diff --git a/applications/minotari_app_grpc/proto/base_node.proto b/applications/minotari_app_grpc/proto/base_node.proto
index d27fb38d40..1ea4428757 100644
--- a/applications/minotari_app_grpc/proto/base_node.proto
+++ b/applications/minotari_app_grpc/proto/base_node.proto
@@ -357,6 +357,7 @@ message SyncProgressResponse {
     uint64 local_height = 2;
     SyncState state = 3;
     string short_desc = 4;
+    uint64 initial_connected_peers = 5;
 }
 
 enum SyncState {
diff --git a/applications/minotari_node/src/grpc/base_node_grpc_server.rs b/applications/minotari_node/src/grpc/base_node_grpc_server.rs
index 96fae8d189..8738da2433 100644
--- a/applications/minotari_node/src/grpc/base_node_grpc_server.rs
+++ b/applications/minotari_node/src/grpc/base_node_grpc_server.rs
@@ -2012,24 +2012,28 @@ impl tari_rpc::base_node_server::BaseNode for BaseNodeGrpcServer {
                 local_height: 0,
                 state: tari_rpc::SyncState::HeaderStarting.into(),
                 short_desc,
+                initial_connected_peers: 0,
             },
             StateInfo::HeaderSync(Some(info)) => tari_rpc::SyncProgressResponse {
                 tip_height: info.tip_height,
                 local_height: info.local_height,
                 state: tari_rpc::SyncState::Header.into(),
                 short_desc,
+                initial_connected_peers: 0,
             },
             StateInfo::Connecting(_) => tari_rpc::SyncProgressResponse {
                 tip_height: 0,
                 local_height: 0,
                 state: tari_rpc::SyncState::BlockStarting.into(),
                 short_desc,
+                initial_connected_peers: 0,
             },
             StateInfo::BlockSync(info) => tari_rpc::SyncProgressResponse {
                 tip_height: info.tip_height,
                 local_height: info.local_height,
                 state: tari_rpc::SyncState::Block.into(),
                 short_desc,
+                initial_connected_peers: 0,
             },
             _ => tari_rpc::SyncProgressResponse {
                 tip_height: 0,
@@ -2040,6 +2044,7 @@ impl tari_rpc::base_node_server::BaseNode for BaseNodeGrpcServer {
                     tari_rpc::SyncState::Startup.into()
                 },
                 short_desc,
+                initial_connected_peers: state.get_initial_connected_peers(),
             },
         };
         Ok(Response::new(response))
diff --git a/base_layer/core/src/base_node/state_machine_service/state_machine.rs b/base_layer/core/src/base_node/state_machine_service/state_machine.rs
index 4578ee6086..9d3547ba76 100644
--- a/base_layer/core/src/base_node/state_machine_service/state_machine.rs
+++ b/base_layer/core/src/base_node/state_machine_service/state_machine.rs
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ pub struct BaseNodeStateMachineConfig {
     /// to always be behind the network
     #[serde(with = "serializers::seconds")]
     pub time_before_considered_lagging: Duration,
+    /// This is the amount of metadata events that a node will wait for before decide to start syncing for a peer,
+    /// choosing the best peer out of the list
+    pub initial_sync_peer_count: u64,
 }
 
 #[allow(clippy::derivable_impls)]
@@ -71,6 +74,7 @@ impl Default for BaseNodeStateMachineConfig {
             blockchain_sync_config: Default::default(),
             blocks_behind_before_considered_lagging: 1,
             time_before_considered_lagging: Duration::from_secs(10),
+            initial_sync_peer_count: 5,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/base_layer/core/src/base_node/state_machine_service/states/events_and_states.rs b/base_layer/core/src/base_node/state_machine_service/states/events_and_states.rs
index 19c88d1278..fce4dc9a88 100644
--- a/base_layer/core/src/base_node/state_machine_service/states/events_and_states.rs
+++ b/base_layer/core/src/base_node/state_machine_service/states/events_and_states.rs
@@ -210,7 +210,17 @@ impl StateInfo {
             HorizonSync(info) => info.to_progress_string(),
 
             BlockSync(info) => format!("Syncing blocks: {}", info.sync_progress_string_blocks()),
-            Listening(_) => "Listening".to_string(),
+            Listening(info) => {
+                if info.is_synced() {
+                    "Listening".to_string()
+                } else {
+                    format!(
+                        "Waiting for peer data: {}/{}",
+                        info.initial_delay_connected_count(),
+                        info.initial_sync_peer_wait_count()
+                    )
+                }
+            },
             SyncFailed(details) => format!("Sync failed: {}", details),
         }
     }
@@ -230,6 +240,13 @@ impl StateInfo {
             Listening(info) => info.is_synced(),
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn get_initial_connected_peers(&self) -> u64 {
+        match self {
+            StateInfo::Listening(info) => info.initial_delay_connected_count(),
+            _ => 0,
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 impl Display for StateInfo {
diff --git a/base_layer/core/src/base_node/state_machine_service/states/listening.rs b/base_layer/core/src/base_node/state_machine_service/states/listening.rs
index 4575434bb6..699a6f370e 100644
--- a/base_layer/core/src/base_node/state_machine_service/states/listening.rs
+++ b/base_layer/core/src/base_node/state_machine_service/states/listening.rs
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ use crate::{
 };
 
 const LOG_TARGET: &str = "c::bn::state_machine_service::states::listening";
-const INITIAL_SYNC_PEER_COUNT: usize = 5;
 
 /// This struct contains the info of the peer, and is used to serialised and deserialised.
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -78,6 +77,8 @@ impl PeerMetadata {
 /// This struct contains info that is use full for external viewing of state info
 pub struct ListeningInfo {
     synced: bool,
+    initial_delay_connected_count: u64,
+    initial_sync_peer_wait_count: u64,
 }
 
 impl Display for ListeningInfo {
@@ -88,13 +89,25 @@ impl Display for ListeningInfo {
 
 impl ListeningInfo {
     /// Creates a new ListeningInfo
-    pub const fn new(is_synced: bool) -> Self {
-        Self { synced: is_synced }
+    pub const fn new(is_synced: bool, initial_delay_connected_count: u64, initial_sync_peer_wait_count: u64) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            synced: is_synced,
+            initial_delay_connected_count,
+            initial_sync_peer_wait_count,
+        }
     }
 
     pub fn is_synced(&self) -> bool {
         self.synced
     }
+
+    pub fn initial_delay_connected_count(&self) -> u64 {
+        self.initial_delay_connected_count
+    }
+
+    pub fn initial_sync_peer_wait_count(&self) -> u64 {
+        self.initial_sync_peer_wait_count
+    }
 }
 
 /// This state listens for chain metadata events received from the liveness and chain metadata service. Based on the
@@ -103,6 +116,7 @@ impl ListeningInfo {
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Default)]
 pub struct Listening {
     is_synced: bool,
+    initial_delay_count: u64,
 }
 
 impl Listening {
@@ -116,7 +130,11 @@ impl Listening {
         shared: &mut BaseNodeStateMachine<B>,
     ) -> StateEvent {
         info!(target: LOG_TARGET, "Listening for chain metadata updates");
-        shared.set_state_info(StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(self.is_synced)));
+        shared.set_state_info(StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(
+            self.is_synced,
+            self.initial_delay_count,
+            shared.config.initial_sync_peer_count,
+        )));
         let mut time_since_better_block = None;
         let mut initial_sync_counter = 0;
         let mut initial_sync_peer_list = Vec::new();
@@ -130,11 +148,25 @@ impl Listening {
                     debug!("NetworkSilence event received");
                     if !self.is_synced {
                         self.is_synced = true;
-                        shared.set_state_info(StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)));
+                        self.initial_delay_count = 0;
+                        shared.set_state_info(StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(
+                            true,
+                            0,
+                            shared.config.initial_sync_peer_count,
+                        )));
                         debug!(target: LOG_TARGET, "Initial sync achieved");
                     }
                 },
                 Ok(ChainMetadataEvent::PeerChainMetadataReceived(peer_metadata)) => {
+                    // if we are not yet synced, we wait for the initial delay of ping/pongs, so let's propagate the
+                    // updated info
+                    if !self.is_synced {
+                        shared.set_state_info(StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(
+                            self.is_synced,
+                            self.initial_delay_count,
+                            shared.config.initial_sync_peer_count,
+                        )));
+                    }
                     // We already ban the peer based on some previous logic, but this message was already in the
                     // pipeline before the ban went into effect.
                     match shared.peer_manager.is_peer_banned(peer_metadata.node_id()).await {
@@ -224,7 +256,12 @@ impl Listening {
 
                     if !self.is_synced && sync_mode.is_up_to_date() {
                         self.is_synced = true;
-                        shared.set_state_info(StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)));
+                        self.initial_delay_count = 0;
+                        shared.set_state_info(StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(
+                            true,
+                            0,
+                            shared.config.initial_sync_peer_count,
+                        )));
                         debug!(target: LOG_TARGET, "Initial sync achieved");
                     }
 
@@ -243,6 +280,7 @@ impl Listening {
                     } = sync_mode
                     {
                         initial_sync_counter += 1;
+                        self.initial_delay_count = initial_sync_counter;
                         for peer in sync_peers {
                             let mut found = false;
                             // lets search the list list to ensure we only have unique peers in the list with the latest
@@ -263,7 +301,7 @@ impl Listening {
                         }
                         // We use a list here to ensure that we dont wait for even for INITIAL_SYNC_PEER_COUNT different
                         // peers
-                        if initial_sync_counter >= INITIAL_SYNC_PEER_COUNT {
+                        if initial_sync_counter >= shared.config.initial_sync_peer_count {
                             // lets return now that we have enough peers to chose from
                             return StateEvent::FallenBehind(SyncStatus::Lagging {
                                 local,
@@ -293,7 +331,10 @@ impl Listening {
 
 impl From<Waiting> for Listening {
     fn from(_: Waiting) -> Self {
-        Self { is_synced: false }
+        Self {
+            is_synced: false,
+            initial_delay_count: 0,
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -301,6 +342,7 @@ impl From<HeaderSyncState> for Listening {
     fn from(sync: HeaderSyncState) -> Self {
         Self {
             is_synced: sync.is_synced(),
+            initial_delay_count: 0,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -309,6 +351,7 @@ impl From<BlockSync> for Listening {
     fn from(sync: BlockSync) -> Self {
         Self {
             is_synced: sync.is_synced(),
+            initial_delay_count: 0,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -317,6 +360,7 @@ impl From<DecideNextSync> for Listening {
     fn from(sync: DecideNextSync) -> Self {
         Self {
             is_synced: sync.is_synced(),
+            initial_delay_count: 0,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/base_layer/core/tests/tests/base_node_rpc.rs b/base_layer/core/tests/tests/base_node_rpc.rs
index b78ae3014b..9cff63d807 100644
--- a/base_layer/core/tests/tests/base_node_rpc.rs
+++ b/base_layer/core/tests/tests/base_node_rpc.rs
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ async fn setup() -> (
         .await;
     base_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
diff --git a/base_layer/core/tests/tests/mempool.rs b/base_layer/core/tests/tests/mempool.rs
index 023fa5faf2..87ebcd9618 100644
--- a/base_layer/core/tests/tests/mempool.rs
+++ b/base_layer/core/tests/tests/mempool.rs
@@ -1067,19 +1067,19 @@ async fn receive_and_propagate_transaction() {
 
     alice_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
     bob_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
     carol_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
@@ -1738,7 +1738,7 @@ async fn block_event_and_reorg_event_handling() {
 
     alice.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
diff --git a/base_layer/core/tests/tests/node_service.rs b/base_layer/core/tests/tests/node_service.rs
index 8f3abcf78e..f45703d2dd 100644
--- a/base_layer/core/tests/tests/node_service.rs
+++ b/base_layer/core/tests/tests/node_service.rs
@@ -139,25 +139,25 @@ async fn propagate_and_forward_many_valid_blocks() {
     wait_until_online(&[&alice_node, &bob_node, &carol_node, &dan_node]).await;
     alice_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
     bob_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
     carol_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
     dan_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
@@ -271,19 +271,19 @@ async fn propagate_and_forward_invalid_block_hash() {
     wait_until_online(&[&alice_node, &bob_node, &carol_node]).await;
     alice_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
     bob_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
     carol_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
@@ -427,25 +427,25 @@ async fn propagate_and_forward_invalid_block() {
 
     alice_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
     bob_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
     carol_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
     dan_node.mock_base_node_state_machine.publish_status(StatusInfo {
         bootstrapped: true,
-        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true)),
+        state_info: StateInfo::Listening(ListeningInfo::new(true, 0, 0)),
         randomx_vm_cnt: 0,
         randomx_vm_flags: RandomXFlag::FLAG_DEFAULT,
     });
diff --git a/common/config/presets/c_base_node_c.toml b/common/config/presets/c_base_node_c.toml
index 536ab3a6b7..36d9c6b5fc 100644
--- a/common/config/presets/c_base_node_c.toml
+++ b/common/config/presets/c_base_node_c.toml
@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ blockchain_sync_config.rpc_deadline = 240
 # intensive. Be careful of setting this higher than the block time, which would potentially cause it
 # to always be behind the network (default = 10) (in seconds)
 #time_before_considered_lagging = 10
+#This is the amount of metadata events that a node will wait for before decide to start syncing for a peer, choosing the best peer out of the list
+#initial_sync_peer_count = 5,
 
 [base_node.p2p]
 # The node's publicly-accessible hostname. This is the host name that is advertised on the network so that