diff --git a/common/configs/processConfigs.go b/common/configs/processConfigs.go
index cdc20eaae85..6db42f27e2c 100644
--- a/common/configs/processConfigs.go
+++ b/common/configs/processConfigs.go
@@ -137,6 +137,9 @@ 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", process.ErrInvalidValue)
+	}
 
 	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..c33a14f9521 100644
--- a/consensus/spos/bls/ntpsync/roundSyncController.go
+++ b/consensus/spos/bls/ntpsync/roundSyncController.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/multiversx/mx-chain-go/consensus/spos"
 	"github.com/multiversx/mx-chain-go/ntp"
 	logger "github.com/multiversx/mx-chain-logger-go"
+	"golang.org/x/exp/slices"
 )
 
 var log = logger.GetOrCreate("nonceSyncController")
@@ -95,6 +96,8 @@ func areNoncesInAscendingOrder(nonces []uint64) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
+	slices.Sort(nonces)
+
 	for i := 1; i < len(nonces); i++ {
 		if nonces[i] != nonces[i-1]+1 {
 			return false
diff --git a/consensus/spos/bls/v2/subroundEndRound.go b/consensus/spos/bls/v2/subroundEndRound.go
index bde22a3f478..b8245e19c2b 100644
--- a/consensus/spos/bls/v2/subroundEndRound.go
+++ b/consensus/spos/bls/v2/subroundEndRound.go
@@ -1016,6 +1016,11 @@ func (sr *subroundEndRound) receivedSignature(_ context.Context, cnsDta *consens
 		return false
 	}
 
+	if sr.HasProofForCompetingBlock() {
+		log.Debug("receivedSignature: competing block proof detected, dropping signature")
+		return false
+	}
+
 	index, err := sr.ConsensusGroupIndex(node)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Debug("receivedSignature.ConsensusGroupIndex",