diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index f14ff363c..cea346e38 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -411,11 +411,14 @@ func (self *BlockChain) ExportN(w io.Writer, first uint64, last uint64) error {
 
 // insert injects a new head block into the current block chain. This method
 // assumes that the block is indeed a true head. It will also reset the head
-// header and the head fast sync block to this very same block to prevent them
-// from pointing to a possibly old canonical chain (i.e. side chain by now).
+// header and the head fast sync block to this very same block if they are older
+// or if they are on a different side chain.
 //
 // Note, this function assumes that the `mu` mutex is held!
 func (bc *BlockChain) insert(block *types.Block) {
+	// If the block is on a side chain or an unknown one, force other heads onto it too
+	updateHeads := GetCanonicalHash(bc.chainDb, block.NumberU64()) != block.Hash()
+
 	// Add the block to the canonical chain number scheme and mark as the head
 	if err := WriteCanonicalHash(bc.chainDb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
 		glog.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
@@ -423,16 +426,20 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) insert(block *types.Block) {
 	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.chainDb, block.Hash()); err != nil {
 		glog.Fatalf("failed to insert head block hash: %v", err)
 	}
-	if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(bc.chainDb, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-		glog.Fatalf("failed to insert head header hash: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.chainDb, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-		glog.Fatalf("failed to insert head fast block hash: %v", err)
-	}
-	// Update the internal state with the head block
 	bc.currentBlock = block
-	bc.currentHeader = block.Header()
-	bc.currentFastBlock = block
+
+	// If the block is better than out head or is on a different chain, force update heads
+	if updateHeads {
+		if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(bc.chainDb, block.Hash()); err != nil {
+			glog.Fatalf("failed to insert head header hash: %v", err)
+		}
+		bc.currentHeader = block.Header()
+
+		if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.chainDb, block.Hash()); err != nil {
+			glog.Fatalf("failed to insert head fast block hash: %v", err)
+		}
+		bc.currentFastBlock = block
+	}
 }
 
 // Accessors
diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader.go b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
index 4bcbd8557..153427ee4 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
@@ -248,10 +248,11 @@ func (d *Downloader) UnregisterPeer(id string) error {
 
 // Synchronise tries to sync up our local block chain with a remote peer, both
 // adding various sanity checks as well as wrapping it with various log entries.
-func (d *Downloader) Synchronise(id string, head common.Hash, td *big.Int, mode SyncMode) {
+func (d *Downloader) Synchronise(id string, head common.Hash, td *big.Int, mode SyncMode) error {
 	glog.V(logger.Detail).Infof("Attempting synchronisation: %v, head [%x…], TD %v", id, head[:4], td)
 
-	switch err := d.synchronise(id, head, td, mode); err {
+	err := d.synchronise(id, head, td, mode)
+	switch err {
 	case nil:
 		glog.V(logger.Detail).Infof("Synchronisation completed")
 
@@ -268,6 +269,7 @@ func (d *Downloader) Synchronise(id string, head common.Hash, td *big.Int, mode
 	default:
 		glog.V(logger.Warn).Infof("Synchronisation failed: %v", err)
 	}
+	return err
 }
 
 // synchronise will select the peer and use it for synchronising. If an empty string is given
diff --git a/eth/sync.go b/eth/sync.go
index b69a24556..bbf2abc04 100644
--- a/eth/sync.go
+++ b/eth/sync.go
@@ -170,13 +170,16 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) synchronise(peer *peer) {
 	if pm.fastSync {
 		mode = downloader.FastSync
 	}
-	pm.downloader.Synchronise(peer.id, peer.Head(), peer.Td(), mode)
-
+	if err := pm.downloader.Synchronise(peer.id, peer.Head(), peer.Td(), mode); err != nil {
+		return
+	}
 	// If fast sync was enabled, and we synced up, disable it
 	if pm.fastSync {
+		// Wait until all pending imports finish processing
 		for pm.downloader.Synchronising() {
 			time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 		}
+		// Disable fast sync if we indeed have something in our chain
 		if pm.blockchain.CurrentBlock().NumberU64() > 0 {
 			glog.V(logger.Info).Infof("fast sync complete, auto disabling")
 			pm.fastSync = false