diff --git a/crates/p2p/src/lib.rs b/crates/p2p/src/lib.rs
index 52f55c95f6..fca4a5abf8 100644
--- a/crates/p2p/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/p2p/src/lib.rs
@@ -71,10 +71,11 @@ pub fn new(
     let (event_sender, event_receiver) = mpsc::channel(1);
 
     (
-        Client::new(command_sender, local_peer_id),
+        Client::new(command_sender.clone(), local_peer_id),
         event_receiver,
         MainLoop::new(
             swarm,
+            command_sender,
             command_receiver,
             event_sender,
             peers,
@@ -191,6 +192,7 @@ enum Command {
         new_block: NewBlock,
         sender: EmptyResultSender,
     },
+    CheckProtocols(PeerId),
     /// For testing purposes only
     _Test(TestCommand),
 }
diff --git a/crates/p2p/src/main_loop.rs b/crates/p2p/src/main_loop.rs
index e77d014940..dd91d55dfd 100644
--- a/crates/p2p/src/main_loop.rs
+++ b/crates/p2p/src/main_loop.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ use crate::{
 pub struct MainLoop {
     bootstrap_cfg: BootstrapConfig,
     swarm: libp2p::swarm::Swarm<behaviour::Behaviour>,
+    command_sender: mpsc::Sender<Command>,
     command_receiver: mpsc::Receiver<Command>,
     event_sender: mpsc::Sender<Event>,
     peers: Arc<RwLock<peers::Peers>>,
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ struct PendingQueries {
 impl MainLoop {
     pub(crate) fn new(
         swarm: libp2p::swarm::Swarm<behaviour::Behaviour>,
+        command_sender: mpsc::Sender<Command>,
         command_receiver: mpsc::Receiver<Command>,
         event_sender: mpsc::Sender<Event>,
         peers: Arc<RwLock<peers::Peers>>,
@@ -86,6 +88,7 @@ impl MainLoop {
         Self {
             bootstrap_cfg: periodic_cfg.bootstrap,
             swarm,
+            command_sender,
             command_receiver,
             event_sender,
             peers,
@@ -171,6 +174,14 @@ impl MainLoop {
             SwarmEvent::ConnectionEstablished {
                 peer_id, endpoint, ..
             } => {
+                let command_sender = self.command_sender.clone();
+                tokio::spawn(async move {
+                    // After a reasonable delay, check that the peer is communicating with us
+                    // in a meaningful way, over the protocols that move the chain forward.
+                    tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_secs(5)).await;
+                    let _ = command_sender.send(Command::CheckProtocols(peer_id)).await;
+                });
+
                 self.peers.write().await.peer_connected(&peer_id);
 
                 if endpoint.is_dialer() {
@@ -841,6 +852,26 @@ impl MainLoop {
                 let result = self.publish_data(topic, &data);
                 let _ = sender.send(result);
             }
+            Command::CheckProtocols(peer_id) => {
+                // Ensure that the peer is using at least one of the protocols which move
+                // the chain forward.
+                let behaviour = self.swarm.behaviour_mut();
+                if !behaviour
+                    .gossipsub_mut()
+                    .all_peers()
+                    .any(|(id, topics)| *id == peer_id && !topics.is_empty())
+                    && !behaviour.headers_sync_mut().is_connected(&peer_id)
+                    && !behaviour.bodies_sync_mut().is_connected(&peer_id)
+                    && !behaviour.transactions_sync_mut().is_connected(&peer_id)
+                    && !behaviour.receipts_sync_mut().is_connected(&peer_id)
+                    && !behaviour.events_sync_mut().is_connected(&peer_id)
+                {
+                    tracing::debug!(%peer_id, "Peer is not using any meaningful protocol, disconnecting");
+                    if let Err(e) = self.disconnect(peer_id).await {
+                        tracing::debug!(%peer_id, %e, "Failed to disconnect peer");
+                    }
+                }
+            }
             Command::_Test(command) => self.handle_test_command(command).await,
         };
     }