diff --git a/core/state/sync_test.go b/core/state/sync_test.go
index 17670750ed..deb4b52b4c 100644
--- a/core/state/sync_test.go
+++ b/core/state/sync_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb/memorydb"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie"
 )
 
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ func makeTestState() (Database, common.Hash, []*testAccount) {
 	state, _ := New(common.Hash{}, db, nil)
 
 	// Fill it with some arbitrary data
-	accounts := []*testAccount{}
+	var accounts []*testAccount
 	for i := byte(0); i < 96; i++ {
 		obj := state.GetOrNewStateObject(common.BytesToAddress([]byte{i}))
 		acc := &testAccount{address: common.BytesToAddress([]byte{i})}
@@ -59,6 +60,11 @@ func makeTestState() (Database, common.Hash, []*testAccount) {
 			obj.SetCode(crypto.Keccak256Hash([]byte{i, i, i, i, i}), []byte{i, i, i, i, i})
 			acc.code = []byte{i, i, i, i, i}
 		}
+		if i%5 == 0 {
+			for j := byte(0); j < 5; j++ {
+				obj.SetState(db, crypto.Keccak256Hash([]byte{i, i, i, i, i, j, j}), crypto.Keccak256Hash([]byte{i, i, i, i, i, j, j}))
+			}
+		}
 		state.updateStateObject(obj)
 		accounts = append(accounts, acc)
 	}
@@ -126,44 +132,94 @@ func checkStateConsistency(db ethdb.Database, root common.Hash) error {
 // Tests that an empty state is not scheduled for syncing.
 func TestEmptyStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 	empty := common.HexToHash("56e81f171bcc55a6ff8345e692c0f86e5b48e01b996cadc001622fb5e363b421")
-	if req := NewStateSync(empty, rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase(), trie.NewSyncBloom(1, memorydb.New())).Missing(1); len(req) != 0 {
-		t.Errorf("content requested for empty state: %v", req)
+	sync := NewStateSync(empty, rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase(), trie.NewSyncBloom(1, memorydb.New()))
+	if nodes, paths, codes := sync.Missing(1); len(nodes) != 0 || len(paths) != 0 || len(codes) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf(" content requested for empty state: %v, %v, %v", nodes, paths, codes)
 	}
 }
 
 // Tests that given a root hash, a state can sync iteratively on a single thread,
 // requesting retrieval tasks and returning all of them in one go.
-func TestIterativeStateSyncIndividual(t *testing.T)         { testIterativeStateSync(t, 1, false) }
-func TestIterativeStateSyncBatched(t *testing.T)            { testIterativeStateSync(t, 100, false) }
-func TestIterativeStateSyncIndividualFromDisk(t *testing.T) { testIterativeStateSync(t, 1, true) }
-func TestIterativeStateSyncBatchedFromDisk(t *testing.T)    { testIterativeStateSync(t, 100, true) }
+func TestIterativeStateSyncIndividual(t *testing.T) {
+	testIterativeStateSync(t, 1, false, false)
+}
+func TestIterativeStateSyncBatched(t *testing.T) {
+	testIterativeStateSync(t, 100, false, false)
+}
+func TestIterativeStateSyncIndividualFromDisk(t *testing.T) {
+	testIterativeStateSync(t, 1, true, false)
+}
+func TestIterativeStateSyncBatchedFromDisk(t *testing.T) {
+	testIterativeStateSync(t, 100, true, false)
+}
+func TestIterativeStateSyncIndividualByPath(t *testing.T) {
+	testIterativeStateSync(t, 1, false, true)
+}
+func TestIterativeStateSyncBatchedByPath(t *testing.T) {
+	testIterativeStateSync(t, 100, false, true)
+}
 
-func testIterativeStateSync(t *testing.T, count int, commit bool) {
+func testIterativeStateSync(t *testing.T, count int, commit bool, bypath bool) {
 	// Create a random state to copy
 	srcDb, srcRoot, srcAccounts := makeTestState()
 	if commit {
 		srcDb.TrieDB().Commit(srcRoot, false, nil)
 	}
+	srcTrie, _ := trie.New(srcRoot, srcDb.TrieDB())
+
 	// Create a destination state and sync with the scheduler
 	dstDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb, trie.NewSyncBloom(1, dstDb))
 
-	queue := append([]common.Hash{}, sched.Missing(count)...)
-	for len(queue) > 0 {
-		results := make([]trie.SyncResult, len(queue))
-		for i, hash := range queue {
+	nodes, paths, codes := sched.Missing(count)
+	var (
+		hashQueue []common.Hash
+		pathQueue []trie.SyncPath
+	)
+	if !bypath {
+		hashQueue = append(append(hashQueue[:0], nodes...), codes...)
+	} else {
+		hashQueue = append(hashQueue[:0], codes...)
+		pathQueue = append(pathQueue[:0], paths...)
+	}
+	for len(hashQueue)+len(pathQueue) > 0 {
+		results := make([]trie.SyncResult, len(hashQueue)+len(pathQueue))
+		for i, hash := range hashQueue {
 			data, err := srcDb.TrieDB().Node(hash)
 			if err != nil {
 				data, err = srcDb.ContractCode(common.Hash{}, hash)
 			}
 			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("failed to retrieve node data for %x", hash)
+				t.Fatalf("failed to retrieve node data for hash %x", hash)
 			}
 			results[i] = trie.SyncResult{Hash: hash, Data: data}
 		}
+		for i, path := range pathQueue {
+			if len(path) == 1 {
+				data, _, err := srcTrie.TryGetNode(path[0])
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("failed to retrieve node data for path %x: %v", path, err)
+				}
+				results[len(hashQueue)+i] = trie.SyncResult{Hash: crypto.Keccak256Hash(data), Data: data}
+			} else {
+				var acc Account
+				if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(srcTrie.Get(path[0]), &acc); err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("failed to decode account on path %x: %v", path, err)
+				}
+				stTrie, err := trie.New(acc.Root, srcDb.TrieDB())
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("failed to retriev storage trie for path %x: %v", path, err)
+				}
+				data, _, err := stTrie.TryGetNode(path[1])
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("failed to retrieve node data for path %x: %v", path, err)
+				}
+				results[len(hashQueue)+i] = trie.SyncResult{Hash: crypto.Keccak256Hash(data), Data: data}
+			}
+		}
 		for _, result := range results {
 			if err := sched.Process(result); err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("failed to process result %v", err)
+				t.Errorf("failed to process result %v", err)
 			}
 		}
 		batch := dstDb.NewBatch()
@@ -171,7 +227,14 @@ func testIterativeStateSync(t *testing.T, count int, commit bool) {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to commit data: %v", err)
 		}
 		batch.Write()
-		queue = append(queue[:0], sched.Missing(count)...)
+
+		nodes, paths, codes = sched.Missing(count)
+		if !bypath {
+			hashQueue = append(append(hashQueue[:0], nodes...), codes...)
+		} else {
+			hashQueue = append(hashQueue[:0], codes...)
+			pathQueue = append(pathQueue[:0], paths...)
+		}
 	}
 	// Cross check that the two states are in sync
 	checkStateAccounts(t, dstDb, srcRoot, srcAccounts)
@@ -187,7 +250,9 @@ func TestIterativeDelayedStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 	dstDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb, trie.NewSyncBloom(1, dstDb))
 
-	queue := append([]common.Hash{}, sched.Missing(0)...)
+	nodes, _, codes := sched.Missing(0)
+	queue := append(append([]common.Hash{}, nodes...), codes...)
+
 	for len(queue) > 0 {
 		// Sync only half of the scheduled nodes
 		results := make([]trie.SyncResult, len(queue)/2+1)
@@ -211,7 +276,9 @@ func TestIterativeDelayedStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to commit data: %v", err)
 		}
 		batch.Write()
-		queue = append(queue[len(results):], sched.Missing(0)...)
+
+		nodes, _, codes = sched.Missing(0)
+		queue = append(append(queue[len(results):], nodes...), codes...)
 	}
 	// Cross check that the two states are in sync
 	checkStateAccounts(t, dstDb, srcRoot, srcAccounts)
@@ -232,7 +299,8 @@ func testIterativeRandomStateSync(t *testing.T, count int) {
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb, trie.NewSyncBloom(1, dstDb))
 
 	queue := make(map[common.Hash]struct{})
-	for _, hash := range sched.Missing(count) {
+	nodes, _, codes := sched.Missing(count)
+	for _, hash := range append(nodes, codes...) {
 		queue[hash] = struct{}{}
 	}
 	for len(queue) > 0 {
@@ -259,8 +327,10 @@ func testIterativeRandomStateSync(t *testing.T, count int) {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to commit data: %v", err)
 		}
 		batch.Write()
+
 		queue = make(map[common.Hash]struct{})
-		for _, hash := range sched.Missing(count) {
+		nodes, _, codes = sched.Missing(count)
+		for _, hash := range append(nodes, codes...) {
 			queue[hash] = struct{}{}
 		}
 	}
@@ -279,7 +349,8 @@ func TestIterativeRandomDelayedStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb, trie.NewSyncBloom(1, dstDb))
 
 	queue := make(map[common.Hash]struct{})
-	for _, hash := range sched.Missing(0) {
+	nodes, _, codes := sched.Missing(0)
+	for _, hash := range append(nodes, codes...) {
 		queue[hash] = struct{}{}
 	}
 	for len(queue) > 0 {
@@ -312,7 +383,11 @@ func TestIterativeRandomDelayedStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to commit data: %v", err)
 		}
 		batch.Write()
-		for _, hash := range sched.Missing(0) {
+		for _, result := range results {
+			delete(queue, result.Hash)
+		}
+		nodes, _, codes = sched.Missing(0)
+		for _, hash := range append(nodes, codes...) {
 			queue[hash] = struct{}{}
 		}
 	}
@@ -341,8 +416,11 @@ func TestIncompleteStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 	dstDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb, trie.NewSyncBloom(1, dstDb))
 
-	added := []common.Hash{}
-	queue := append([]common.Hash{}, sched.Missing(1)...)
+	var added []common.Hash
+
+	nodes, _, codes := sched.Missing(1)
+	queue := append(append([]common.Hash{}, nodes...), codes...)
+
 	for len(queue) > 0 {
 		// Fetch a batch of state nodes
 		results := make([]trie.SyncResult, len(queue))
@@ -382,7 +460,8 @@ func TestIncompleteStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		}
 		// Fetch the next batch to retrieve
-		queue = append(queue[:0], sched.Missing(1)...)
+		nodes, _, codes = sched.Missing(1)
+		queue = append(append(queue[:0], nodes...), codes...)
 	}
 	// Sanity check that removing any node from the database is detected
 	for _, node := range added[1:] {
diff --git a/eth/downloader/statesync.go b/eth/downloader/statesync.go
index bf9e96fe2a..6745aa54ac 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/statesync.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/statesync.go
@@ -34,14 +34,15 @@ import (
 // stateReq represents a batch of state fetch requests grouped together into
 // a single data retrieval network packet.
 type stateReq struct {
-	nItems    uint16                     // Number of items requested for download (max is 384, so uint16 is sufficient)
-	tasks     map[common.Hash]*stateTask // Download tasks to track previous attempts
-	timeout   time.Duration              // Maximum round trip time for this to complete
-	timer     *time.Timer                // Timer to fire when the RTT timeout expires
-	peer      *peerConnection            // Peer that we're requesting from
-	delivered time.Time                  // Time when the packet was delivered (independent when we process it)
-	response  [][]byte                   // Response data of the peer (nil for timeouts)
-	dropped   bool                       // Flag whether the peer dropped off early
+	nItems    uint16                    // Number of items requested for download (max is 384, so uint16 is sufficient)
+	trieTasks map[common.Hash]*trieTask // Trie node download tasks to track previous attempts
+	codeTasks map[common.Hash]*codeTask // Byte code download tasks to track previous attempts
+	timeout   time.Duration             // Maximum round trip time for this to complete
+	timer     *time.Timer               // Timer to fire when the RTT timeout expires
+	peer      *peerConnection           // Peer that we're requesting from
+	delivered time.Time                 // Time when the packet was delivered (independent when we process it)
+	response  [][]byte                  // Response data of the peer (nil for timeouts)
+	dropped   bool                      // Flag whether the peer dropped off early
 }
 
 // timedOut returns if this request timed out.
@@ -251,9 +252,11 @@ func (d *Downloader) spindownStateSync(active map[string]*stateReq, finished []*
 type stateSync struct {
 	d *Downloader // Downloader instance to access and manage current peerset
 
-	sched  *trie.Sync                 // State trie sync scheduler defining the tasks
-	keccak hash.Hash                  // Keccak256 hasher to verify deliveries with
-	tasks  map[common.Hash]*stateTask // Set of tasks currently queued for retrieval
+	sched  *trie.Sync // State trie sync scheduler defining the tasks
+	keccak hash.Hash  // Keccak256 hasher to verify deliveries with
+
+	trieTasks map[common.Hash]*trieTask // Set of trie node tasks currently queued for retrieval
+	codeTasks map[common.Hash]*codeTask // Set of byte code tasks currently queued for retrieval
 
 	numUncommitted   int
 	bytesUncommitted int
@@ -269,9 +272,16 @@ type stateSync struct {
 	root common.Hash
 }
 
-// stateTask represents a single trie node download task, containing a set of
+// trieTask represents a single trie node download task, containing a set of
+// peers already attempted retrieval from to detect stalled syncs and abort.
+type trieTask struct {
+	path     [][]byte
+	attempts map[string]struct{}
+}
+
+// codeTask represents a single byte code download task, containing a set of
 // peers already attempted retrieval from to detect stalled syncs and abort.
-type stateTask struct {
+type codeTask struct {
 	attempts map[string]struct{}
 }
 
@@ -279,15 +289,16 @@ type stateTask struct {
 // yet start the sync. The user needs to call run to initiate.
 func newStateSync(d *Downloader, root common.Hash) *stateSync {
 	return &stateSync{
-		d:       d,
-		sched:   state.NewStateSync(root, d.stateDB, d.stateBloom),
-		keccak:  sha3.NewLegacyKeccak256(),
-		tasks:   make(map[common.Hash]*stateTask),
-		deliver: make(chan *stateReq),
-		cancel:  make(chan struct{}),
-		done:    make(chan struct{}),
-		started: make(chan struct{}),
-		root:    root,
+		d:         d,
+		sched:     state.NewStateSync(root, d.stateDB, d.stateBloom),
+		keccak:    sha3.NewLegacyKeccak256(),
+		trieTasks: make(map[common.Hash]*trieTask),
+		codeTasks: make(map[common.Hash]*codeTask),
+		deliver:   make(chan *stateReq),
+		cancel:    make(chan struct{}),
+		done:      make(chan struct{}),
+		started:   make(chan struct{}),
+		root:      root,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -411,14 +422,15 @@ func (s *stateSync) assignTasks() {
 		// Assign a batch of fetches proportional to the estimated latency/bandwidth
 		cap := p.NodeDataCapacity(s.d.requestRTT())
 		req := &stateReq{peer: p, timeout: s.d.requestTTL()}
-		items := s.fillTasks(cap, req)
+
+		nodes, _, codes := s.fillTasks(cap, req)
 
 		// If the peer was assigned tasks to fetch, send the network request
-		if len(items) > 0 {
-			req.peer.log.Trace("Requesting new batch of data", "type", "state", "count", len(items), "root", s.root)
+		if len(nodes)+len(codes) > 0 {
+			req.peer.log.Trace("Requesting batch of state data", "nodes", len(nodes), "codes", len(codes), "root", s.root)
 			select {
 			case s.d.trackStateReq <- req:
-				req.peer.FetchNodeData(items)
+				req.peer.FetchNodeData(append(nodes, codes...)) // Unified retrieval under eth/6x
 			case <-s.cancel:
 			case <-s.d.cancelCh:
 			}
@@ -428,20 +440,34 @@ func (s *stateSync) assignTasks() {
 
 // fillTasks fills the given request object with a maximum of n state download
 // tasks to send to the remote peer.
-func (s *stateSync) fillTasks(n int, req *stateReq) []common.Hash {
+func (s *stateSync) fillTasks(n int, req *stateReq) (nodes []common.Hash, paths []trie.SyncPath, codes []common.Hash) {
 	// Refill available tasks from the scheduler.
-	if len(s.tasks) < n {
-		new := s.sched.Missing(n - len(s.tasks))
-		for _, hash := range new {
-			s.tasks[hash] = &stateTask{make(map[string]struct{})}
+	if fill := n - (len(s.trieTasks) + len(s.codeTasks)); fill > 0 {
+		nodes, paths, codes := s.sched.Missing(fill)
+		for i, hash := range nodes {
+			s.trieTasks[hash] = &trieTask{
+				path:     paths[i],
+				attempts: make(map[string]struct{}),
+			}
+		}
+		for _, hash := range codes {
+			s.codeTasks[hash] = &codeTask{
+				attempts: make(map[string]struct{}),
+			}
 		}
 	}
-	// Find tasks that haven't been tried with the request's peer.
-	items := make([]common.Hash, 0, n)
-	req.tasks = make(map[common.Hash]*stateTask, n)
-	for hash, t := range s.tasks {
+	// Find tasks that haven't been tried with the request's peer. Prefer code
+	// over trie nodes as those can be written to disk and forgotten about.
+	nodes = make([]common.Hash, 0, n)
+	paths = make([]trie.SyncPath, 0, n)
+	codes = make([]common.Hash, 0, n)
+
+	req.trieTasks = make(map[common.Hash]*trieTask, n)
+	req.codeTasks = make(map[common.Hash]*codeTask, n)
+
+	for hash, t := range s.codeTasks {
 		// Stop when we've gathered enough requests
-		if len(items) == n {
+		if len(nodes)+len(codes) == n {
 			break
 		}
 		// Skip any requests we've already tried from this peer
@@ -450,12 +476,30 @@ func (s *stateSync) fillTasks(n int, req *stateReq) []common.Hash {
 		}
 		// Assign the request to this peer
 		t.attempts[req.peer.id] = struct{}{}
-		items = append(items, hash)
-		req.tasks[hash] = t
-		delete(s.tasks, hash)
+		codes = append(codes, hash)
+		req.codeTasks[hash] = t
+		delete(s.codeTasks, hash)
 	}
-	req.nItems = uint16(len(items))
-	return items
+	for hash, t := range s.trieTasks {
+		// Stop when we've gathered enough requests
+		if len(nodes)+len(codes) == n {
+			break
+		}
+		// Skip any requests we've already tried from this peer
+		if _, ok := t.attempts[req.peer.id]; ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		// Assign the request to this peer
+		t.attempts[req.peer.id] = struct{}{}
+
+		nodes = append(nodes, hash)
+		paths = append(paths, t.path)
+
+		req.trieTasks[hash] = t
+		delete(s.trieTasks, hash)
+	}
+	req.nItems = uint16(len(nodes) + len(codes))
+	return nodes, paths, codes
 }
 
 // process iterates over a batch of delivered state data, injecting each item
@@ -487,11 +531,28 @@ func (s *stateSync) process(req *stateReq) (int, error) {
 		default:
 			return successful, fmt.Errorf("invalid state node %s: %v", hash.TerminalString(), err)
 		}
-		delete(req.tasks, hash)
+		// Delete from both queues (one delivery is enough for the syncer)
+		delete(req.trieTasks, hash)
+		delete(req.codeTasks, hash)
 	}
 	// Put unfulfilled tasks back into the retry queue
 	npeers := s.d.peers.Len()
-	for hash, task := range req.tasks {
+	for hash, task := range req.trieTasks {
+		// If the node did deliver something, missing items may be due to a protocol
+		// limit or a previous timeout + delayed delivery. Both cases should permit
+		// the node to retry the missing items (to avoid single-peer stalls).
+		if len(req.response) > 0 || req.timedOut() {
+			delete(task.attempts, req.peer.id)
+		}
+		// If we've requested the node too many times already, it may be a malicious
+		// sync where nobody has the right data. Abort.
+		if len(task.attempts) >= npeers {
+			return successful, fmt.Errorf("trie node %s failed with all peers (%d tries, %d peers)", hash.TerminalString(), len(task.attempts), npeers)
+		}
+		// Missing item, place into the retry queue.
+		s.trieTasks[hash] = task
+	}
+	for hash, task := range req.codeTasks {
 		// If the node did deliver something, missing items may be due to a protocol
 		// limit or a previous timeout + delayed delivery. Both cases should permit
 		// the node to retry the missing items (to avoid single-peer stalls).
@@ -501,10 +562,10 @@ func (s *stateSync) process(req *stateReq) (int, error) {
 		// If we've requested the node too many times already, it may be a malicious
 		// sync where nobody has the right data. Abort.
 		if len(task.attempts) >= npeers {
-			return successful, fmt.Errorf("state node %s failed with all peers (%d tries, %d peers)", hash.TerminalString(), len(task.attempts), npeers)
+			return successful, fmt.Errorf("byte code %s failed with all peers (%d tries, %d peers)", hash.TerminalString(), len(task.attempts), npeers)
 		}
 		// Missing item, place into the retry queue.
-		s.tasks[hash] = task
+		s.codeTasks[hash] = task
 	}
 	return successful, nil
 }
@@ -533,7 +594,7 @@ func (s *stateSync) updateStats(written, duplicate, unexpected int, duration tim
 	s.d.syncStatsState.unexpected += uint64(unexpected)
 
 	if written > 0 || duplicate > 0 || unexpected > 0 {
-		log.Info("Imported new state entries", "count", written, "elapsed", common.PrettyDuration(duration), "processed", s.d.syncStatsState.processed, "pending", s.d.syncStatsState.pending, "retry", len(s.tasks), "duplicate", s.d.syncStatsState.duplicate, "unexpected", s.d.syncStatsState.unexpected)
+		log.Info("Imported new state entries", "count", written, "elapsed", common.PrettyDuration(duration), "processed", s.d.syncStatsState.processed, "pending", s.d.syncStatsState.pending, "trieretry", len(s.trieTasks), "coderetry", len(s.codeTasks), "duplicate", s.d.syncStatsState.duplicate, "unexpected", s.d.syncStatsState.unexpected)
 	}
 	if written > 0 {
 		rawdb.WriteFastTrieProgress(s.d.stateDB, s.d.syncStatsState.processed)
diff --git a/trie/secure_trie.go b/trie/secure_trie.go
index ae1bbc6aa9..87b364fb1b 100644
--- a/trie/secure_trie.go
+++ b/trie/secure_trie.go
@@ -79,6 +79,12 @@ func (t *SecureTrie) TryGet(key []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	return t.trie.TryGet(t.hashKey(key))
 }
 
+// TryGetNode attempts to retrieve a trie node by compact-encoded path. It is not
+// possible to use keybyte-encoding as the path might contain odd nibbles.
+func (t *SecureTrie) TryGetNode(path []byte) ([]byte, int, error) {
+	return t.trie.TryGetNode(path)
+}
+
 // Update associates key with value in the trie. Subsequent calls to
 // Get will return value. If value has length zero, any existing value
 // is deleted from the trie and calls to Get will return nil.
diff --git a/trie/sync.go b/trie/sync.go
index 147307fe71..bc93ddd3fb 100644
--- a/trie/sync.go
+++ b/trie/sync.go
@@ -52,6 +52,39 @@ type request struct {
 	callback LeafCallback // Callback to invoke if a leaf node it reached on this branch
 }
 
+// SyncPath is a path tuple identifying a particular trie node either in a single
+// trie (account) or a layered trie (account -> storage).
+//
+// Content wise the tuple either has 1 element if it addresses a node in a single
+// trie or 2 elements if it addresses a node in a stacked trie.
+//
+// To support aiming arbitrary trie nodes, the path needs to support odd nibble
+// lengths. To avoid transferring expanded hex form over the network, the last
+// part of the tuple (which needs to index into the middle of a trie) is compact
+// encoded. In case of a 2-tuple, the first item is always 32 bytes so that is
+// simple binary encoded.
+//
+// Examples:
+//   - Path 0x9  -> {0x19}
+//   - Path 0x99 -> {0x0099}
+//   - Path 0x01234567890123456789012345678901012345678901234567890123456789019  -> {0x0123456789012345678901234567890101234567890123456789012345678901, 0x19}
+//   - Path 0x012345678901234567890123456789010123456789012345678901234567890199 -> {0x0123456789012345678901234567890101234567890123456789012345678901, 0x0099}
+type SyncPath [][]byte
+
+// newSyncPath converts an expanded trie path from nibble form into a compact
+// version that can be sent over the network.
+func newSyncPath(path []byte) SyncPath {
+	// If the hash is from the account trie, append a single item, if it
+	// is from the a storage trie, append a tuple. Note, the length 64 is
+	// clashing between account leaf and storage root. It's fine though
+	// because having a trie node at 64 depth means a hash collision was
+	// found and we're long dead.
+	if len(path) < 64 {
+		return SyncPath{hexToCompact(path)}
+	}
+	return SyncPath{hexToKeybytes(path[:64]), hexToCompact(path[64:])}
+}
+
 // SyncResult is a response with requested data along with it's hash.
 type SyncResult struct {
 	Hash common.Hash // Hash of the originally unknown trie node
@@ -193,10 +226,16 @@ func (s *Sync) AddCodeEntry(hash common.Hash, path []byte, parent common.Hash) {
 	s.schedule(req)
 }
 
-// Missing retrieves the known missing nodes from the trie for retrieval.
-func (s *Sync) Missing(max int) []common.Hash {
-	var requests []common.Hash
-	for !s.queue.Empty() && (max == 0 || len(requests) < max) {
+// Missing retrieves the known missing nodes from the trie for retrieval. To aid
+// both eth/6x style fast sync and snap/1x style state sync, the paths of trie
+// nodes are returned too, as well as separate hash list for codes.
+func (s *Sync) Missing(max int) (nodes []common.Hash, paths []SyncPath, codes []common.Hash) {
+	var (
+		nodeHashes []common.Hash
+		nodePaths  []SyncPath
+		codeHashes []common.Hash
+	)
+	for !s.queue.Empty() && (max == 0 || len(nodeHashes)+len(codeHashes) < max) {
 		// Retrieve th enext item in line
 		item, prio := s.queue.Peek()
 
@@ -208,9 +247,16 @@ func (s *Sync) Missing(max int) []common.Hash {
 		// Item is allowed to be scheduled, add it to the task list
 		s.queue.Pop()
 		s.fetches[depth]++
-		requests = append(requests, item.(common.Hash))
+
+		hash := item.(common.Hash)
+		if req, ok := s.nodeReqs[hash]; ok {
+			nodeHashes = append(nodeHashes, hash)
+			nodePaths = append(nodePaths, newSyncPath(req.path))
+		} else {
+			codeHashes = append(codeHashes, hash)
+		}
 	}
-	return requests
+	return nodeHashes, nodePaths, codeHashes
 }
 
 // Process injects the received data for requested item. Note it can
@@ -322,9 +368,13 @@ func (s *Sync) children(req *request, object node) ([]*request, error) {
 
 	switch node := (object).(type) {
 	case *shortNode:
+		key := node.Key
+		if hasTerm(key) {
+			key = key[:len(key)-1]
+		}
 		children = []child{{
 			node: node.Val,
-			path: append(append([]byte(nil), req.path...), node.Key...),
+			path: append(append([]byte(nil), req.path...), key...),
 		}}
 	case *fullNode:
 		for i := 0; i < 17; i++ {
@@ -344,7 +394,7 @@ func (s *Sync) children(req *request, object node) ([]*request, error) {
 		// Notify any external watcher of a new key/value node
 		if req.callback != nil {
 			if node, ok := (child.node).(valueNode); ok {
-				if err := req.callback(req.path, node, req.hash); err != nil {
+				if err := req.callback(child.path, node, req.hash); err != nil {
 					return nil, err
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/trie/sync_test.go b/trie/sync_test.go
index 34f3990576..39e0f9575e 100644
--- a/trie/sync_test.go
+++ b/trie/sync_test.go
@@ -21,14 +21,15 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb/memorydb"
 )
 
 // makeTestTrie create a sample test trie to test node-wise reconstruction.
-func makeTestTrie() (*Database, *Trie, map[string][]byte) {
+func makeTestTrie() (*Database, *SecureTrie, map[string][]byte) {
 	// Create an empty trie
 	triedb := NewDatabase(memorydb.New())
-	trie, _ := New(common.Hash{}, triedb)
+	trie, _ := NewSecure(common.Hash{}, triedb)
 
 	// Fill it with some arbitrary data
 	content := make(map[string][]byte)
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ func makeTestTrie() (*Database, *Trie, map[string][]byte) {
 // content map.
 func checkTrieContents(t *testing.T, db *Database, root []byte, content map[string][]byte) {
 	// Check root availability and trie contents
-	trie, err := New(common.BytesToHash(root), db)
+	trie, err := NewSecure(common.BytesToHash(root), db)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to create trie at %x: %v", root, err)
 	}
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ func checkTrieContents(t *testing.T, db *Database, root []byte, content map[stri
 // checkTrieConsistency checks that all nodes in a trie are indeed present.
 func checkTrieConsistency(db *Database, root common.Hash) error {
 	// Create and iterate a trie rooted in a subnode
-	trie, err := New(root, db)
+	trie, err := NewSecure(root, db)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil // Consider a non existent state consistent
 	}
@@ -94,18 +95,21 @@ func TestEmptySync(t *testing.T) {
 	emptyB, _ := New(emptyRoot, dbB)
 
 	for i, trie := range []*Trie{emptyA, emptyB} {
-		if req := NewSync(trie.Hash(), memorydb.New(), nil, NewSyncBloom(1, memorydb.New())).Missing(1); len(req) != 0 {
-			t.Errorf("test %d: content requested for empty trie: %v", i, req)
+		sync := NewSync(trie.Hash(), memorydb.New(), nil, NewSyncBloom(1, memorydb.New()))
+		if nodes, paths, codes := sync.Missing(1); len(nodes) != 0 || len(paths) != 0 || len(codes) != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("test %d: content requested for empty trie: %v, %v, %v", i, nodes, paths, codes)
 		}
 	}
 }
 
 // Tests that given a root hash, a trie can sync iteratively on a single thread,
 // requesting retrieval tasks and returning all of them in one go.
-func TestIterativeSyncIndividual(t *testing.T) { testIterativeSync(t, 1) }
-func TestIterativeSyncBatched(t *testing.T)    { testIterativeSync(t, 100) }
+func TestIterativeSyncIndividual(t *testing.T)       { testIterativeSync(t, 1, false) }
+func TestIterativeSyncBatched(t *testing.T)          { testIterativeSync(t, 100, false) }
+func TestIterativeSyncIndividualByPath(t *testing.T) { testIterativeSync(t, 1, true) }
+func TestIterativeSyncBatchedByPath(t *testing.T)    { testIterativeSync(t, 100, true) }
 
-func testIterativeSync(t *testing.T, count int) {
+func testIterativeSync(t *testing.T, count int, bypath bool) {
 	// Create a random trie to copy
 	srcDb, srcTrie, srcData := makeTestTrie()
 
@@ -114,16 +118,33 @@ func testIterativeSync(t *testing.T, count int) {
 	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
 	sched := NewSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil, NewSyncBloom(1, diskdb))
 
-	queue := append([]common.Hash{}, sched.Missing(count)...)
-	for len(queue) > 0 {
-		results := make([]SyncResult, len(queue))
-		for i, hash := range queue {
+	nodes, paths, codes := sched.Missing(count)
+	var (
+		hashQueue []common.Hash
+		pathQueue []SyncPath
+	)
+	if !bypath {
+		hashQueue = append(append(hashQueue[:0], nodes...), codes...)
+	} else {
+		hashQueue = append(hashQueue[:0], codes...)
+		pathQueue = append(pathQueue[:0], paths...)
+	}
+	for len(hashQueue)+len(pathQueue) > 0 {
+		results := make([]SyncResult, len(hashQueue)+len(pathQueue))
+		for i, hash := range hashQueue {
 			data, err := srcDb.Node(hash)
 			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("failed to retrieve node data for %x: %v", hash, err)
+				t.Fatalf("failed to retrieve node data for hash %x: %v", hash, err)
 			}
 			results[i] = SyncResult{hash, data}
 		}
+		for i, path := range pathQueue {
+			data, _, err := srcTrie.TryGetNode(path[0])
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("failed to retrieve node data for path %x: %v", path, err)
+			}
+			results[len(hashQueue)+i] = SyncResult{crypto.Keccak256Hash(data), data}
+		}
 		for _, result := range results {
 			if err := sched.Process(result); err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("failed to process result %v", err)
@@ -134,7 +155,14 @@ func testIterativeSync(t *testing.T, count int) {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to commit data: %v", err)
 		}
 		batch.Write()
-		queue = append(queue[:0], sched.Missing(count)...)
+
+		nodes, paths, codes = sched.Missing(count)
+		if !bypath {
+			hashQueue = append(append(hashQueue[:0], nodes...), codes...)
+		} else {
+			hashQueue = append(hashQueue[:0], codes...)
+			pathQueue = append(pathQueue[:0], paths...)
+		}
 	}
 	// Cross check that the two tries are in sync
 	checkTrieContents(t, triedb, srcTrie.Hash().Bytes(), srcData)
@@ -151,7 +179,9 @@ func TestIterativeDelayedSync(t *testing.T) {
 	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
 	sched := NewSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil, NewSyncBloom(1, diskdb))
 
-	queue := append([]common.Hash{}, sched.Missing(10000)...)
+	nodes, _, codes := sched.Missing(10000)
+	queue := append(append([]common.Hash{}, nodes...), codes...)
+
 	for len(queue) > 0 {
 		// Sync only half of the scheduled nodes
 		results := make([]SyncResult, len(queue)/2+1)
@@ -172,7 +202,9 @@ func TestIterativeDelayedSync(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to commit data: %v", err)
 		}
 		batch.Write()
-		queue = append(queue[len(results):], sched.Missing(10000)...)
+
+		nodes, _, codes = sched.Missing(10000)
+		queue = append(append(queue[len(results):], nodes...), codes...)
 	}
 	// Cross check that the two tries are in sync
 	checkTrieContents(t, triedb, srcTrie.Hash().Bytes(), srcData)
@@ -194,7 +226,8 @@ func testIterativeRandomSync(t *testing.T, count int) {
 	sched := NewSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil, NewSyncBloom(1, diskdb))
 
 	queue := make(map[common.Hash]struct{})
-	for _, hash := range sched.Missing(count) {
+	nodes, _, codes := sched.Missing(count)
+	for _, hash := range append(nodes, codes...) {
 		queue[hash] = struct{}{}
 	}
 	for len(queue) > 0 {
@@ -218,8 +251,10 @@ func testIterativeRandomSync(t *testing.T, count int) {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to commit data: %v", err)
 		}
 		batch.Write()
+
 		queue = make(map[common.Hash]struct{})
-		for _, hash := range sched.Missing(count) {
+		nodes, _, codes = sched.Missing(count)
+		for _, hash := range append(nodes, codes...) {
 			queue[hash] = struct{}{}
 		}
 	}
@@ -239,7 +274,8 @@ func TestIterativeRandomDelayedSync(t *testing.T) {
 	sched := NewSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil, NewSyncBloom(1, diskdb))
 
 	queue := make(map[common.Hash]struct{})
-	for _, hash := range sched.Missing(10000) {
+	nodes, _, codes := sched.Missing(10000)
+	for _, hash := range append(nodes, codes...) {
 		queue[hash] = struct{}{}
 	}
 	for len(queue) > 0 {
@@ -270,7 +306,8 @@ func TestIterativeRandomDelayedSync(t *testing.T) {
 		for _, result := range results {
 			delete(queue, result.Hash)
 		}
-		for _, hash := range sched.Missing(10000) {
+		nodes, _, codes = sched.Missing(10000)
+		for _, hash := range append(nodes, codes...) {
 			queue[hash] = struct{}{}
 		}
 	}
@@ -289,7 +326,8 @@ func TestDuplicateAvoidanceSync(t *testing.T) {
 	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
 	sched := NewSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil, NewSyncBloom(1, diskdb))
 
-	queue := append([]common.Hash{}, sched.Missing(0)...)
+	nodes, _, codes := sched.Missing(0)
+	queue := append(append([]common.Hash{}, nodes...), codes...)
 	requested := make(map[common.Hash]struct{})
 
 	for len(queue) > 0 {
@@ -316,7 +354,9 @@ func TestDuplicateAvoidanceSync(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to commit data: %v", err)
 		}
 		batch.Write()
-		queue = append(queue[:0], sched.Missing(0)...)
+
+		nodes, _, codes = sched.Missing(0)
+		queue = append(append(queue[:0], nodes...), codes...)
 	}
 	// Cross check that the two tries are in sync
 	checkTrieContents(t, triedb, srcTrie.Hash().Bytes(), srcData)
@@ -334,7 +374,10 @@ func TestIncompleteSync(t *testing.T) {
 	sched := NewSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil, NewSyncBloom(1, diskdb))
 
 	var added []common.Hash
-	queue := append([]common.Hash{}, sched.Missing(1)...)
+
+	nodes, _, codes := sched.Missing(1)
+	queue := append(append([]common.Hash{}, nodes...), codes...)
+
 	for len(queue) > 0 {
 		// Fetch a batch of trie nodes
 		results := make([]SyncResult, len(queue))
@@ -366,7 +409,8 @@ func TestIncompleteSync(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		}
 		// Fetch the next batch to retrieve
-		queue = append(queue[:0], sched.Missing(1)...)
+		nodes, _, codes = sched.Missing(1)
+		queue = append(append(queue[:0], nodes...), codes...)
 	}
 	// Sanity check that removing any node from the database is detected
 	for _, node := range added[1:] {
@@ -380,3 +424,58 @@ func TestIncompleteSync(t *testing.T) {
 		diskdb.Put(key, value)
 	}
 }
+
+// Tests that trie nodes get scheduled lexicographically when having the same
+// depth.
+func TestSyncOrdering(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create a random trie to copy
+	srcDb, srcTrie, srcData := makeTestTrie()
+
+	// Create a destination trie and sync with the scheduler, tracking the requests
+	diskdb := memorydb.New()
+	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
+	sched := NewSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil, NewSyncBloom(1, diskdb))
+
+	nodes, paths, _ := sched.Missing(1)
+	queue := append([]common.Hash{}, nodes...)
+	reqs := append([]SyncPath{}, paths...)
+
+	for len(queue) > 0 {
+		results := make([]SyncResult, len(queue))
+		for i, hash := range queue {
+			data, err := srcDb.Node(hash)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("failed to retrieve node data for %x: %v", hash, err)
+			}
+			results[i] = SyncResult{hash, data}
+		}
+		for _, result := range results {
+			if err := sched.Process(result); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("failed to process result %v", err)
+			}
+		}
+		batch := diskdb.NewBatch()
+		if err := sched.Commit(batch); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("failed to commit data: %v", err)
+		}
+		batch.Write()
+
+		nodes, paths, _ = sched.Missing(1)
+		queue = append(queue[:0], nodes...)
+		reqs = append(reqs, paths...)
+	}
+	// Cross check that the two tries are in sync
+	checkTrieContents(t, triedb, srcTrie.Hash().Bytes(), srcData)
+
+	// Check that the trie nodes have been requested path-ordered
+	for i := 0; i < len(reqs)-1; i++ {
+		if len(reqs[i]) > 1 || len(reqs[i+1]) > 1 {
+			// In the case of the trie tests, there's no storage so the tuples
+			// must always be single items. 2-tuples should be tested in state.
+			t.Errorf("Invalid request tuples: len(%v) or len(%v) > 1", reqs[i], reqs[i+1])
+		}
+		if bytes.Compare(compactToHex(reqs[i][0]), compactToHex(reqs[i+1][0])) > 0 {
+			t.Errorf("Invalid request order: %v before %v", compactToHex(reqs[i][0]), compactToHex(reqs[i+1][0]))
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/trie/trie.go b/trie/trie.go
index 7ccd37f872..1e1749a4ff 100644
--- a/trie/trie.go
+++ b/trie/trie.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -102,8 +103,7 @@ func (t *Trie) Get(key []byte) []byte {
 // The value bytes must not be modified by the caller.
 // If a node was not found in the database, a MissingNodeError is returned.
 func (t *Trie) TryGet(key []byte) ([]byte, error) {
-	key = keybytesToHex(key)
-	value, newroot, didResolve, err := t.tryGet(t.root, key, 0)
+	value, newroot, didResolve, err := t.tryGet(t.root, keybytesToHex(key), 0)
 	if err == nil && didResolve {
 		t.root = newroot
 	}
@@ -146,6 +146,86 @@ func (t *Trie) tryGet(origNode node, key []byte, pos int) (value []byte, newnode
 	}
 }
 
+// TryGetNode attempts to retrieve a trie node by compact-encoded path. It is not
+// possible to use keybyte-encoding as the path might contain odd nibbles.
+func (t *Trie) TryGetNode(path []byte) ([]byte, int, error) {
+	item, newroot, resolved, err := t.tryGetNode(t.root, compactToHex(path), 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, resolved, err
+	}
+	if resolved > 0 {
+		t.root = newroot
+	}
+	if item == nil {
+		return nil, resolved, nil
+	}
+	enc, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(item)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("Encoding existing trie node failed", "err", err)
+		return nil, resolved, err
+	}
+	return enc, resolved, err
+}
+
+func (t *Trie) tryGetNode(origNode node, path []byte, pos int) (item node, newnode node, resolved int, err error) {
+	// If we reached the requested path, return the current node
+	if pos >= len(path) {
+		// Don't return collapsed hash nodes though
+		if _, ok := origNode.(hashNode); !ok {
+			// Short nodes have expanded keys, compact them before returning
+			item := origNode
+			if sn, ok := item.(*shortNode); ok {
+				item = &shortNode{
+					Key: hexToCompact(sn.Key),
+					Val: sn.Val,
+				}
+			}
+			return item, origNode, 0, nil
+		}
+	}
+	// Path still needs to be traversed, descend into children
+	switch n := (origNode).(type) {
+	case nil:
+		// Non-existent path requested, abort
+		return nil, nil, 0, nil
+
+	case valueNode:
+		// Path prematurely ended, abort
+		return nil, nil, 0, nil
+
+	case *shortNode:
+		if len(path)-pos < len(n.Key) || !bytes.Equal(n.Key, path[pos:pos+len(n.Key)]) {
+			// Path branches off from short node
+			return nil, n, 0, nil
+		}
+		item, newnode, resolved, err = t.tryGetNode(n.Val, path, pos+len(n.Key))
+		if err == nil && resolved > 0 {
+			n = n.copy()
+			n.Val = newnode
+		}
+		return item, n, resolved, err
+
+	case *fullNode:
+		item, newnode, resolved, err = t.tryGetNode(n.Children[path[pos]], path, pos+1)
+		if err == nil && resolved > 0 {
+			n = n.copy()
+			n.Children[path[pos]] = newnode
+		}
+		return item, n, resolved, err
+
+	case hashNode:
+		child, err := t.resolveHash(n, path[:pos])
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, n, 1, err
+		}
+		item, newnode, resolved, err := t.tryGetNode(child, path, pos)
+		return item, newnode, resolved + 1, err
+
+	default:
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("%T: invalid node: %v", origNode, origNode))
+	}
+}
+
 // Update associates key with value in the trie. Subsequent calls to
 // Get will return value. If value has length zero, any existing value
 // is deleted from the trie and calls to Get will return nil.