diff --git a/src/data_source/fetching/leaf.rs b/src/data_source/fetching/leaf.rs
index 7291e1ba..681b62db 100644
--- a/src/data_source/fetching/leaf.rs
+++ b/src/data_source/fetching/leaf.rs
@@ -239,6 +239,18 @@ pub(super) fn trigger_fetch_for_parent<Types, S, P>(
             // Check if we already have the parent.
             match fetcher.storage.read().await {
                 Ok(mut tx) => {
+                    // Don't bother fetching a pruned leaf.
+                    if let Ok(pruned_height) = tx.load_pruned_height().await {
+                        if !pruned_height.map_or(true, |ph| height > ph) {
+                            tracing::info!(
+                                height,
+                                ?pruned_height,
+                                "not fetching pruned parent leaf"
+                            );
+                            return;
+                        }
+                    }
+
                     if tx.get_leaf(((height - 1) as usize).into()).await.is_ok() {
                         return;
                     }
diff --git a/src/fetching/provider/query_service.rs b/src/fetching/provider/query_service.rs
index e6471ea2..49768581 100644
--- a/src/fetching/provider/query_service.rs
+++ b/src/fetching/provider/query_service.rs
@@ -944,10 +944,21 @@ mod test {
             .pruner_cfg(
                 PrunerCfg::new()
                     .with_target_retention(Duration::from_secs(0))
-                    .with_interval(Duration::from_secs(1)),
+                    .with_interval(Duration::from_secs(5)),
             )
             .unwrap()
-            .connect(provider.clone())
+            .builder(provider.clone())
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+            // Set a fast retry for failed operations. Occasionally storage operations will fail due
+            // to conflicting write-mode transactions running concurrently. This is ok as they will
+            // be retried. Having a fast retry interval speeds up the test.
+            .with_min_retry_interval(Duration::from_millis(100))
+            // Randomize retries a lot. This will temporarlly separate competing transactions write
+            // transactions with high probability, so that one of them quickly gets exclusive access
+            // to the database.
+            .with_retry_randomization_factor(3.)
+            .build()
             .await
             .unwrap();
 
diff --git a/src/node.rs b/src/node.rs
index d0347c00..1461e632 100644
--- a/src/node.rs
+++ b/src/node.rs
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ mod test {
     use std::time::Duration;
     use surf_disco::Client;
     use tempfile::TempDir;
-    use tide_disco::App;
+    use tide_disco::{App, Error as _};
     use tokio::time::sleep;
     use toml::toml;
 
@@ -469,6 +469,21 @@ mod test {
         }
         tracing::info!(?tx_heights, ?tx_sizes, "transactions sequenced");
 
+        // Wait for the aggregator to process the inserted blocks.
+        while let Err(err) = client
+            .get::<usize>(&format!("node/transactions/count/{}", tx_heights[1]))
+            .send()
+            .await
+        {
+            if err.status() == StatusCode::NOT_FOUND {
+                tracing::info!(?tx_heights, "waiting for aggregator");
+                sleep(Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
+                continue;
+            } else {
+                panic!("unexpected error: {err:#}");
+            }
+        }
+
         // Range including empty blocks (genesis block) only
         assert_eq!(
             0,