diff --git a/nano/node/bootstrap_ascending/account_sets.cpp b/nano/node/bootstrap_ascending/account_sets.cpp
index c92308793a..404f337b77 100644
--- a/nano/node/bootstrap_ascending/account_sets.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/bootstrap_ascending/account_sets.cpp
@@ -316,6 +316,16 @@ std::size_t nano::bootstrap_ascending::account_sets::blocked_size () const
 	return blocking.size ();
 }
 
+bool nano::bootstrap_ascending::account_sets::priority_half_full () const
+{
+	return priorities.size () > config.priorities_max / 2;
+}
+
+bool nano::bootstrap_ascending::account_sets::blocked_half_full () const
+{
+	return blocking.size () > config.blocking_max / 2;
+}
+
 double nano::bootstrap_ascending::account_sets::priority (nano::account const & account) const
 {
 	if (!blocked (account))
diff --git a/nano/node/bootstrap_ascending/account_sets.hpp b/nano/node/bootstrap_ascending/account_sets.hpp
index c3f9b187da..4b2d0cedb9 100644
--- a/nano/node/bootstrap_ascending/account_sets.hpp
+++ b/nano/node/bootstrap_ascending/account_sets.hpp
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ namespace bootstrap_ascending
 
 		std::size_t priority_size () const;
 		std::size_t blocked_size () const;
+		bool priority_half_full () const;
+		bool blocked_half_full () const;
 
 		std::unique_ptr<nano::container_info_component> collect_container_info (std::string const & name);
 
diff --git a/nano/node/bootstrap_ascending/service.cpp b/nano/node/bootstrap_ascending/service.cpp
index f0f1b531ad..59e989aadb 100644
--- a/nano/node/bootstrap_ascending/service.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/bootstrap_ascending/service.cpp
@@ -215,16 +215,20 @@ void nano::bootstrap_ascending::service::inspect (secure::transaction const & tx
 		break;
 		case nano::block_status::gap_source:
 		{
-			const auto account = block.previous ().is_zero () ? block.account_field ().value () : ledger.any.block_account (tx, block.previous ()).value ();
-			const auto source = block.source_field ().value_or (block.link_field ().value_or (0).as_block_hash ());
+			if (source == nano::block_source::bootstrap)
+			{
+				const auto account = block.previous ().is_zero () ? block.account_field ().value () : ledger.any.block_account (tx, block.previous ()).value ();
+				const auto source_hash = block.source_field ().value_or (block.link_field ().value_or (0).as_block_hash ());
 
-			// Mark account as blocked because it is missing the source block
-			accounts.block (account, source);
+				// Mark account as blocked because it is missing the source block
+				accounts.block (account, source_hash);
+			}
 		}
 		break;
 		case nano::block_status::gap_previous:
 		{
-			if (source == nano::block_source::live)
+			// Prevent live traffic from evicting accounts from the priority list
+			if (source == nano::block_source::live && !accounts.priority_half_full () && !accounts.blocked_half_full ())
 			{
 				if (block.type () == block_type::state)
 				{