diff --git a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.test.ts b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.test.ts
index ffd7a9fc9ea1..6214cf57e6ba 100644
--- a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.test.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.test.ts
@@ -863,7 +863,10 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
       expect(publisher.sendRequestsAt).toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
 
-    it('should vote when sync fails even within the build time limit', async () => {
+    it('does not run fallback actions when sync fails before the build start deadline', async () => {
+      // A transient sync miss with time still left to build must not trigger fallback actions: the
+      // work loop should retry on a later tick once sync recovers. In particular it must not send a
+      // standalone prune, which would give up the slot prematurely.
       const startDeadline = sequencer.getTimeTable().getBuildStartDeadline(SlotNumber(newSlotNumber));
       dateProvider.setTime((startDeadline - 1) * 1000);
 
@@ -876,12 +879,11 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
 
       await sequencer.work();
 
-      expect(publisher.enqueueSlashingActions).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-        mockSlashActions,
-        SlotNumber(newSlotNumber),
-        expect.any(EthAddress),
-        expect.any(Function),
-      );
+      expect(publisher.enqueueSlashingActions).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(publisher.enqueuePruneIfPrunable).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(publisher.sendRequestsAt).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      // The slot is left unmarked so a later work-loop tick can retry once sync recovers.
+      expect(sequencer.getLastSlotForCheckpointProposalJob()).toBeUndefined();
     });
 
     it('should not vote when sync fails but not a proposer', async () => {
@@ -980,6 +982,26 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
       expect(publisher.sendRequestsAt).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
 
+    it('does not enqueue a standalone prune before the build deadline even when the rollup is prunable', async () => {
+      // Standalone prune is reserved for when we can no longer build the slot (past the build start
+      // deadline). Before the deadline, a transient sync miss must retry rather than prune the pending
+      // chain, even if the rollup happens to be prunable at the target slot.
+      const startDeadline = sequencer.getTimeTable().getBuildStartDeadline(SlotNumber(newSlotNumber));
+      dateProvider.setTime((startDeadline - 1) * 1000);
+
+      // Set us as the proposer
+      validatorClient.getValidatorAddresses.mockReturnValue([signer.address]);
+      epochCache.getProposerAttesterAddressInSlot.mockResolvedValue(signer.address);
+
+      // The rollup is prunable, but we are still within the build window.
+      publisher.enqueuePruneIfPrunable.mockResolvedValue(true);
+
+      await sequencer.work();
+
+      expect(publisher.enqueuePruneIfPrunable).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(publisher.sendRequestsAt).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
     it('should enqueue prune alongside votes and send a single request', async () => {
       const startDeadline = sequencer.getTimeTable().getBuildStartDeadline(SlotNumber(newSlotNumber));
       dateProvider.setTime((startDeadline + 1) * 1000);
diff --git a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.ts b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.ts
index 19451a6f475d..04cb28f2bbf4 100644
--- a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.ts
@@ -452,13 +452,6 @@ export class Sequencer extends (EventEmitter as new () => TypedEventEmitter<Sequ
       return undefined;
     }
 
-    // We are the proposer and the escape hatch is closed: now run the full sync check before building.
-    const syncedTo = await this.checkSync({ ts, slot });
-    if (!syncedTo) {
-      await this.tryVoteAndPruneWhenCannotBuild({ slot, targetSlot });
-      return undefined;
-    }
-
     // Explicit build-loop entry gate: if we are past the latest useful block-building start for the
     // target slot, abandon building for this slot. The proposer prioritizes the ideal L1-publish path
     // and does not plan around the late consensus-handoff path. This is the proposer build path's
@@ -480,6 +473,13 @@ export class Sequencer extends (EventEmitter as new () => TypedEventEmitter<Sequ
       return undefined;
     }
 
+    // We are the proposer, the escape hatch is closed, and we have time before the build start deadline.
+    // Now run the full sync check before building.
+    const syncedTo = await this.checkSync({ ts, slot });
+    if (!syncedTo) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+
     // Next checkpoint follows from the last synced one
     const checkpointNumber = CheckpointNumber(syncedTo.checkpointNumber + 1);