diff --git a/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/EthPeer.java b/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/EthPeer.java
index 4b44c9df4c..b2b547c456 100644
--- a/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/EthPeer.java
+++ b/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/EthPeer.java
@@ -331,9 +331,7 @@ public class EthPeer {
    * @return true if the peer is ready to accept requests for data.
    */
   public boolean readyForRequests() {
-    return statusHasBeenSentToPeer.get()
-        && statusHasBeenReceivedFromPeer.get()
-        && fullyValidated.get();
+    return statusHasBeenSentToPeer.get() && statusHasBeenReceivedFromPeer.get();
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/EthPeers.java b/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/EthPeers.java
index 02ad3a1979..1c5719b000 100644
--- a/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/EthPeers.java
+++ b/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/manager/EthPeers.java
@@ -153,7 +153,8 @@ public class EthPeers {
   }
 
   public Optional<EthPeer> bestPeerWithHeightEstimate() {
-    return bestPeerMatchingCriteria(p -> p.chainState().hasEstimatedHeight());
+    return bestPeerMatchingCriteria(
+        p -> p.isFullyValidated() && p.chainState().hasEstimatedHeight());
   }
 
   public Optional<EthPeer> bestPeerMatchingCriteria(final Predicate<EthPeer> matchesCriteria) {