diff --git a/nimbus/sync/flare/TODO.md b/nimbus/sync/flare/TODO.md
index 57cd3c821..75c9639a0 100644
--- a/nimbus/sync/flare/TODO.md
+++ b/nimbus/sync/flare/TODO.md
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
 * Update/resolve code fragments which are tagged FIXME
 
-* Revisit timeouts when fetching header data from the network
+* Check noisy and verification sections whether they are really wanted
+  when going into production
+  + **extraTraceMessages**
+  + **verifyDataStructureOk**
diff --git a/nimbus/sync/flare/worker.nim b/nimbus/sync/flare/worker.nim
index 6a9cf7747..85d67d11a 100644
--- a/nimbus/sync/flare/worker.nim
+++ b/nimbus/sync/flare/worker.nim
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 # at your option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed
 # except according to those terms.
 
+
 {.push raises:[].}
 
 import
@@ -161,7 +162,7 @@ proc runMulti*(buddy: FlareBuddyRef) {.async.} =
 
   else:
     when extraTraceMessages:
-      debug info & ": failed, done", peer
+      debug info & ": nothing fetched, done", peer
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # End
diff --git a/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/db.nim b/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/db.nim
index cd186e379..0afad6642 100644
--- a/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/db.nim
+++ b/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/db.nim
@@ -221,21 +221,31 @@ proc dbInitEra1*(ctx: FlareCtxRef): bool =
 proc dbStashHeaders*(
     ctx: FlareCtxRef;
     first: BlockNumber;
-    rlpBlobs: openArray[Blob];
+    revBlobs: openArray[Blob];
       ) =
   ## Temporarily store header chain to persistent db (oblivious of the chain
-  ## layout.) Note that headres should not be stashed if they are available
-  ## on the `Era1` repo, i.e. if the corresponding block number is at most
+  ## layout.) The headers should not be stashed if they are available on the
+  ## `Era1` repo, i.e. if the corresponding block number is at most
   ## `ctx.pool.e1AvailMax`.
   ##
+  ## The `revBlobs[]` arguments are passed in reverse order so that block
+  ## numbers apply as
+  ## ::
+  ##    #first     -- revBlobs[^1]
+  ##    #(first+1) -- revBlobs[^2]
+  ##    ..
+  ##
   const info = "dbStashHeaders"
-  let kvt = ctx.db.ctx.getKvt()
-  for n,data in rlpBlobs:
-    let key = flareHeaderKey(first + n.uint)
+  let
+    kvt = ctx.db.ctx.getKvt()
+    last = first + revBlobs.len.uint - 1
+  for n,data in revBlobs:
+    let key = flareHeaderKey(last - n.uint)
     kvt.put(key.toOpenArray, data).isOkOr:
       raiseAssert info & ": put() failed: " & $$error
   when extraTraceMessages:
-    trace info & ": headers stashed", first=first.bnStr, nHeaders=rlpBlobs.len
+    trace info & ": headers stashed",
+      iv=BnRange.new(first, last), nHeaders=revBlobs.len
 
 proc dbPeekHeader*(ctx: FlareCtxRef; num: BlockNumber): Opt[BlockHeader] =
   ## Retrieve some stashed header.
diff --git a/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/staged.nim b/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/staged.nim
index 0a9c2a80b..068003472 100644
--- a/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/staged.nim
+++ b/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/staged.nim
@@ -27,14 +27,14 @@ const
   extraTraceMessages = false # or true
     ## Enabled additional logging noise
 
-  verifyStagedQueueOk = not defined(release) or true
+  verifyDataStructureOk = false or true
     ## Debugging mode
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Private debugging helpers
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-when verifyStagedQueueOk:
+when verifyDataStructureOk:
   proc verifyStagedQueue(
       ctx: FlareCtxRef;
       info: static[string];
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ when verifyStagedQueueOk:
     while rc.isOk:
       let
         key = rc.value.key
-        nHeaders = rc.value.data.headers.len.uint
+        nHeaders = rc.value.data.revHdrs.len.uint
         minPt = key - nHeaders + 1
         unproc = ctx.unprocCovered(minPt, key)
       if 0 < unproc:
@@ -202,9 +202,9 @@ proc stagedCollect*(
       # Request interval
       ivReq = BnRange.new(ivReqMin, ivTop)
 
-      # Current length of the headers queue. This is one way to calculate
-      # the response length from the network.
-      nLhcHeaders = lhc.headers.len
+      # Current length of the headers queue. This is used to calculate the
+      # response length from the network.
+      nLhcHeaders = lhc.revHdrs.len
 
     # Fetch and extend chain record
     if not await buddy.fetchAndCheck(ivReq, lhc, info):
@@ -223,17 +223,17 @@ proc stagedCollect*(
       break
 
     # Update remaining interval
-    let ivRespLen = lhc.headers.len - nLhcHeaders
-    if iv.minPt + ivRespLen.uint < ivTop:
-      let newIvTop = ivTop - ivRespLen.uint # will mostly be `ivReq.minPt-1`
-      when extraTraceMessages:
-        trace info & ": collected range", peer, iv=BnRange.new(iv.minPt, ivTop),
-          ivReq, ivResp=BnRange.new(newIvTop+1, ivReq.maxPt), ivRespLen,
-          isOpportunistic
-      ivTop = newIvTop
-    else:
+    let ivRespLen = lhc.revHdrs.len - nLhcHeaders
+    if ivTop <= iv.minPt + ivRespLen.uint or buddy.ctrl.stopped:
       break
 
+    let newIvTop = ivTop - ivRespLen.uint # will mostly be `ivReq.minPt-1`
+    when extraTraceMessages:
+      trace info & ": collected range", peer, iv=BnRange.new(iv.minPt, ivTop),
+        ivReq, ivResp=BnRange.new(newIvTop+1, ivReq.maxPt), ivRespLen,
+        isOpportunistic
+    ivTop = newIvTop
+
   # Store `lhcOpt` chain on the `staged` queue
   let qItem = ctx.lhc.staged.insert(iv.maxPt).valueOr:
     raiseAssert info & ": duplicate key on staged queue iv=" & $iv
@@ -242,10 +242,11 @@ proc stagedCollect*(
   when extraTraceMessages:
     trace info & ": stashed on staged queue", peer,
       iv=BnRange.new(iv.maxPt - lhc.headers.len.uint + 1, iv.maxPt),
-      nHeaders=lhc.headers.len, isOpportunistic
+      nHeaders=lhc.headers.len, isOpportunistic, ctrl=buddy.ctrl.state
   else:
     trace info & ": stashed on staged queue", peer,
-      topBlock=iv.maxPt.bnStr, nHeaders=lhc.headers.len, isOpportunistic
+      topBlock=iv.maxPt.bnStr, nHeaders=lhc.revHdrs.len,
+      isOpportunistic, ctrl=buddy.ctrl.state
 
   return true
 
@@ -261,7 +262,7 @@ proc stagedProcess*(ctx: FlareCtxRef; info: static[string]): int =
 
     let
       least = ctx.layout.least # `L` from `README.md` (1) or `worker_desc`
-      iv = BnRange.new(qItem.key - qItem.data.headers.len.uint + 1, qItem.key)
+      iv = BnRange.new(qItem.key - qItem.data.revHdrs.len.uint + 1, qItem.key)
     if iv.maxPt+1 < least:
       when extraTraceMessages:
         trace info & ": there is a gap", iv, L=least.bnStr, nSaved=result
@@ -287,7 +288,7 @@ proc stagedProcess*(ctx: FlareCtxRef; info: static[string]): int =
       break
 
     # Store headers on database
-    ctx.dbStashHeaders(iv.minPt, qItem.data.headers)
+    ctx.dbStashHeaders(iv.minPt, qItem.data.revHdrs)
     ctx.layout.least = iv.minPt
     ctx.layout.leastParent = qItem.data.parentHash
     let ok = ctx.dbStoreLinkedHChainsLayout()
@@ -344,13 +345,13 @@ proc stagedReorg*(ctx: FlareCtxRef; info: static[string]) =
       defer: walk.destroy()
       var rc = walk.first
       while rc.isOk:
-        let (key, nHeaders) = (rc.value.key, rc.value.data.headers.len.uint)
+        let (key, nHeaders) = (rc.value.key, rc.value.data.revHdrs.len.uint)
         ctx.unprocMerge(key - nHeaders + 1, key)
         rc = walk.next
     # Reset `staged` queue
     ctx.lhc.staged.clear()
 
-  when verifyStagedQueueOk:
+  when verifyDataStructureOk:
     ctx.verifyStagedQueue(info, multiMode = false)
 
   when extraTraceMessages:
diff --git a/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/staged/headers.nim b/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/staged/headers.nim
index dad1b4b71..a921ab5da 100644
--- a/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/staged/headers.nim
+++ b/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/staged/headers.nim
@@ -24,6 +24,40 @@ logScope:
 const extraTraceMessages = false # or true
   ## Enabled additional logging noise
 
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Private functions
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Copied from `nimbus_import`
+func shortLog(a: chronos.Duration, parts = int.high): string =
+  ## Returns string representation of Duration ``a`` as nanoseconds value.
+  var
+    res = ""
+    v = a.nanoseconds()
+    parts = parts
+
+  template f(n: string, T: Duration) =
+    if v >= T.nanoseconds():
+      res.add($(uint64(v div T.nanoseconds())))
+      res.add(n)
+      v = v mod T.nanoseconds()
+      dec parts
+      if v == 0 or parts <= 0:
+        return res
+
+  f("s", Second)
+  f("ms", Millisecond)
+  f("us", Microsecond)
+  f("ns", Nanosecond)
+
+  res
+
+# For some reason neither `formatIt` nor `$` works as expected with logging
+# the `elapsed` variable, below. This might be due to the fact that the
+# `headersFetchReversed()` function is a generic one, i.e. a template.
+func toStr(a: chronos.Duration): string =
+  a.shortLog(2)
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Public functions
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -36,6 +70,8 @@ proc headersFetchReversed*(
       ): Future[Result[seq[BlockHeader],void]]
       {.async.} =
   ## Get a list of headers in reverse order.
+  const
+    threshold = fetchHeaderReqZombieThreshold # shortcut
   let
     peer = buddy.peer
     useHash = (topHash != EMPTY_ROOT_HASH)
@@ -56,6 +92,7 @@ proc headersFetchReversed*(
           startBlock: HashOrNum(
             isHash:   false,
             number:   ivReq.maxPt))
+    start = Moment.now()
 
   when extraTraceMessages:
     trace trEthSendSendingGetBlockHeaders & " reverse", peer, ivReq,
@@ -64,32 +101,45 @@ proc headersFetchReversed*(
   # Fetch headers from peer
   var resp: Option[blockHeadersObj]
   try:
+    # There is no obvious way to set an individual timeout for this call. The
+    # eth/xx driver sets a global response timeout to `10s`. By how it is
+    # implemented, the `Future` returned by `peer.getBlockHeaders(req)` cannot
+    # reliably be used in a `withTimeout()` directive. It would rather crash
+    # in `rplx` with a violated `req.timeoutAt <= Moment.now()` assertion.
     resp = await peer.getBlockHeaders(req)
   except TransportError as e:
-    `info` info & ", stop", peer, ivReq, nReq=req.maxResults, useHash,
-      error=($e.name), msg=e.msg
+    `info` info & " error", peer, ivReq, nReq=req.maxResults, useHash,
+      elapsed=(Moment.now() - start).toStr, error=($e.name), msg=e.msg
     return err()
 
-  # Beware of peer terminating the session while fetching data
-  if buddy.ctrl.stopped:
-    return err()
+  # Kludge: Ban an overly slow peer for a while
+  let elapsed = Moment.now() - start
+  if threshold < elapsed:
+    buddy.ctrl.zombie = true # abandon slow peer
 
-  if resp.isNone:
+  # Evaluate result
+  if resp.isNone or buddy.ctrl.stopped:
     when extraTraceMessages:
-      trace trEthRecvReceivedBlockHeaders, peer,
-        ivReq, nReq=req.maxResults, respose="n/a", useHash
+      trace trEthRecvReceivedBlockHeaders, peer, nReq=req.maxResults, useHash,
+        nResp=0, elapsed=elapsed.toStr, threshold, ctrl=buddy.ctrl.state
     return err()
 
   let h: seq[BlockHeader] = resp.get.headers
   if h.len == 0 or ivReq.len < h.len.uint:
     when extraTraceMessages:
-      trace trEthRecvReceivedBlockHeaders, peer, ivReq, nReq=req.maxResults,
-        useHash, nResp=h.len
+      trace trEthRecvReceivedBlockHeaders, peer, nReq=req.maxResults, useHash,
+        nResp=h.len, elapsed=elapsed.toStr, threshold, ctrl=buddy.ctrl.state
     return err()
 
   when extraTraceMessages:
-    trace trEthRecvReceivedBlockHeaders, peer, ivReq, nReq=req.maxResults,
-      useHash, ivResp=BnRange.new(h[^1].number,h[0].number), nResp=h.len
+    trace trEthRecvReceivedBlockHeaders, peer, nReq=req.maxResults, useHash,
+      ivResp=BnRange.new(h[^1].number,h[0].number), nResp=h.len,
+      elapsed=elapsed.toStr, threshold, ctrl=buddy.ctrl.state
+  else:
+    if buddy.ctrl.stopped:
+      trace trEthRecvReceivedBlockHeaders, peer, nReq=req.maxResults, useHash,
+        ivResp=BnRange.new(h[^1].number,h[0].number), nResp=h.len,
+        elapsed=elapsed.toStr, threshold, ctrl=buddy.ctrl.state
 
   return ok(h)
 
diff --git a/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/staged/linked_hchain.nim b/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/staged/linked_hchain.nim
index 51d54e0ae..ddfb3bf99 100644
--- a/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/staged/linked_hchain.nim
+++ b/nimbus/sync/flare/worker/staged/linked_hchain.nim
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ const
   extraTraceMessages = false # or true
     ## Enabled additional logging noise
 
-  verifyLinkedHChainOk = not defined(release) # or true
+  verifyDataStructureOk = false # or true
     ## Debugging mode
 
 when extraTraceMessages:
@@ -41,90 +41,30 @@ proc `$`(w: Hash256): string =
 formatIt(Hash256):
   $it
 
-when verifyLinkedHChainOk:
+when verifyDataStructureOk:
   proc verifyHeaderChainItem(lhc: ref LinkedHChain; info: static[string]) =
     when extraTraceMessages:
-      trace info & ": verifying", nLhc=lhc.headers.len
+      trace info & ": verifying", nLhc=lhc.revHdrs.len
     var
-      firstHdr, prvHdr: BlockHeader
+      topHdr, childHdr: BlockHeader
     try:
-      firstHdr = rlp.decode(lhc.headers[0], BlockHeader)
-      doAssert lhc.parentHash == firstHdr.parentHash
+      doAssert lhc.revHdrs[0].keccakHash == lhc.hash
+      topHdr = rlp.decode(lhc.revHdrs[0], BlockHeader)
 
-      prvHdr = firstHdr
-      for n in 1 ..< lhc.headers.len:
-        let header = rlp.decode(lhc.headers[n], BlockHeader)
-        doAssert lhc.headers[n-1].keccakHash == header.parentHash
-        doAssert prvHdr.number + 1 == header.number
-        prvHdr = header
+      childHdr = topHdr
+      for n in 1 ..< lhc.revHdrs.len:
+        let header = rlp.decode(lhc.revHdrs[n], BlockHeader)
+        doAssert childHdr.number == header.number + 1
+        doAssert lhc.revHdrs[n].keccakHash == childHdr.parentHash
+        childHdr = header
 
-      doAssert lhc.headers[^1].keccakHash == lhc.hash
+      doAssert childHdr.parentHash == lhc.parentHash
     except RlpError as e:
       raiseAssert "verifyHeaderChainItem oops(" & $e.name & ") msg=" & e.msg
 
     when extraTraceMessages:
       trace info & ": verify ok",
-        iv=BnRange.new(firstHdr.number,prvHdr.number), nLhc=lhc.headers.len
-
-# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Private functions
-# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-proc newLHChain(
-    rev: seq[BlockHeader];
-    buddy: FlareBuddyRef;
-    blockNumber: BlockNumber;
-    topHash: Hash256;
-    info: static[string];
-      ): Opt[ref LinkedHChain] =
-  ## Verify list of headers while assembling them to a `LinkedHChain`
-  when extraTraceMessages:
-    trace info, nHeaders=rev.len
-
-  # Verify top block number
-  assert 0 < rev.len # debugging only
-  if rev[0].number != blockNumber:
-    when extraTraceMessages:
-      trace info & ": top block number mismatch",
-        number=rev[0].number.bnStr, expected=blockNumber.bnStr
-    return err()
-
-  # Make space for return code array
-  var chain = (ref LinkedHChain)(headers: newSeq[Blob](rev.len))
-
-  # Set up header with larges block number
-  let blob0 = rlp.encode(rev[0])
-  chain.headers[rev.len-1] = blob0
-  chain.hash = blob0.keccakHash
-
-  # Verify top block hash (if any)
-  if topHash != EMPTY_ROOT_HASH and chain.hash != topHash:
-    when extraTraceMessages:
-      trace info & ": top block hash mismatch",
-        hash=(chain.hash.data.toHex), expected=(topHash.data.toHex)
-    return err()
-
-  # Make sure that block headers are chained
-  for n in 1 ..< rev.len:
-    if rev[n].number + 1 != rev[n-1].number:
-      when extraTraceMessages:
-        trace info & ": #numbers mismatch", n,
-          parentNumber=rev[n-1].number.bnStr, number=rev[n].number.bnStr
-      return err()
-    let blob = rlp.encode(rev[n])
-    if rev[n-1].parentHash != blob.keccakHash:
-      when extraTraceMessages:
-        trace info & ": hash mismatch", n,
-          parentHash=rev[n-1].parentHash, hash=blob.keccakHash
-      return err()
-    chain.headers[rev.len-n-1] = blob
-
-  # Finalise
-  chain.parentHash = rev[rev.len-1].parentHash
-
-  when extraTraceMessages:
-    trace info & " new chain record", nChain=chain.headers.len
-  ok(chain)
+        iv=BnRange.new(childHdr.number,topHdr.number), nLhc=lhc.revHdrs.len
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Public functions
@@ -133,39 +73,67 @@ proc newLHChain(
 proc extendLinkedHChain*(
   rev: seq[BlockHeader];
   buddy: FlareBuddyRef;
-  blockNumber: BlockNumber;
+  topNumber: BlockNumber;
   lhc: ref LinkedHChain; # update in place
   info: static[string];
     ): bool =
-
+  ## Returns sort of `lhc[] += rev[]` where `lhc[]` is updated in place.
   when extraTraceMessages:
-    let
-      peer = buddy.peer
-      isOpportunistic = lhc.parentHash == EMPTY_ROOT_HASH
+    let peer = buddy.peer
 
-  let newLhc = rev.newLHChain(buddy, blockNumber, lhc.parentHash, info).valueOr:
+  # Verify top block number
+  assert 0 < rev.len # debugging only
+  if rev[0].number != topNumber:
     when extraTraceMessages:
-      trace info & ": fetched headers unusable", peer,
-        blockNumber=blockNumber.bnStr, isOpportunistic
+      trace info & ": top block number mismatch", peer, n=0,
+        number=rev[0].number.bnStr, expected=topNumber.bnStr
     return false
 
-  # Prepend `newLhc` before `lhc`
-  #
-  # FIXME: This must be cleaned up and optimised at some point.
-  #
+  # Make space for return code array
+  let offset = lhc.revHdrs.len
+  lhc.revHdrs.setLen(offset + rev.len)
+
+  # Set up header with largest block number
+  let
+    blob0 = rlp.encode(rev[0])
+    hash0 = blob0.keccakHash
+  lhc.revHdrs[offset] = blob0
+  if offset == 0:
+    lhc.hash = hash0
+
+  # Verify top block hash (if any)
+  if lhc.parentHash != EMPTY_ROOT_HASH and hash0 != lhc.parentHash:
+    when extraTraceMessages:
+      trace info & ": top hash mismatch", peer, hash0, expected=lhc.parentHash
+    lhc.revHdrs.setLen(offset)
+    return false
+
+  # Encode block headers and make sure they are chained
+  for n in 1 ..< rev.len:
+    if rev[n].number + 1 != rev[n-1].number:
+      when extraTraceMessages:
+        trace info & ": #numbers mismatch", peer, n,
+          parentNumber=rev[n-1].number.bnStr, number=rev[n].number.bnStr
+      lhc.revHdrs.setLen(offset)
+      return false
+
+    lhc.revHdrs[offset + n] = rlp.encode(rev[n])
+    let hashN = lhc.revHdrs[offset + n].keccakHash
+    if rev[n-1].parentHash != hashN:
+      when extraTraceMessages:
+        trace info & ": hash mismatch", peer, n,
+          parentHash=rev[n-1].parentHash, hashN
+      lhc.revHdrs.setLen(offset)
+      return false
+
+  # Finalise
+  lhc.parentHash = rev[rev.len-1].parentHash
+
   when extraTraceMessages:
-    trace info & ": extending chain record", peer,
-      blockNumber=blockNumber.bnStr, len=lhc.headers.len,
-      newLen=(newLhc.headers.len + lhc.headers.len), isOpportunistic
+    trace info & " extended chain record", peer, topNumber=topNumber.bnStr,
+      offset, nLhc=lhc.revHdrs.len
 
-  if lhc.headers.len == 0:
-    lhc.hash = newLhc.hash
-    lhc.headers = newLhc.headers
-  else:
-    lhc.headers = newLhc.headers & lhc.headers
-  lhc.parentHash = newLhc.parentHash
-
-  when verifyLinkedHChainOk:
+  when verifyDataStructureOk:
     lhc.verifyHeaderChainItem info
 
   true
diff --git a/nimbus/sync/flare/worker_desc.nim b/nimbus/sync/flare/worker_desc.nim
index 099f6e66e..49f7e2933 100644
--- a/nimbus/sync/flare/worker_desc.nim
+++ b/nimbus/sync/flare/worker_desc.nim
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ const
     ## smaller unprocessed slots that mostly all will be served leads to less
     ## fragmentation on a multi-peer downloading approach.
 
+  fetchHeaderReqZombieThreshold* = chronos.seconds(2)
+    ## Response time allowance. If the response time for the set of headers
+    ## exceeds this threshold, then this peer will be banned for a while.
+
   nFetchHeadersOpportunisticly* = 8 * nFetchHeadersRequest
     ## Length of the request/stage batch. Several headers are consecutively
     ## fetched and stashed together as a single record on the staged queue.
@@ -83,16 +87,14 @@ type
     ## Traversal descriptor
 
   LinkedHChain* = object
-    ## Public block items for the `LinkedHChainQueue` list, indexed by
-    ## largest block number.
+    ## Public block items for the `LinkedHChainQueue` list, indexed by the
+    ## largest block number. The list `revHdrs[]` is reversed, i.e. the largest
+    ## block number has the least index `0`. This makes it easier to grow the
+    ## sequence with parent headers, i.e. decreasing block numbers.
     ##
-    ## FIXME: `headers[]` should be reversed, i.e. `headers[0]` has the
-    ##        highest block number. This makes it natural to extend the
-    ##        sequence with parent headers at the growing end.
-    ##
-    parentHash*: Hash256             ## Parent hash of `headers[0]`
-    headers*: seq[Blob]              ## Encoded linked header chain
-    hash*: Hash256                   ## Hash of `headers[^1]`
+    hash*: Hash256                   ## Hash of `headers[0]`
+    revHdrs*: seq[Blob]              ## Encoded linked header chain
+    parentHash*: Hash256             ## Parent hash of `headers[^1]`
 
   # -------------------