diff --git a/beacon_chain/sync/sync_manager.nim b/beacon_chain/sync/sync_manager.nim
index 3c8bbe9de..008a97ebf 100644
--- a/beacon_chain/sync/sync_manager.nim
+++ b/beacon_chain/sync/sync_manager.nim
@@ -712,8 +712,9 @@ proc syncWorker[A, B](man: SyncManager[A, B], index: int) {.async: (raises: [Can
         await man.syncStep(index, peer)
         man.pool.release(peer)
         peer = nil
-      man.pool.release(peer)
-      peer = nil
+      else:
+        man.pool.release(peer)
+        peer = nil
   finally:
     if not(isNil(peer)):
       man.pool.release(peer)
diff --git a/beacon_chain/sync/sync_protocol.nim b/beacon_chain/sync/sync_protocol.nim
index 51843f1bd..f89a715c4 100644
--- a/beacon_chain/sync/sync_protocol.nim
+++ b/beacon_chain/sync/sync_protocol.nim
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ const
     ## Allow syncing ~64 blocks/sec (minus request costs)
   blobResponseCost = allowedOpsPerSecondCost(1000)
     ## Multiple can exist per block, they are much smaller than blocks
-  dataColumnResponseCost = allowedOpsPerSecondCost(32000)
+  dataColumnResponseCost = allowedOpsPerSecondCost(1000)
     ## 1 blob has an equivalent memory of 8 data columns
 
 type