diff --git a/core/node/consensus/src/storage/mod.rs b/core/node/consensus/src/storage/mod.rs
index 58238f4b601b..6660f75332bc 100644
--- a/core/node/consensus/src/storage/mod.rs
+++ b/core/node/consensus/src/storage/mod.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ impl PayloadQueue {
 
     /// Advances the cursor by converting the block into actions and pushing them
     /// to the actions queue.
-    /// Does nothing and returns Ok() if the block has been already processed.
+    /// Does nothing and returns `Ok(())` if the block has been already processed.
     /// Returns an error if a block with an earlier block number was expected.
     pub(crate) async fn send(&mut self, block: FetchedBlock) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let want = self.inner.next_l2_block;
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ impl PayloadQueue {
         if block.number < want {
             return Ok(());
         }
-        self.actions.push_actions(self.inner.advance(block)).await;
+        self.actions.push_actions(self.inner.advance(block)).await?;
         Ok(())
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/node/consensus/src/testonly.rs b/core/node/consensus/src/testonly.rs
index f2c51521b3f4..81084b8f599a 100644
--- a/core/node/consensus/src/testonly.rs
+++ b/core/node/consensus/src/testonly.rs
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ impl StateKeeper {
             actions.push(FetchedTransaction::new(tx).into());
         }
         actions.push(SyncAction::SealL2Block);
-        self.actions_sender.push_actions(actions).await;
+        self.actions_sender.push_actions(actions).await.unwrap();
     }
 
     /// Pushes `SealBatch` command to the `StateKeeper`.
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ impl StateKeeper {
         // Each batch ends with an empty block (aka fictive block).
         let mut actions = vec![self.open_block()];
         actions.push(SyncAction::SealBatch);
-        self.actions_sender.push_actions(actions).await;
+        self.actions_sender.push_actions(actions).await.unwrap();
         self.batch_sealed = true;
     }
 
diff --git a/core/node/metadata_calculator/src/updater.rs b/core/node/metadata_calculator/src/updater.rs
index 4878ab381a07..b5eb46ac7869 100644
--- a/core/node/metadata_calculator/src/updater.rs
+++ b/core/node/metadata_calculator/src/updater.rs
@@ -88,26 +88,30 @@ impl TreeUpdater {
     /// is slow for whatever reason.
     async fn process_multiple_batches(
         &mut self,
-        storage: &mut Connection<'_, Core>,
+        pool: &ConnectionPool<Core>,
         l1_batch_numbers: ops::RangeInclusive<u32>,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<L1BatchNumber> {
         let tree_mode = self.tree.mode();
         let start = Instant::now();
         tracing::info!("Processing L1 batches #{l1_batch_numbers:?} in {tree_mode:?} mode");
+        let mut storage = pool.connection_tagged("metadata_calculator").await?;
         let first_l1_batch_number = L1BatchNumber(*l1_batch_numbers.start());
         let last_l1_batch_number = L1BatchNumber(*l1_batch_numbers.end());
-        let mut l1_batch_data = L1BatchWithLogs::new(storage, first_l1_batch_number, tree_mode)
-            .await
-            .with_context(|| {
-                format!("failed fetching tree input for L1 batch #{first_l1_batch_number}")
-            })?;
+        let mut l1_batch_data =
+            L1BatchWithLogs::new(&mut storage, first_l1_batch_number, tree_mode)
+                .await
+                .with_context(|| {
+                    format!("failed fetching tree input for L1 batch #{first_l1_batch_number}")
+                })?;
+        drop(storage);
 
         let mut total_logs = 0;
         let mut updated_headers = vec![];
         for l1_batch_number in l1_batch_numbers {
+            let mut storage = pool.connection_tagged("metadata_calculator").await?;
             let l1_batch_number = L1BatchNumber(l1_batch_number);
             let Some(current_l1_batch_data) = l1_batch_data else {
-                Self::ensure_not_pruned(storage, l1_batch_number).await?;
+                Self::ensure_not_pruned(&mut storage, l1_batch_number).await?;
                 return Ok(l1_batch_number);
             };
             total_logs += current_l1_batch_data.storage_logs.len();
@@ -116,13 +120,14 @@ impl TreeUpdater {
             let load_next_l1_batch_task = async {
                 if l1_batch_number < last_l1_batch_number {
                     let next_l1_batch_number = l1_batch_number + 1;
-                    L1BatchWithLogs::new(storage, next_l1_batch_number, tree_mode)
-                        .await
-                        .with_context(|| {
-                            format!(
-                                "failed fetching tree input for L1 batch #{next_l1_batch_number}"
-                            )
-                        })
+                    let batch_result =
+                        L1BatchWithLogs::new(&mut storage, next_l1_batch_number, tree_mode).await;
+                    // Drop storage at the earliest possible moment so that it doesn't block logic running concurrently,
+                    // such as tree pruning.
+                    drop(storage);
+                    batch_result.with_context(|| {
+                        format!("failed fetching tree input for L1 batch #{next_l1_batch_number}")
+                    })
                 } else {
                     Ok(None) // Don't need to load the next L1 batch after the last one we're processing.
                 }
@@ -135,11 +140,12 @@ impl TreeUpdater {
                 hash: metadata.root_hash,
                 rollup_last_leaf_index: metadata.rollup_last_leaf_index,
             };
+
+            let mut storage = pool.connection_tagged("metadata_calculator").await?;
             storage
                 .blocks_dal()
                 .save_l1_batch_tree_data(l1_batch_number, &tree_data)
-                .await
-                .context("failed saving tree data")?;
+                .await?;
             // ^ Note that `save_l1_batch_tree_data()` will not blindly overwrite changes if L1 batch
             // metadata already exists; instead, it'll check that the old and new metadata match.
             // That is, if we run multiple tree instances, we'll get metadata correspondence
@@ -156,6 +162,7 @@ impl TreeUpdater {
                     .insert_proof_generation_details(l1_batch_number, object_key)
                     .await?;
             }
+            drop(storage);
             save_postgres_latency.observe();
             tracing::info!("Updated metadata for L1 batch #{l1_batch_number} in Postgres");
 
@@ -187,9 +194,10 @@ impl TreeUpdater {
 
     async fn step(
         &mut self,
-        mut storage: Connection<'_, Core>,
+        pool: &ConnectionPool<Core>,
         next_l1_batch_to_process: &mut L1BatchNumber,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        let mut storage = pool.connection_tagged("metadata_calculator").await?;
         let last_l1_batch_with_protective_reads = if self.tree.mode() == MerkleTreeMode::Lightweight
             || self.sealed_batches_have_protective_reads
         {
@@ -210,6 +218,8 @@ impl TreeUpdater {
                 .await
                 .context("failed loading latest L1 batch number with protective reads")?
         };
+        drop(storage);
+
         let last_requested_l1_batch =
             next_l1_batch_to_process.0 + self.max_l1_batches_per_iter as u32 - 1;
         let last_requested_l1_batch =
@@ -222,7 +232,7 @@ impl TreeUpdater {
         } else {
             tracing::info!("Updating Merkle tree with L1 batches #{l1_batch_numbers:?}");
             *next_l1_batch_to_process = self
-                .process_multiple_batches(&mut storage, l1_batch_numbers)
+                .process_multiple_batches(pool, l1_batch_numbers)
                 .await?;
         }
         Ok(())
@@ -248,10 +258,9 @@ impl TreeUpdater {
                 tracing::info!("Stop signal received, metadata_calculator is shutting down");
                 break;
             }
-            let storage = pool.connection_tagged("metadata_calculator").await?;
 
             let snapshot = *next_l1_batch_to_process;
-            self.step(storage, &mut next_l1_batch_to_process).await?;
+            self.step(pool, &mut next_l1_batch_to_process).await?;
             let delay = if snapshot == *next_l1_batch_to_process {
                 tracing::trace!(
                     "Metadata calculator (next L1 batch: #{next_l1_batch_to_process}) \
diff --git a/core/node/node_sync/src/sync_action.rs b/core/node/node_sync/src/sync_action.rs
index 09d49943a454..8cb90d24fe84 100644
--- a/core/node/node_sync/src/sync_action.rs
+++ b/core/node/node_sync/src/sync_action.rs
@@ -13,20 +13,30 @@ impl ActionQueueSender {
     /// Requires that the actions are in the correct order: starts with a new open L1 batch / L2 block,
     /// followed by 0 or more transactions, have mandatory `SealL2Block` and optional `SealBatch` at the end.
     /// Would panic if the order is incorrect.
-    pub async fn push_actions(&self, actions: Vec<SyncAction>) {
-        Self::check_action_sequence(&actions).unwrap();
+    ///
+    /// # Errors
+    ///
+    /// Errors correspond to incorrect action order, or to `ExternalIO` instance that the queue is connected to shutting down.
+    /// Hence, returned errors must be treated as unrecoverable by the caller; it is unsound to continue
+    /// operating a node if some of the `actions` may be lost.
+    pub async fn push_actions(&self, actions: Vec<SyncAction>) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        Self::check_action_sequence(&actions)?;
         for action in actions {
-            self.0.send(action).await.expect("EN sync logic panicked");
+            self.0
+                .send(action)
+                .await
+                .map_err(|_| anyhow::anyhow!("node action processor stopped"))?;
             QUEUE_METRICS
                 .action_queue_size
                 .set(self.0.max_capacity() - self.0.capacity());
         }
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     /// Checks whether the action sequence is valid.
     /// Returned error is meant to be used as a panic message, since an invalid sequence represents an unrecoverable
     /// error. This function itself does not panic for the ease of testing.
-    fn check_action_sequence(actions: &[SyncAction]) -> Result<(), String> {
+    fn check_action_sequence(actions: &[SyncAction]) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         // Rules for the sequence:
         // 1. Must start with either `OpenBatch` or `L2Block`, both of which may be met only once.
         // 2. Followed by a sequence of `Tx` actions which consists of 0 or more elements.
@@ -38,27 +48,22 @@ impl ActionQueueSender {
         for action in actions {
             match action {
                 SyncAction::OpenBatch { .. } | SyncAction::L2Block { .. } => {
-                    if opened {
-                        return Err(format!("Unexpected OpenBatch / L2Block: {actions:?}"));
-                    }
+                    anyhow::ensure!(!opened, "Unexpected OpenBatch / L2Block: {actions:?}");
                     opened = true;
                 }
                 SyncAction::Tx(_) => {
-                    if !opened || l2_block_sealed {
-                        return Err(format!("Unexpected Tx: {actions:?}"));
-                    }
+                    anyhow::ensure!(opened && !l2_block_sealed, "Unexpected Tx: {actions:?}");
                 }
                 SyncAction::SealL2Block | SyncAction::SealBatch => {
-                    if !opened || l2_block_sealed {
-                        return Err(format!("Unexpected SealL2Block / SealBatch: {actions:?}"));
-                    }
+                    anyhow::ensure!(
+                        opened && !l2_block_sealed,
+                        "Unexpected SealL2Block / SealBatch: {actions:?}"
+                    );
                     l2_block_sealed = true;
                 }
             }
         }
-        if !l2_block_sealed {
-            return Err(format!("Incomplete sequence: {actions:?}"));
-        }
+        anyhow::ensure!(l2_block_sealed, "Incomplete sequence: {actions:?}");
         Ok(())
     }
 }
@@ -287,7 +292,7 @@ mod tests {
                 panic!("Invalid sequence passed the test. Sequence #{idx}, expected error: {expected_err}");
             };
             assert!(
-                err.starts_with(expected_err),
+                err.to_string().contains(expected_err),
                 "Sequence #{idx} failed. Expected error: {expected_err}, got: {err}"
             );
         }
diff --git a/core/node/node_sync/src/tests.rs b/core/node/node_sync/src/tests.rs
index 9830641a9fa1..7c57e04a3404 100644
--- a/core/node/node_sync/src/tests.rs
+++ b/core/node/node_sync/src/tests.rs
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ async fn external_io_basics(snapshot_recovery: bool) {
         &[&extract_tx_hashes(&actions)],
     )
     .await;
-    actions_sender.push_actions(actions).await;
+    actions_sender.push_actions(actions).await.unwrap();
     // Wait until the L2 block is sealed.
     state_keeper
         .wait_for_local_block(snapshot.l2_block_number + 1)
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ async fn external_io_works_without_local_protocol_version(snapshot_recovery: boo
         &[&extract_tx_hashes(&actions)],
     )
     .await;
-    actions_sender.push_actions(actions).await;
+    actions_sender.push_actions(actions).await.unwrap();
     // Wait until the L2 block is sealed.
     state_keeper
         .wait_for_local_block(snapshot.l2_block_number + 1)
@@ -407,8 +407,14 @@ pub(super) async fn run_state_keeper_with_multiple_l2_blocks(
     let (actions_sender, action_queue) = ActionQueue::new();
     let client = MockMainNodeClient::default();
     let state_keeper = StateKeeperHandles::new(pool, client, action_queue, &[&tx_hashes]).await;
-    actions_sender.push_actions(first_l2_block_actions).await;
-    actions_sender.push_actions(second_l2_block_actions).await;
+    actions_sender
+        .push_actions(first_l2_block_actions)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    actions_sender
+        .push_actions(second_l2_block_actions)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
     // Wait until both L2 blocks are sealed.
     state_keeper
         .wait_for_local_block(snapshot.l2_block_number + 2)
@@ -490,7 +496,7 @@ async fn test_external_io_recovery(
         number: snapshot.l2_block_number + 3,
     };
     let actions = vec![open_l2_block, new_tx.into(), SyncAction::SealL2Block];
-    actions_sender.push_actions(actions).await;
+    actions_sender.push_actions(actions).await.unwrap();
     state_keeper
         .wait_for_local_block(snapshot.l2_block_number + 3)
         .await;
@@ -580,9 +586,18 @@ pub(super) async fn run_state_keeper_with_multiple_l1_batches(
         &[&[first_tx_hash], &[second_tx_hash]],
     )
     .await;
-    actions_sender.push_actions(first_l1_batch_actions).await;
-    actions_sender.push_actions(fictive_l2_block_actions).await;
-    actions_sender.push_actions(second_l1_batch_actions).await;
+    actions_sender
+        .push_actions(first_l1_batch_actions)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    actions_sender
+        .push_actions(fictive_l2_block_actions)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+    actions_sender
+        .push_actions(second_l1_batch_actions)
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
 
     let hash_task = tokio::spawn(mock_l1_batch_hash_computation(
         pool.clone(),