diff --git a/.changelog/4403.bugfix.md b/.changelog/4403.bugfix.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..776eae55162
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/4403.bugfix.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+go/worker/storage: Limit number of rounds to fetch before applying them
+
+Previously, when a node was syncing from genesis, it would try to fetch all
+unapplied rounds before applying them.
+This could mean trying to fetch 100k+ rounds before applying them.
+In combination with failing to fetch rounds and random retrying, this could
+make the syncing process unbearably slow.
diff --git a/go/worker/storage/committee/node.go b/go/worker/storage/committee/node.go
index c0dec26d936..c83ce8feae4 100644
--- a/go/worker/storage/committee/node.go
+++ b/go/worker/storage/committee/node.go
@@ -98,6 +98,10 @@ const (
 	// Trying to wait for rounds further in the future will return an error immediately.
 	roundWaitConsensusOffset = uint64(1)
 
+	// maxInFlightRounds is the maximum number of rounds that should be fetched before waiting
+	// for them to be applied.
+	maxInFlightRounds = 100
+
 	// getDiffTimeout is the timeout for fetching a diff from a node.
 	getDiffTimeout = 15 * time.Second
 )
@@ -1243,6 +1247,10 @@ func (n *Node) worker() { // nolint: gocyclo
 			}
 
 			if !ok {
+				if len(syncingRounds) >= maxInFlightRounds {
+					break
+				}
+
 				syncing = &inFlight{
 					awaitingRetry: outstandingMaskFull,
 				}