diff --git a/eth/catalyst/api.go b/eth/catalyst/api.go
index d1e199141..37b0248f2 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/api.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/api.go
@@ -611,7 +611,8 @@ func (api *ConsensusAPI) delayPayloadImport(block *types.Block) (engine.PayloadS
 	// Although we don't want to trigger a sync, if there is one already in
 	// progress, try to extend if with the current payload request to relieve
 	// some strain from the forkchoice update.
-	if err := api.eth.Downloader().BeaconExtend(api.eth.SyncMode(), block.Header()); err == nil {
+	err := api.eth.Downloader().BeaconExtend(api.eth.SyncMode(), block.Header())
+	if err == nil {
 		log.Debug("Payload accepted for sync extension", "number", block.NumberU64(), "hash", block.Hash())
 		return engine.PayloadStatusV1{Status: engine.SYNCING}, nil
 	}
@@ -623,12 +624,12 @@ func (api *ConsensusAPI) delayPayloadImport(block *types.Block) (engine.PayloadS
 		// In full sync mode, failure to import a well-formed block can only mean
 		// that the parent state is missing and the syncer rejected extending the
 		// current cycle with the new payload.
-		log.Warn("Ignoring payload with missing parent", "number", block.NumberU64(), "hash", block.Hash(), "parent", block.ParentHash())
+		log.Warn("Ignoring payload with missing parent", "number", block.NumberU64(), "hash", block.Hash(), "parent", block.ParentHash(), "reason", err)
 	} else {
 		// In non-full sync mode (i.e. snap sync) all payloads are rejected until
 		// snap sync terminates as snap sync relies on direct database injections
 		// and cannot afford concurrent out-if-band modifications via imports.
-		log.Warn("Ignoring payload while snap syncing", "number", block.NumberU64(), "hash", block.Hash())
+		log.Warn("Ignoring payload while snap syncing", "number", block.NumberU64(), "hash", block.Hash(), "reason", err)
 	}
 	return engine.PayloadStatusV1{Status: engine.SYNCING}, nil
 }
diff --git a/eth/downloader/skeleton.go b/eth/downloader/skeleton.go
index 4f1f46204..f40ca24d9 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/skeleton.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/skeleton.go
@@ -69,9 +69,17 @@ var errSyncReorged = errors.New("sync reorged")
 // might still be propagating.
 var errTerminated = errors.New("terminated")
 
-// errReorgDenied is returned if an attempt is made to extend the beacon chain
-// with a new header, but it does not link up to the existing sync.
-var errReorgDenied = errors.New("non-forced head reorg denied")
+// errChainReorged is an internal helper error to signal that the header chain
+// of the current sync cycle was (partially) reorged.
+var errChainReorged = errors.New("chain reorged")
+
+// errChainGapped is an internal helper error to signal that the header chain
+// of the current sync cycle is gaped with the one advertised by consensus client.
+var errChainGapped = errors.New("chain gapped")
+
+// errChainForked is an internal helper error to signal that the header chain
+// of the current sync cycle is forked with the one advertised by consensus client.
+var errChainForked = errors.New("chain forked")
 
 func init() {
 	// Tuning parameters is nice, but the scratch space must be assignable in
@@ -271,9 +279,9 @@ func (s *skeleton) startup() {
 				newhead, err := s.sync(head)
 				switch {
 				case err == errSyncLinked:
-					// Sync cycle linked up to the genesis block. Tear down the loop
-					// and restart it so, it can properly notify the backfiller. Don't
-					// account a new head.
+					// Sync cycle linked up to the genesis block, or the existent chain
+					// segment. Tear down the loop and restart it so, it can properly
+					// notify the backfiller. Don't account a new head.
 					head = nil
 
 				case err == errSyncMerged:
@@ -457,15 +465,16 @@ func (s *skeleton) sync(head *types.Header) (*types.Header, error) {
 			// we don't seamlessly integrate reorgs to keep things simple. If the
 			// network starts doing many mini reorgs, it might be worthwhile handling
 			// a limited depth without an error.
-			if reorged := s.processNewHead(event.header, event.final, event.force); reorged {
+			if err := s.processNewHead(event.header, event.final); err != nil {
 				// If a reorg is needed, and we're forcing the new head, signal
 				// the syncer to tear down and start over. Otherwise, drop the
 				// non-force reorg.
 				if event.force {
 					event.errc <- nil // forced head reorg accepted
+					log.Info("Restarting sync cycle", "reason", err)
 					return event.header, errSyncReorged
 				}
-				event.errc <- errReorgDenied
+				event.errc <- err
 				continue
 			}
 			event.errc <- nil // head extension accepted
@@ -610,7 +619,7 @@ func (s *skeleton) saveSyncStatus(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter) {
 // accepts and integrates it into the skeleton or requests a reorg. Upon reorg,
 // the syncer will tear itself down and restart with a fresh head. It is simpler
 // to reconstruct the sync state than to mutate it and hope for the best.
-func (s *skeleton) processNewHead(head *types.Header, final *types.Header, force bool) bool {
+func (s *skeleton) processNewHead(head *types.Header, final *types.Header) error {
 	// If a new finalized block was announced, update the sync process independent
 	// of what happens with the sync head below
 	if final != nil {
@@ -631,26 +640,17 @@ func (s *skeleton) processNewHead(head *types.Header, final *types.Header, force
 		// once more, ignore it instead of tearing down sync for a noop.
 		if lastchain.Head == lastchain.Tail {
 			if current := rawdb.ReadSkeletonHeader(s.db, number); current.Hash() == head.Hash() {
-				return false
+				return nil
 			}
 		}
 		// Not a noop / double head announce, abort with a reorg
-		if force {
-			log.Warn("Beacon chain reorged", "tail", lastchain.Tail, "head", lastchain.Head, "newHead", number)
-		}
-		return true
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w, tail: %d, head: %d, newHead: %d", errChainReorged, lastchain.Tail, lastchain.Head, number)
 	}
 	if lastchain.Head+1 < number {
-		if force {
-			log.Warn("Beacon chain gapped", "head", lastchain.Head, "newHead", number)
-		}
-		return true
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w, head: %d, newHead: %d", errChainGapped, lastchain.Head, number)
 	}
 	if parent := rawdb.ReadSkeletonHeader(s.db, number-1); parent.Hash() != head.ParentHash {
-		if force {
-			log.Warn("Beacon chain forked", "ancestor", number-1, "hash", parent.Hash(), "want", head.ParentHash)
-		}
-		return true
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w, ancestor: %d, hash: %s, want: %s", errChainForked, number-1, parent.Hash(), head.ParentHash)
 	}
 	// New header seems to be in the last subchain range. Unwind any extra headers
 	// from the chain tip and insert the new head. We won't delete any trimmed
@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ func (s *skeleton) processNewHead(head *types.Header, final *types.Header, force
 	if err := batch.Write(); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to write skeleton sync status", "err", err)
 	}
-	return false
+	return nil
 }
 
 // assignTasks attempts to match idle peers to pending header retrievals.
diff --git a/eth/downloader/skeleton_test.go b/eth/downloader/skeleton_test.go
index c31007765..aceadd00d 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/skeleton_test.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/skeleton_test.go
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ func TestSkeletonSyncExtend(t *testing.T) {
 			newstate: []*subchain{
 				{Head: 49, Tail: 49},
 			},
-			err: errReorgDenied,
+			err: errChainReorged,
 		},
 		// Initialize a sync and try to extend it with a number-wise sequential
 		// header, but a hash wise non-linking one.
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ func TestSkeletonSyncExtend(t *testing.T) {
 			newstate: []*subchain{
 				{Head: 49, Tail: 49},
 			},
-			err: errReorgDenied,
+			err: errChainForked,
 		},
 		// Initialize a sync and try to extend it with a non-linking future block.
 		{
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ func TestSkeletonSyncExtend(t *testing.T) {
 			newstate: []*subchain{
 				{Head: 49, Tail: 49},
 			},
-			err: errReorgDenied,
+			err: errChainGapped,
 		},
 		// Initialize a sync and try to extend it with a past canonical block.
 		{
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ func TestSkeletonSyncExtend(t *testing.T) {
 			newstate: []*subchain{
 				{Head: 50, Tail: 50},
 			},
-			err: errReorgDenied,
+			err: errChainReorged,
 		},
 		// Initialize a sync and try to extend it with a past sidechain block.
 		{
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ func TestSkeletonSyncExtend(t *testing.T) {
 			newstate: []*subchain{
 				{Head: 50, Tail: 50},
 			},
-			err: errReorgDenied,
+			err: errChainReorged,
 		},
 	}
 	for i, tt := range tests {
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ func TestSkeletonSyncExtend(t *testing.T) {
 		skeleton.Sync(tt.head, nil, true)
 
 		<-wait
-		if err := skeleton.Sync(tt.extend, nil, false); err != tt.err {
+		if err := skeleton.Sync(tt.extend, nil, false); !errors.Is(err, tt.err) {
 			t.Errorf("test %d: extension failure mismatch: have %v, want %v", i, err, tt.err)
 		}
 		skeleton.Terminate()
diff --git a/trie/verkle_test.go b/trie/verkle_test.go
index 44fb7dc29..bd31ea387 100644
--- a/trie/verkle_test.go
+++ b/trie/verkle_test.go
@@ -31,24 +31,24 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	accounts = map[common.Address]*types.StateAccount{
-		common.Address{1}: {
+		{1}: {
 			Nonce:    100,
 			Balance:  big.NewInt(100),
 			CodeHash: common.Hash{0x1}.Bytes(),
 		},
-		common.Address{2}: {
+		{2}: {
 			Nonce:    200,
 			Balance:  big.NewInt(200),
 			CodeHash: common.Hash{0x2}.Bytes(),
 		},
 	}
 	storages = map[common.Address]map[common.Hash][]byte{
-		common.Address{1}: {
+		{1}: {
 			common.Hash{10}: []byte{10},
 			common.Hash{11}: []byte{11},
 			common.MaxHash:  []byte{0xff},
 		},
-		common.Address{2}: {
+		{2}: {
 			common.Hash{20}: []byte{20},
 			common.Hash{21}: []byte{21},
 			common.MaxHash:  []byte{0xff},