diff --git a/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/tech/pegasys/pantheon/ethereum/eth/sync/BlockPropagationManager.java b/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/tech/pegasys/pantheon/ethereum/eth/sync/BlockPropagationManager.java
index 4695039fab..4be7e72939 100644
--- a/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/tech/pegasys/pantheon/ethereum/eth/sync/BlockPropagationManager.java
+++ b/ethereum/eth/src/main/java/tech/pegasys/pantheon/ethereum/eth/sync/BlockPropagationManager.java
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ CompletableFuture<Block> importOrSavePendingBlock(final Block block) {
       return CompletableFuture.completedFuture(block);
     }
 
-    validateAndBroadcastBlock(block);
+    ethContext.getScheduler().scheduleSyncWorkerTask(() -> validateAndBroadcastBlock(block));
 
     // Import block
     final PersistBlockTask<C> importTask =