diff --git a/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/BesuControllerBuilder.java b/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/BesuControllerBuilder.java
index a2e1a1b6c5..9059d2209b 100644
--- a/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/BesuControllerBuilder.java
+++ b/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/BesuControllerBuilder.java
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.BlockHeader;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.Difficulty;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.MiningConfiguration;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.PrivacyParameters;
+import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.Synchronizer;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.EthProtocol;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.EthProtocolConfiguration;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.SnapProtocol;
@@ -732,11 +733,9 @@ public abstract class BesuControllerBuilder implements MiningParameterOverrides
       ethPeers.snapServerPeersNeeded(false);
     }
 
-    protocolContext.setSynchronizer(synchronizer);
-
     final Optional<SnapProtocolManager> maybeSnapProtocolManager =
         createSnapProtocolManager(
-            protocolContext, worldStateStorageCoordinator, ethPeers, snapMessages);
+            protocolContext, worldStateStorageCoordinator, ethPeers, snapMessages, synchronizer);
 
     final MiningCoordinator miningCoordinator =
         createMiningCoordinator(
@@ -1097,14 +1096,16 @@ public abstract class BesuControllerBuilder implements MiningParameterOverrides
       final ProtocolContext protocolContext,
       final WorldStateStorageCoordinator worldStateStorageCoordinator,
       final EthPeers ethPeers,
-      final EthMessages snapMessages) {
+      final EthMessages snapMessages,
+      final Synchronizer synchronizer) {
     return Optional.of(
         new SnapProtocolManager(
             worldStateStorageCoordinator,
             syncConfig.getSnapSyncConfiguration(),
             ethPeers,
             snapMessages,
-            protocolContext));
+            protocolContext,
+            synchronizer));
   }
 
   WorldStateArchive createWorldStateArchive(
diff --git a/consensus/merge/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/merge/blockcreation/MergeCoordinatorTest.java b/consensus/merge/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/merge/blockcreation/MergeCoordinatorTest.java
index 23a5ae16b1..90c4b6866e 100644
--- a/consensus/merge/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/merge/blockcreation/MergeCoordinatorTest.java
+++ b/consensus/merge/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/merge/blockcreation/MergeCoordinatorTest.java
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.ImmutableMiningConfiguration;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.ImmutableMiningConfiguration.MutableInitValues;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.ImmutableMiningConfiguration.Unstable;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.MiningConfiguration;
-import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.Synchronizer;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.TransactionTestFixture;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.manager.EthContext;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.manager.EthScheduler;
@@ -190,7 +189,6 @@ public class MergeCoordinatorTest implements MergeGenesisConfigHelper {
 
     protocolContext =
         new ProtocolContext(blockchain, worldStateArchive, mergeContext, badBlockManager);
-    protocolContext.setSynchronizer(mock(Synchronizer.class));
     var mutable = worldStateArchive.getMutable();
     genesisState.writeStateTo(mutable);
     mutable.persist(null);
diff --git a/ethereum/core/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/ProtocolContext.java b/ethereum/core/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/ProtocolContext.java
index 4ca40bc0a9..53197ea9c5 100644
--- a/ethereum/core/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/ProtocolContext.java
+++ b/ethereum/core/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/ProtocolContext.java
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ package org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum;
 
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.chain.BadBlockManager;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.chain.MutableBlockchain;
-import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.Synchronizer;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.mainnet.ProtocolSchedule;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.worldstate.WorldStateArchive;
 
@@ -32,7 +31,6 @@ public class ProtocolContext {
   private final WorldStateArchive worldStateArchive;
   private final BadBlockManager badBlockManager;
   private final ConsensusContext consensusContext;
-  private Synchronizer synchronizer;
 
   /**
    * Constructs a new ProtocolContext with the given blockchain, world state archive, consensus
@@ -78,24 +76,6 @@ public class ProtocolContext {
         badBlockManager);
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Gets the synchronizer of the protocol context.
-   *
-   * @return the synchronizer of the protocol context
-   */
-  public Synchronizer getSynchronizer() {
-    return synchronizer;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Sets the synchronizer of the protocol context.
-   *
-   * @param synchronizer the synchronizer to set
-   */
-  public void setSynchronizer(final Synchronizer synchronizer) {
-    this.synchronizer = synchronizer;
-  }
-
   /**
    * Gets the blockchain of the protocol context.
    *
diff --git a/ethereum/core/src/test-support/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/core/BlockchainSetupUtil.java b/ethereum/core/src/test-support/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/core/BlockchainSetupUtil.java
index 57f1158585..b7608bb5de 100644
--- a/ethereum/core/src/test-support/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/core/BlockchainSetupUtil.java
+++ b/ethereum/core/src/test-support/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/core/BlockchainSetupUtil.java
@@ -194,7 +194,6 @@ public class BlockchainSetupUtil {
 
       genesisState.writeStateTo(worldArchive.getMutable());
       final ProtocolContext protocolContext = protocolContextProvider.get(blockchain, worldArchive);
-      protocolContext.setSynchronizer(new DummySynchronizer());
 
       final Path blocksPath = Path.of(chainResources.getBlocksURL().toURI());
       final List<Block> blocks = new ArrayList<>();
diff --git a/ethereum/core/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/MainnetBlockValidatorTest.java b/ethereum/core/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/MainnetBlockValidatorTest.java
index 013adae51e..255ea77839 100644
--- a/ethereum/core/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/MainnetBlockValidatorTest.java
+++ b/ethereum/core/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/MainnetBlockValidatorTest.java
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.Block;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.BlockHeader;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.BlockchainSetupUtil;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.MutableWorldState;
-import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.Synchronizer;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.mainnet.BlockBodyValidator;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.mainnet.BlockHeaderValidator;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.mainnet.BlockProcessor;
@@ -91,7 +90,6 @@ public class MainnetBlockValidatorTest {
 
     when(protocolContext.getBlockchain()).thenReturn(blockchain);
     when(protocolContext.getWorldStateArchive()).thenReturn(worldStateArchive);
-    when(protocolContext.getSynchronizer()).thenReturn(mock(Synchronizer.class));
     when(worldStateArchive.getMutable(any(BlockHeader.class), anyBoolean()))
         .thenReturn(Optional.of(worldState));
     when(worldStateArchive.getMutable(any(Hash.class), any(Hash.class)))
diff --git a/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/snap/SnapProtocolManager.java b/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/snap/SnapProtocolManager.java
index ce639a7a9a..2e49eba353 100644
--- a/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/snap/SnapProtocolManager.java
+++ b/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/snap/SnapProtocolManager.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 package org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.manager.snap;
 
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.ProtocolContext;
+import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.Synchronizer;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.SnapProtocol;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.manager.EthMessage;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.manager.EthMessages;
@@ -53,11 +54,13 @@ public class SnapProtocolManager implements ProtocolManager {
       final SnapSyncConfiguration snapConfig,
       final EthPeers ethPeers,
       final EthMessages snapMessages,
-      final ProtocolContext protocolContext) {
+      final ProtocolContext protocolContext,
+      final Synchronizer synchronizer) {
     this.ethPeers = ethPeers;
     this.snapMessages = snapMessages;
     this.supportedCapabilities = calculateCapabilities();
-    new SnapServer(snapConfig, snapMessages, worldStateStorageCoordinator, protocolContext);
+    new SnapServer(
+        snapConfig, snapMessages, worldStateStorageCoordinator, protocolContext, synchronizer);
   }
 
   private List<Capability> calculateCapabilities() {
diff --git a/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/snap/SnapServer.java b/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/snap/SnapServer.java
index 56c3ae0a4a..35cc63cde8 100644
--- a/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/snap/SnapServer.java
+++ b/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/snap/SnapServer.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ package org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.manager.snap;
 
 import org.hyperledger.besu.datatypes.Hash;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.ProtocolContext;
+import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.Synchronizer;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.manager.EthMessages;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.messages.snap.AccountRangeMessage;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.messages.snap.ByteCodesMessage;
@@ -98,7 +99,8 @@ class SnapServer implements BesuEvents.InitialSyncCompletionListener {
       final SnapSyncConfiguration snapConfig,
       final EthMessages snapMessages,
       final WorldStateStorageCoordinator worldStateStorageCoordinator,
-      final ProtocolContext protocolContext) {
+      final ProtocolContext protocolContext,
+      final Synchronizer synchronizer) {
     this.snapServerEnabled =
         Optional.ofNullable(snapConfig)
             .map(SnapSyncConfiguration::isSnapServerEnabled)
@@ -110,7 +112,7 @@ class SnapServer implements BesuEvents.InitialSyncCompletionListener {
 
     // subscribe to initial sync completed events to start/stop snap server,
     // not saving the listenerId since we never need to unsubscribe.
-    protocolContext.getSynchronizer().subscribeInitialSync(this);
+    synchronizer.subscribeInitialSync(this);
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/ethereum/eth/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/snap/SnapServerGetAccountRangeTest.java b/ethereum/eth/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/snap/SnapServerGetAccountRangeTest.java
index 6d8180c8c0..eb97419967 100644
--- a/ethereum/eth/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/snap/SnapServerGetAccountRangeTest.java
+++ b/ethereum/eth/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/snap/SnapServerGetAccountRangeTest.java
@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@
 package org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.manager.snap;
 
 import static org.assertj.core.api.AssertionsForClassTypes.assertThat;
+import static org.mockito.Mockito.mock;
 
 import org.hyperledger.besu.datatypes.Hash;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.ProtocolContext;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.BlockchainSetupUtil;
+import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.Synchronizer;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.manager.EthMessages;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.messages.snap.AccountRangeMessage;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.eth.messages.snap.GetAccountRangeMessage;
@@ -70,7 +72,8 @@ public class SnapServerGetAccountRangeTest {
                 snapSyncConfiguration,
                 new EthMessages(),
                 worldStateStorageCoordinator,
-                protocolContext)
+                protocolContext,
+                mock(Synchronizer.class))
             .start();
     initAccounts();
   }