaustionAttack(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 			tester.fetcher.Notify("attacker", attack[i], 1 /* don't distance drop */, time.Now(), nil, attackerHeaderFetcher, attackerBodyFetcher)
 		}
 	}
-	if len(tester.fetcher.announced) != hashLimit+maxQueueDist {
-		t.Fatalf("queued announce count mismatch: have %d, want %d", len(tester.fetcher.announced), hashLimit+maxQueueDist)
+	if count := atomic.LoadInt32(&announces); count != hashLimit+maxQueueDist {
+		t.Fatalf("queued announce count mismatch: have %d, want %d", count, hashLimit+maxQueueDist)
 	}
 	// Wait for fetches to complete
 	verifyImportCount(t, imported, maxQueueDist)
@@ -807,9 +830,15 @@ func TestBlockMemoryExhaustionAttack(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a tester with instrumented import hooks
 	tester := newTester()
 
-	imported := make(chan *types.Block)
+	imported, enqueued := make(chan *types.Block), int32(0)
 	tester.fetcher.importedHook = func(block *types.Block) { imported <- block }
-
+	tester.fetcher.queueChangeHook = func(hash common.Hash, added bool) {
+		if added {
+			atomic.AddInt32(&enqueued, 1)
+		} else {
+			atomic.AddInt32(&enqueued, -1)
+		}
+	}
 	// Create a valid chain and a batch of dangling (but in range) blocks
 	targetBlocks := hashLimit + 2*maxQueueDist
 	hashes, blocks := makeChain(targetBlocks, 0, genesis)
@@ -825,7 +854,7 @@ func TestBlockMemoryExhaustionAttack(t *testing.T) {
 		tester.fetcher.Enqueue("attacker", block)
 	}
 	time.Sleep(200 * time.Millisecond)
-	if queued := tester.fetcher.queue.Size(); queued != blockLimit {
+	if queued := atomic.LoadInt32(&enqueued); queued != blockLimit {
 		t.Fatalf("queued block count mismatch: have %d, want %d", queued, blockLimit)
 	}
 	// Queue up a batch of valid blocks, and check that a new peer is allowed to do so
@@ -833,7 +862,7 @@ func TestBlockMemoryExhaustionAttack(t *testing.T) {
 		tester.fetcher.Enqueue("valid", blocks[hashes[len(hashes)-3-i]])
 	}
 	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
-	if queued := tester.fetcher.queue.Size(); queued != blockLimit+maxQueueDist-1 {
+	if queued := atomic.LoadInt32(&enqueued); queued != blockLimit+maxQueueDist-1 {
 		t.Fatalf("queued block count mismatch: have %d, want %d", queued, blockLimit+maxQueueDist-1)
 	}
 	// Insert the missing piece (and sanity check the import)
diff --git a/eth/filters/filter_test.go b/eth/filters/filter_test.go
index 9e7538fac..a5418e2e7 100644
--- a/eth/filters/filter_test.go
+++ b/eth/filters/filter_test.go
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ import (
 
 func makeReceipt(addr common.Address) *types.Receipt {
 	receipt := types.NewReceipt(nil, new(big.Int))
-	receipt.SetLogs(vm.Logs{
+	receipt.Logs = vm.Logs{
 		&vm.Log{Address: addr},
-	})
+	}
 	receipt.Bloom = types.CreateBloom(types.Receipts{receipt})
 	return receipt
 }
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func BenchmarkMipmaps(b *testing.B) {
 	defer db.Close()
 
 	genesis := core.WriteGenesisBlockForTesting(db, core.GenesisAccount{addr1, big.NewInt(1000000)})
-	chain := core.GenerateChain(genesis, db, 100010, func(i int, gen *core.BlockGen) {
+	chain, receipts := core.GenerateChain(genesis, db, 100010, func(i int, gen *core.BlockGen) {
 		var receipts types.Receipts
 		switch i {
 		case 2403:
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func BenchmarkMipmaps(b *testing.B) {
 		}
 		core.WriteMipmapBloom(db, uint64(i+1), receipts)
 	})
-	for _, block := range chain {
+	for i, block := range chain {
 		core.WriteBlock(db, block)
 		if err := core.WriteCanonicalHash(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
 			b.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
@@ -78,11 +78,10 @@ func BenchmarkMipmaps(b *testing.B) {
 		if err := core.WriteHeadBlockHash(db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
 			b.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
 		}
-		if err := core.PutBlockReceipts(db, block, block.Receipts()); err != nil {
+		if err := core.PutBlockReceipts(db, block.Hash(), receipts[i]); err != nil {
 			b.Fatal("error writing block receipts:", err)
 		}
 	}
-
 	b.ResetTimer()
 
 	filter := New(db)
@@ -118,47 +117,47 @@ func TestFilters(t *testing.T) {
 	defer db.Close()
 
 	genesis := core.WriteGenesisBlockForTesting(db, core.GenesisAccount{addr, big.NewInt(1000000)})
-	chain := core.GenerateChain(genesis, db, 1000, func(i int, gen *core.BlockGen) {
+	chain, receipts := core.GenerateChain(genesis, db, 1000, func(i int, gen *core.BlockGen) {
 		var receipts types.Receipts
 		switch i {
 		case 1:
 			receipt := types.NewReceipt(nil, new(big.Int))
-			receipt.SetLogs(vm.Logs{
+			receipt.Logs = vm.Logs{
 				&vm.Log{
 					Address: addr,
 					Topics:  []common.Hash{hash1},
 				},
-			})
+			}
 			gen.AddUncheckedReceipt(receipt)
 			receipts = types.Receipts{receipt}
 		case 2:
 			receipt := types.NewReceipt(nil, new(big.Int))
-			receipt.SetLogs(vm.Logs{
+			receipt.Logs = vm.Logs{
 				&vm.Log{
 					Address: addr,
 					Topics:  []common.Hash{hash2},
 				},
-			})
+			}
 			gen.AddUncheckedReceipt(receipt)
 			receipts = types.Receipts{receipt}
 		case 998:
 			receipt := types.NewReceipt(nil, new(big.Int))
-			receipt.SetLogs(vm.Logs{
+			receipt.Logs = vm.Logs{
 				&vm.Log{
 					Address: addr,
 					Topics:  []common.Hash{hash3},
 				},
-			})
+			}
 			gen.AddUncheckedReceipt(receipt)
 			receipts = types.Receipts{receipt}
 		case 999:
 			receipt := types.NewReceipt(nil, new(big.Int))
-			receipt.SetLogs(vm.Logs{
+			receipt.Logs = vm.Logs{
 				&vm.Log{
 					Address: addr,
 					Topics:  []common.Hash{hash4},
 				},
-			})
+			}
 			gen.AddUncheckedReceipt(receipt)
 			receipts = types.Receipts{receipt}
 		}
@@ -173,7 +172,7 @@ func TestFilters(t *testing.T) {
 		// by one
 		core.WriteMipmapBloom(db, uint64(i+1), receipts)
 	})
-	for _, block := range chain {
+	for i, block := range chain {
 		core.WriteBlock(db, block)
 		if err := core.WriteCanonicalHash(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
@@ -181,7 +180,7 @@ func TestFilters(t *testing.T) {
 		if err := core.WriteHeadBlockHash(db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
 		}
-		if err := core.PutBlockReceipts(db, block, block.Receipts()); err != nil {
+		if err := core.PutBlockReceipts(db, block.Hash(), receipts[i]); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal("error writing block receipts:", err)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/eth/handler.go b/eth/handler.go
index 725178035..7dc7de80e 100644
--- a/eth/handler.go
+++ b/eth/handler.go
@@ -84,6 +84,11 @@ type ProtocolManager struct {
 // NewProtocolManager returns a new ethereum sub protocol manager. The Ethereum sub protocol manages peers capable
 // with the ethereum network.
 func NewProtocolManager(fastSync bool, networkId int, mux *event.TypeMux, txpool txPool, pow pow.PoW, blockchain *core.BlockChain, chaindb ethdb.Database) (*ProtocolManager, error) {
+	// Figure out whether to allow fast sync or not
+	if fastSync && blockchain.CurrentBlock().NumberU64() > 0 {
+		glog.V(logger.Info).Infof("blockchain not empty, fast sync disabled")
+		fastSync = false
+	}
 	// Create the protocol manager with the base fields
 	manager := &ProtocolManager{
 		fastSync:   fastSync,
@@ -103,7 +108,7 @@ func NewProtocolManager(fastSync bool, networkId int, mux *event.TypeMux, txpool
 		if fastSync && version < eth63 {
 			continue
 		}
-		// Compatible, initialize the sub-protocol
+		// Compatible; initialise the sub-protocol
 		version := version // Closure for the run
 		manager.SubProtocols = append(manager.SubProtocols, p2p.Protocol{
 			Name:    "eth",
@@ -120,13 +125,9 @@ func NewProtocolManager(fastSync bool, networkId int, mux *event.TypeMux, txpool
 		return nil, errIncompatibleConfig
 	}
 	// Construct the different synchronisation mechanisms
-	syncMode := downloader.FullSync
-	if fastSync {
-		syncMode = downloader.FastSync
-	}
-	manager.downloader = downloader.New(syncMode, chaindb, manager.eventMux, blockchain.HasHeader, blockchain.HasBlock, blockchain.GetHeader,
-		blockchain.GetBlock, blockchain.CurrentHeader, blockchain.CurrentBlock, blockchain.CurrentFastBlock, blockchain.FastSyncCommitHead,
-		blockchain.GetTd, blockchain.InsertHeaderChain, blockchain.InsertChain, blockchain.InsertReceiptChain, blockchain.Rollback, manager.removePeer)
+	manager.downloader = downloader.New(chaindb, manager.eventMux, blockchain.HasHeader, blockchain.HasBlock, blockchain.GetHeader, blockchain.GetBlock,
+		blockchain.CurrentHeader, blockchain.CurrentBlock, blockchain.CurrentFastBlock, blockchain.FastSyncCommitHead, blockchain.GetTd,
+		blockchain.InsertHeaderChain, blockchain.InsertChain, blockchain.InsertReceiptChain, blockchain.Rollback, manager.removePeer)
 
 	validator := func(block *types.Block, parent *types.Block) error {
 		return core.ValidateHeader(pow, block.Header(), parent.Header(), true, false)
diff --git a/eth/handler_test.go b/eth/handler_test.go
index 843b02fd4..ab2ce54b1 100644
--- a/eth/handler_test.go
+++ b/eth/handler_test.go
@@ -443,7 +443,9 @@ func testGetNodeData(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 	// Fetch for now the entire chain db
 	hashes := []common.Hash{}
 	for _, key := range pm.chaindb.(*ethdb.MemDatabase).Keys() {
-		hashes = append(hashes, common.BytesToHash(key))
+		if len(key) == len(common.Hash{}) {
+			hashes = append(hashes, common.BytesToHash(key))
+		}
 	}
 	p2p.Send(peer.app, 0x0d, hashes)
 	msg, err := peer.app.ReadMsg()
diff --git a/eth/metrics.go b/eth/metrics.go
index cfab3bcb3..8231a06ff 100644
--- a/eth/metrics.go
+++ b/eth/metrics.go
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func (rw *meteredMsgReadWriter) ReadMsg() (p2p.Msg, error) {
 		packets, traffic = reqBlockInPacketsMeter, reqBlockInTrafficMeter
 
 	case rw.version >= eth62 && msg.Code == BlockHeadersMsg:
-		packets, traffic = reqBlockInPacketsMeter, reqBlockInTrafficMeter
+		packets, traffic = reqHeaderInPacketsMeter, reqHeaderInTrafficMeter
 	case rw.version >= eth62 && msg.Code == BlockBodiesMsg:
 		packets, traffic = reqBodyInPacketsMeter, reqBodyInTrafficMeter
 
diff --git a/eth/sync.go b/eth/sync.go
index 6295083e2..b69a24556 100644
--- a/eth/sync.go
+++ b/eth/sync.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/downloader"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/logger"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/logger/glog"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/p2p/discover"
@@ -165,5 +166,20 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) synchronise(peer *peer) {
 		return
 	}
 	// Otherwise try to sync with the downloader
-	pm.downloader.Synchronise(peer.id, peer.Head(), peer.Td())
+	mode := downloader.FullSync
+	if pm.fastSync {
+		mode = downloader.FastSync
+	}
+	pm.downloader.Synchronise(peer.id, peer.Head(), peer.Td(), mode)
+
+	// If fast sync was enabled, and we synced up, disable it
+	if pm.fastSync {
+		for pm.downloader.Synchronising() {
+			time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+		}
+		if pm.blockchain.CurrentBlock().NumberU64() > 0 {
+			glog.V(logger.Info).Infof("fast sync complete, auto disabling")
+			pm.fastSync = false
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/eth/sync_test.go b/eth/sync_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f3a6718ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/eth/sync_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+// Copyright 2015 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package eth
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/p2p"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/p2p/discover"
+)
+
+// Tests that fast sync gets disabled as soon as a real block is successfully
+// imported into the blockchain.
+func TestFastSyncDisabling(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create a pristine protocol manager, check that fast sync is left enabled
+	pmEmpty := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, true, 0, nil, nil)
+	if !pmEmpty.fastSync {
+		t.Fatalf("fast sync disabled on pristine blockchain")
+	}
+	// Create a full protocol manager, check that fast sync gets disabled
+	pmFull := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, true, 1024, nil, nil)
+	if pmFull.fastSync {
+		t.Fatalf("fast sync not disabled on non-empty blockchain")
+	}
+	// Sync up the two peers
+	io1, io2 := p2p.MsgPipe()
+
+	go pmFull.handle(pmFull.newPeer(63, NetworkId, p2p.NewPeer(discover.NodeID{}, "empty", nil), io2))
+	go pmEmpty.handle(pmEmpty.newPeer(63, NetworkId, p2p.NewPeer(discover.NodeID{}, "full", nil), io1))
+
+	time.Sleep(250 * time.Millisecond)
+	pmEmpty.synchronise(pmEmpty.peers.BestPeer())
+
+	// Check that fast sync was disabled
+	if pmEmpty.fastSync {
+		t.Fatalf("fast sync not disabled after successful synchronisation")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/ethdb/memory_database.go b/ethdb/memory_database.go
index 330834fa4..01273b9db 100644
--- a/ethdb/memory_database.go
+++ b/ethdb/memory_database.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 package ethdb
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -56,7 +57,10 @@ func (db *MemDatabase) Get(key []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	db.lock.RLock()
 	defer db.lock.RUnlock()
 
-	return db.db[string(key)], nil
+	if entry, ok := db.db[string(key)]; ok {
+		return entry, nil
+	}
+	return nil, errors.New("not found")
 }
 
 func (db *MemDatabase) Keys() [][]byte {
@@ -132,8 +136,8 @@ func (b *memBatch) Write() error {
 	b.lock.RLock()
 	defer b.lock.RUnlock()
 
-	b.db.lock.RLock()
-	defer b.db.lock.RUnlock()
+	b.db.lock.Lock()
+	defer b.db.lock.Unlock()
 
 	for _, kv := range b.writes {
 		b.db.db[string(kv.k)] = kv.v
diff --git a/rpc/api/eth.go b/rpc/api/eth.go
index 6db006a46..4722682ff 100644
--- a/rpc/api/eth.go
+++ b/rpc/api/eth.go
@@ -168,9 +168,7 @@ func (self *ethApi) IsMining(req *shared.Request) (interface{}, error) {
 }
 
 func (self *ethApi) IsSyncing(req *shared.Request) (interface{}, error) {
-	current := self.ethereum.BlockChain().CurrentBlock().NumberU64()
-	origin, height := self.ethereum.Downloader().Boundaries()
-
+	origin, current, height := self.ethereum.Downloader().Progress()
 	if current < height {
 		return map[string]interface{}{
 			"startingBlock": newHexNum(big.NewInt(int64(origin)).Bytes()),
diff --git a/trie/sync.go b/trie/sync.go
index bb112fb62..d55399d06 100644
--- a/trie/sync.go
+++ b/trie/sync.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ type request struct {
 	object *node       // Target node to populate with retrieved data (hashnode originally)
 
 	parents []*request // Parent state nodes referencing this entry (notify all upon completion)
-	depth   int        // Depth level within the trie the node is located to prioritize DFS
+	depth   int        // Depth level within the trie the node is located to prioritise DFS
 	deps    int        // Number of dependencies before allowed to commit this node
 
 	callback TrieSyncLeafCallback // Callback to invoke if a leaf node it reached on this branch