diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/consensus.rs b/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/consensus.rs
index 3d238dbf..726fa846 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/consensus.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/consensus.rs
@@ -166,12 +166,18 @@ impl RankedRpcs {
             let backups_needed = ranked_rpcs.iter().any(|x| x.backup);
             let num_synced = ranked_rpcs.len();
 
-            // TODO: add all the unsynced rpcs
+            // add all the rpcs that are behind the ranked rpcs. these might be needed for serving archive requests
             for (x, x_head) in heads.iter() {
                 if ranked_rpcs.contains(x) {
                     continue;
                 }
 
+                // we only want to include backups if they voted for the head block
+                // TODO: think more about this. maybe have a config option about how easily to use backup rpcs
+                if x.backup && !backups_needed {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
                 if x_head.number() < max_lag_block {
                     // server is too far behind
                     continue;
@@ -219,9 +225,11 @@ impl RankedRpcs {
         let min_block_needed = web3_request.min_block_needed();
         let max_block_needed = web3_request.max_block_needed();
 
-        // TODO: max lag was already handled
+        // max lag was already handled
         for rpc in self.inner.iter().cloned() {
             if rpc.backup && !self.backups_needed {
+                // this backup check was already done, but
+                // TODO: push these into `backup_for_request` Vec?
                 continue;
             }