diff --git a/proxyd/proxyd/backend.go b/proxyd/proxyd/backend.go
index 6ba7a10..07c9fa2 100644
--- a/proxyd/proxyd/backend.go
+++ b/proxyd/proxyd/backend.go
@@ -564,8 +564,8 @@ func (bg *BackendGroup) Forward(ctx context.Context, rpcReqs []*RPCReq, isBatch
 		// We also rewrite block tags to enforce compliance with consensus
 		rctx := RewriteContext{
 			latest:    bg.Consensus.GetLatestBlockNumber(),
-			finalized: bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber(),
 			safe:      bg.Consensus.GetSafeBlockNumber(),
+			finalized: bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber(),
 		}
 
 		for i, req := range rpcReqs {
diff --git a/proxyd/proxyd/consensus_poller.go b/proxyd/proxyd/consensus_poller.go
index 07edc31..5944fa7 100644
--- a/proxyd/proxyd/consensus_poller.go
+++ b/proxyd/proxyd/consensus_poller.go
@@ -43,11 +43,10 @@ type ConsensusPoller struct {
 type backendState struct {
 	backendStateMux sync.Mutex
 
-	latestBlockNumber hexutil.Uint64
-	latestBlockHash   string
-
-	finalizedBlockNumber hexutil.Uint64
+	latestBlockNumber    hexutil.Uint64
+	latestBlockHash      string
 	safeBlockNumber      hexutil.Uint64
+	finalizedBlockNumber hexutil.Uint64
 
 	peerCount uint64
 	inSync    bool
@@ -77,16 +76,16 @@ func (ct *ConsensusPoller) GetLatestBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64 {
 	return ct.tracker.GetLatestBlockNumber()
 }
 
-// GetFinalizedBlockNumber returns the `finalized` agreed block number in a consensus
-func (ct *ConsensusPoller) GetFinalizedBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64 {
-	return ct.tracker.GetFinalizedBlockNumber()
-}
-
 // GetSafeBlockNumber returns the `safe` agreed block number in a consensus
 func (ct *ConsensusPoller) GetSafeBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64 {
 	return ct.tracker.GetSafeBlockNumber()
 }
 
+// GetFinalizedBlockNumber returns the `finalized` agreed block number in a consensus
+func (ct *ConsensusPoller) GetFinalizedBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64 {
+	return ct.tracker.GetFinalizedBlockNumber()
+}
+
 func (cp *ConsensusPoller) Shutdown() {
 	cp.asyncHandler.Shutdown()
 }
@@ -212,9 +211,6 @@ func NewConsensusPoller(bg *BackendGroup, opts ...ConsensusOpt) *ConsensusPoller
 	ctx, cancelFunc := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 
 	state := make(map[*Backend]*backendState, len(bg.Backends))
-	for _, be := range bg.Backends {
-		state[be] = &backendState{}
-	}
 
 	cp := &ConsensusPoller{
 		cancelFunc:   cancelFunc,
@@ -239,6 +235,7 @@ func NewConsensusPoller(bg *BackendGroup, opts ...ConsensusOpt) *ConsensusPoller
 		cp.asyncHandler = NewPollerAsyncHandler(ctx, cp)
 	}
 
+	cp.Reset()
 	cp.asyncHandler.Init()
 
 	return cp
@@ -291,15 +288,11 @@ func (cp *ConsensusPoller) UpdateBackend(ctx context.Context, be *Backend) {
 		log.Warn("error updating backend - finalized block", "name", be.Name, "err", err)
 	}
 
-	oldFinalized := bs.finalizedBlockNumber
-	oldSafe := bs.safeBlockNumber
-
-	updateDelay := time.Since(bs.lastUpdate)
-	RecordConsensusBackendUpdateDelay(be, updateDelay)
+	RecordConsensusBackendUpdateDelay(be, bs.lastUpdate)
 
 	changed := cp.setBackendState(be, peerCount, inSync,
 		latestBlockNumber, latestBlockHash,
-		finalizedBlockNumber, safeBlockNumber)
+		safeBlockNumber, finalizedBlockNumber)
 
 	RecordBackendLatestBlock(be, latestBlockNumber)
 	RecordBackendSafeBlock(be, safeBlockNumber)
@@ -312,25 +305,25 @@ func (cp *ConsensusPoller) UpdateBackend(ctx context.Context, be *Backend) {
 			"inSync", inSync,
 			"latestBlockNumber", latestBlockNumber,
 			"latestBlockHash", latestBlockHash,
-			"finalizedBlockNumber", finalizedBlockNumber,
 			"safeBlockNumber", safeBlockNumber,
-			"updateDelay", updateDelay)
+			"finalizedBlockNumber", finalizedBlockNumber,
+			"lastUpdate", bs.lastUpdate)
 	}
 
 	// sanity check for latest, safe and finalized block tags
 	expectedBlockTags := cp.checkExpectedBlockTags(
-		finalizedBlockNumber, oldFinalized,
-		safeBlockNumber, oldSafe,
-		latestBlockNumber)
+		latestBlockNumber,
+		bs.safeBlockNumber, safeBlockNumber,
+		bs.finalizedBlockNumber, finalizedBlockNumber)
 
 	RecordBackendUnexpectedBlockTags(be, !expectedBlockTags)
 
 	if !expectedBlockTags {
 		log.Warn("backend banned - unexpected block tags",
 			"backend", be.Name,
-			"oldFinalized", oldFinalized,
+			"oldFinalized", bs.finalizedBlockNumber,
 			"finalizedBlockNumber", finalizedBlockNumber,
-			"oldSafe", oldSafe,
+			"oldSafe", bs.safeBlockNumber,
 			"safeBlockNumber", safeBlockNumber,
 			"latestBlockNumber", latestBlockNumber,
 		)
@@ -342,9 +335,10 @@ func (cp *ConsensusPoller) UpdateBackend(ctx context.Context, be *Backend) {
 // - finalized block number should never decrease
 // - safe block number should never decrease
 // - finalized block should be <= safe block <= latest block
-func (cp *ConsensusPoller) checkExpectedBlockTags(currentFinalized hexutil.Uint64, oldFinalized hexutil.Uint64,
-	currentSafe hexutil.Uint64, oldSafe hexutil.Uint64,
-	currentLatest hexutil.Uint64) bool {
+func (cp *ConsensusPoller) checkExpectedBlockTags(
+	currentLatest hexutil.Uint64,
+	oldSafe hexutil.Uint64, currentSafe hexutil.Uint64,
+	oldFinalized hexutil.Uint64, currentFinalized hexutil.Uint64) bool {
 	return currentFinalized >= oldFinalized &&
 		currentSafe >= oldSafe &&
 		currentFinalized <= currentSafe &&
@@ -596,8 +590,8 @@ func (cp *ConsensusPoller) getBackendState(be *Backend) *backendState {
 
 func (cp *ConsensusPoller) setBackendState(be *Backend, peerCount uint64, inSync bool,
 	latestBlockNumber hexutil.Uint64, latestBlockHash string,
-	finalizedBlockNumber hexutil.Uint64,
-	safeBlockNumber hexutil.Uint64) bool {
+	safeBlockNumber hexutil.Uint64,
+	finalizedBlockNumber hexutil.Uint64) bool {
 	bs := cp.backendState[be]
 	bs.backendStateMux.Lock()
 	changed := bs.latestBlockHash != latestBlockHash
@@ -658,7 +652,7 @@ func (cp *ConsensusPoller) getConsensusCandidates() map[*Backend]*backendState {
 	lagging := make([]*Backend, 0, len(candidates))
 	for be, bs := range candidates {
 		// check if backend is lagging behind the highest block
-		if bs.latestBlockNumber < highestLatestBlock && uint64(highestLatestBlock-bs.latestBlockNumber) > cp.maxBlockLag {
+		if uint64(highestLatestBlock-bs.latestBlockNumber) > cp.maxBlockLag {
 			lagging = append(lagging, be)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/proxyd/proxyd/consensus_tracker.go b/proxyd/proxyd/consensus_tracker.go
index 83d2ec7..b0bcb45 100644
--- a/proxyd/proxyd/consensus_tracker.go
+++ b/proxyd/proxyd/consensus_tracker.go
@@ -15,17 +15,17 @@ import (
 type ConsensusTracker interface {
 	GetLatestBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64
 	SetLatestBlockNumber(blockNumber hexutil.Uint64)
-	GetFinalizedBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64
-	SetFinalizedBlockNumber(blockNumber hexutil.Uint64)
 	GetSafeBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64
 	SetSafeBlockNumber(blockNumber hexutil.Uint64)
+	GetFinalizedBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64
+	SetFinalizedBlockNumber(blockNumber hexutil.Uint64)
 }
 
 // InMemoryConsensusTracker store and retrieve in memory, async-safe
 type InMemoryConsensusTracker struct {
 	latestBlockNumber    hexutil.Uint64
-	finalizedBlockNumber hexutil.Uint64
 	safeBlockNumber      hexutil.Uint64
+	finalizedBlockNumber hexutil.Uint64
 	mutex                sync.Mutex
 }
 
@@ -49,20 +49,6 @@ func (ct *InMemoryConsensusTracker) SetLatestBlockNumber(blockNumber hexutil.Uin
 	ct.latestBlockNumber = blockNumber
 }
 
-func (ct *InMemoryConsensusTracker) GetFinalizedBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64 {
-	defer ct.mutex.Unlock()
-	ct.mutex.Lock()
-
-	return ct.finalizedBlockNumber
-}
-
-func (ct *InMemoryConsensusTracker) SetFinalizedBlockNumber(blockNumber hexutil.Uint64) {
-	defer ct.mutex.Unlock()
-	ct.mutex.Lock()
-
-	ct.finalizedBlockNumber = blockNumber
-}
-
 func (ct *InMemoryConsensusTracker) GetSafeBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64 {
 	defer ct.mutex.Unlock()
 	ct.mutex.Lock()
@@ -77,6 +63,20 @@ func (ct *InMemoryConsensusTracker) SetSafeBlockNumber(blockNumber hexutil.Uint6
 	ct.safeBlockNumber = blockNumber
 }
 
+func (ct *InMemoryConsensusTracker) GetFinalizedBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64 {
+	defer ct.mutex.Unlock()
+	ct.mutex.Lock()
+
+	return ct.finalizedBlockNumber
+}
+
+func (ct *InMemoryConsensusTracker) SetFinalizedBlockNumber(blockNumber hexutil.Uint64) {
+	defer ct.mutex.Unlock()
+	ct.mutex.Lock()
+
+	ct.finalizedBlockNumber = blockNumber
+}
+
 // RedisConsensusTracker uses a Redis `client` to store and retrieve consensus, async-safe
 type RedisConsensusTracker struct {
 	ctx          context.Context
@@ -104,13 +104,6 @@ func (ct *RedisConsensusTracker) SetLatestBlockNumber(blockNumber hexutil.Uint64
 	ct.client.Set(ct.ctx, ct.key("latest"), blockNumber, 0)
 }
 
-func (ct *RedisConsensusTracker) GetFinalizedBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64 {
-	return hexutil.Uint64(hexutil.MustDecodeUint64(ct.client.Get(ct.ctx, ct.key("finalized")).Val()))
-}
-
-func (ct *RedisConsensusTracker) SetFinalizedBlockNumber(blockNumber hexutil.Uint64) {
-	ct.client.Set(ct.ctx, ct.key("finalized"), blockNumber, 0)
-}
 func (ct *RedisConsensusTracker) GetSafeBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64 {
 	return hexutil.Uint64(hexutil.MustDecodeUint64(ct.client.Get(ct.ctx, ct.key("safe")).Val()))
 }
@@ -118,3 +111,11 @@ func (ct *RedisConsensusTracker) GetSafeBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64 {
 func (ct *RedisConsensusTracker) SetSafeBlockNumber(blockNumber hexutil.Uint64) {
 	ct.client.Set(ct.ctx, ct.key("safe"), blockNumber, 0)
 }
+
+func (ct *RedisConsensusTracker) GetFinalizedBlockNumber() hexutil.Uint64 {
+	return hexutil.Uint64(hexutil.MustDecodeUint64(ct.client.Get(ct.ctx, ct.key("finalized")).Val()))
+}
+
+func (ct *RedisConsensusTracker) SetFinalizedBlockNumber(blockNumber hexutil.Uint64) {
+	ct.client.Set(ct.ctx, ct.key("finalized"), blockNumber, 0)
+}
diff --git a/proxyd/proxyd/integration_tests/consensus_test.go b/proxyd/proxyd/integration_tests/consensus_test.go
index 98196c9..8075637 100644
--- a/proxyd/proxyd/integration_tests/consensus_test.go
+++ b/proxyd/proxyd/integration_tests/consensus_test.go
@@ -267,8 +267,8 @@ func TestConsensus(t *testing.T) {
 		overrideBlock("node2", "safe", "0xe2")
 		update()
 
-		require.Equal(t, "0xc1", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 		require.Equal(t, "0xe1", bg.Consensus.GetSafeBlockNumber().String())
+		require.Equal(t, "0xc1", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 	})
 
 	t.Run("advance safe and finalized", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -279,8 +279,8 @@ func TestConsensus(t *testing.T) {
 		overrideBlock("node2", "safe", "0xe2")
 		update()
 
-		require.Equal(t, "0xc2", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 		require.Equal(t, "0xe2", bg.Consensus.GetSafeBlockNumber().String())
+		require.Equal(t, "0xc2", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 	})
 
 	t.Run("ban backend if error rate is too high", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -317,8 +317,8 @@ func TestConsensus(t *testing.T) {
 		overrideBlock("node1", "safe", "0xa1")
 		update()
 
-		require.Equal(t, "0xc1", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 		require.Equal(t, "0xe1", bg.Consensus.GetSafeBlockNumber().String())
+		require.Equal(t, "0xc1", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 
 		consensusGroup := bg.Consensus.GetConsensusGroup()
 		require.NotContains(t, consensusGroup, nodes["node1"].backend)
@@ -349,8 +349,8 @@ func TestConsensus(t *testing.T) {
 		update()
 
 		require.Equal(t, "0x101", bg.Consensus.GetLatestBlockNumber().String())
-		require.Equal(t, "0xc1", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 		require.Equal(t, "0xe1", bg.Consensus.GetSafeBlockNumber().String())
+		require.Equal(t, "0xc1", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 
 		consensusGroup := bg.Consensus.GetConsensusGroup()
 		require.NotContains(t, consensusGroup, nodes["node1"].backend)
@@ -365,8 +365,8 @@ func TestConsensus(t *testing.T) {
 		update()
 
 		require.Equal(t, "0x101", bg.Consensus.GetLatestBlockNumber().String())
-		require.Equal(t, "0xc1", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 		require.Equal(t, "0xe1", bg.Consensus.GetSafeBlockNumber().String())
+		require.Equal(t, "0xc1", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 
 		consensusGroup := bg.Consensus.GetConsensusGroup()
 		require.NotContains(t, consensusGroup, nodes["node1"].backend)
@@ -397,8 +397,8 @@ func TestConsensus(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, 1, len(consensusGroup))
 
 		require.Equal(t, "0xd1", bg.Consensus.GetLatestBlockNumber().String())
-		require.Equal(t, "0x91", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 		require.Equal(t, "0xb1", bg.Consensus.GetSafeBlockNumber().String())
+		require.Equal(t, "0x91", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 	})
 
 	t.Run("latest dropped below safe, then recovered", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -424,8 +424,8 @@ func TestConsensus(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, 1, len(consensusGroup))
 
 		require.Equal(t, "0xd1", bg.Consensus.GetLatestBlockNumber().String())
-		require.Equal(t, "0x91", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 		require.Equal(t, "0xb1", bg.Consensus.GetSafeBlockNumber().String())
+		require.Equal(t, "0x91", bg.Consensus.GetFinalizedBlockNumber().String())
 	})
 
 	t.Run("latest dropped below safe, and stayed inconsistent", func(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/proxyd/proxyd/metrics.go b/proxyd/proxyd/metrics.go
index 3d8bfac..1d9602c 100644
--- a/proxyd/proxyd/metrics.go
+++ b/proxyd/proxyd/metrics.go
@@ -482,7 +482,12 @@ func RecordConsensusBackendInSync(b *Backend, inSync bool) {
 	consensusInSyncBackend.WithLabelValues(b.Name).Set(boolToFloat64(inSync))
 }
 
-func RecordConsensusBackendUpdateDelay(b *Backend, delay time.Duration) {
+func RecordConsensusBackendUpdateDelay(b *Backend, lastUpdate time.Time) {
+	// avoid recording the delay for the first update
+	if lastUpdate.IsZero() {
+		return
+	}
+	delay := time.Since(lastUpdate)
 	consensusUpdateDelayBackend.WithLabelValues(b.Name).Set(float64(delay.Milliseconds()))
 }