diff --git a/common/configs/processConfigs.go b/common/configs/processConfigs.go
index cdc20eaae85..957bdcb0d5e 100644
--- a/common/configs/processConfigs.go
+++ b/common/configs/processConfigs.go
@@ -137,6 +137,12 @@ func checkRoundConfigValues(cfg config.ProcessConfigByRound) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w for MaxBlockProcessingTimeMs, received %d, min expected %d",
 			process.ErrInvalidValue, cfg.MaxBlockProcessingTimeMs, minBlockProcessingTimeMs)
 	}
+	if cfg.RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w for RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck, %d received",
+			process.ErrInvalidValue,
+			cfg.RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck,
+		)
+	}
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/common/configs/processConfigs_test.go b/common/configs/processConfigs_test.go
index e9d2b005051..96d6c6f2f54 100644
--- a/common/configs/processConfigs_test.go
+++ b/common/configs/processConfigs_test.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ func getConfigsByRound() []config.ProcessConfigByRound {
 			NumFloodingRoundsOutOfSpecs:            4,
 			MaxConsecutiveRoundsOfRatingDecrease:   600,
 			MaxBlockProcessingTimeMs:               1000,
+			RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck:     10,
 		},
 		{
 			EnableRound:                            1,
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ func getConfigsByRound() []config.ProcessConfigByRound {
 			NumFloodingRoundsOutOfSpecs:            40,
 			MaxConsecutiveRoundsOfRatingDecrease:   6000,
 			MaxBlockProcessingTimeMs:               1000,
+			RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck:     10,
 		},
 	}
 }
@@ -112,6 +114,21 @@ func TestNewProcessConfigsByEpoch(t *testing.T) {
 		require.True(t, strings.Contains(err.Error(), "MaxRoundsToKeepUnprocessedMiniBlocks"))
 	})
 
+	t.Run("should return error for zero RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck value", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		confByEpoch := []config.ProcessConfigByEpoch{
+			{EnableEpoch: 0, MaxMetaNoncesBehind: 15},
+		}
+		confByRound := getConfigsByRound()
+		confByRound[0].RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck = 0
+
+		pce, err := configs.NewProcessConfigsHandler(confByEpoch, confByRound, &epochNotifier.RoundNotifierStub{})
+		require.Nil(t, pce)
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, process.ErrInvalidValue)
+		require.True(t, strings.Contains(err.Error(), "RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck"))
+	})
+
 	t.Run("should return error for invalid max consecutive rounds of rating decrease value", func(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Parallel()
 
@@ -175,6 +192,7 @@ func TestProcessConfigsByEpoch_Getters(t *testing.T) {
 			NumFloodingRoundsOutOfSpecs:            4,
 			MaxConsecutiveRoundsOfRatingDecrease:   600,
 			MaxBlockProcessingTimeMs:               1000,
+			RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck:     10,
 		},
 		{EnableRound: 1,
 			MaxRoundsWithoutNewBlockReceived:       11,
@@ -187,6 +205,7 @@ func TestProcessConfigsByEpoch_Getters(t *testing.T) {
 			NumFloodingRoundsOutOfSpecs:            40,
 			MaxConsecutiveRoundsOfRatingDecrease:   6000,
 			MaxBlockProcessingTimeMs:               2000,
+			RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck:     10,
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/consensus/spos/bls/ntpsync/roundSyncController.go b/consensus/spos/bls/ntpsync/roundSyncController.go
index 64b5094f4f6..df418923428 100644
--- a/consensus/spos/bls/ntpsync/roundSyncController.go
+++ b/consensus/spos/bls/ntpsync/roundSyncController.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package ntpsync
 
 import (
+	"sort"
+
 	"github.com/multiversx/mx-chain-core-go/core/check"
 	"github.com/multiversx/mx-chain-core-go/data"
 	"github.com/multiversx/mx-chain-go/consensus"
@@ -95,8 +97,12 @@ func areNoncesInAscendingOrder(nonces []uint64) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	for i := 1; i < len(nonces); i++ {
-		if nonces[i] != nonces[i-1]+1 {
+	dst := make([]uint64, len(nonces))
+	copy(dst, nonces)
+	sort.Slice(dst, func(i, j int) bool { return dst[i] < dst[j] })
+
+	for i := 1; i < len(dst); i++ {
+		if dst[i] != dst[i-1]+1 {
 			return false
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/consensus/spos/bls/v2/subroundEndRound.go b/consensus/spos/bls/v2/subroundEndRound.go
index cab036cc4fb..bab1ca6aa16 100644
--- a/consensus/spos/bls/v2/subroundEndRound.go
+++ b/consensus/spos/bls/v2/subroundEndRound.go
@@ -1028,6 +1028,11 @@ func (sr *subroundEndRound) receivedSignature(_ context.Context, cnsDta *consens
 		return false
 	}
 
+	if sr.HasProofForCompetingBlock() {
+		log.Debug("receivedSignature: competing block proof detected, dropping signature")
+		return false
+	}
+
 	remainingTime := sr.remainingTime()
 	if remainingTime <= 0 {
 		return false
diff --git a/node/chainSimulator/components/coreComponents_test.go b/node/chainSimulator/components/coreComponents_test.go
index e5ba304974e..bdf907cb3d1 100644
--- a/node/chainSimulator/components/coreComponents_test.go
+++ b/node/chainSimulator/components/coreComponents_test.go
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ func createArgsCoreComponentsHolder() ArgsCoreComponentsHolder {
 						MaxConsecutiveRoundsOfRatingDecrease:   600,
 						MaxBlockProcessingTimeMs:               1000,
 						NumHeadersToRequestInAdvance:           10,
+						RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck:     20,
 					},
 				},
 				EpochStartConfigsByEpoch: []config.EpochStartConfigByEpoch{
diff --git a/process/track/baseBlockTrack_test.go b/process/track/baseBlockTrack_test.go
index 2f72872b12c..117f51cff36 100644
--- a/process/track/baseBlockTrack_test.go
+++ b/process/track/baseBlockTrack_test.go
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ func CreateShardTrackerMockArguments() track.ArgShardTracker {
 				NumFloodingRoundsOutOfSpecs:            40,
 				MaxConsecutiveRoundsOfRatingDecrease:   600,
 				MaxBlockProcessingTimeMs:               1000,
+				RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck:     20,
 			},
 		},
 		&epochNotifier.RoundNotifierStub{},
diff --git a/testscommon/components/configs.go b/testscommon/components/configs.go
index 08e2486ddc5..72f046fe1fb 100644
--- a/testscommon/components/configs.go
+++ b/testscommon/components/configs.go
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@ func GetGeneralConfig() config.Config {
 					MaxConsecutiveRoundsOfRatingDecrease:   600,
 					MaxBlockProcessingTimeMs:               1000,
 					NumHeadersToRequestInAdvance:           10,
+					RoundModulusTriggerWhenSyncIsStuck:     20,
 				},
 			},
 			EpochStartConfigsByEpoch: []config.EpochStartConfigByEpoch{