diff --git a/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/sync/DownloadHeadersStep.java b/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/sync/DownloadHeadersStep.java
index 6e40430582..ae56849158 100644
--- a/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/sync/DownloadHeadersStep.java
+++ b/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/eth/sync/DownloadHeadersStep.java
@@ -99,7 +99,6 @@ public class DownloadHeadersStep
               range.getStart().getNumber(),
               headerRequestSize,
               metricsSystem)
-          .assignPeer(range.getSyncTarget())
           .run()
           .thenApply(PeerTaskResult::getResult);
     }