diff --git a/libraries/chain/controller.cpp b/libraries/chain/controller.cpp
index efd241bbaa..d2bc1645a8 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/controller.cpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/controller.cpp
@@ -1703,8 +1703,6 @@ struct controller_impl {
    }
 
    void replay(startup_t startup) {
-      replaying = true;
-
       bool replay_block_log_needed = should_replay_block_log();
 
       auto blog_head = blog.head();
@@ -1830,8 +1828,9 @@ struct controller_impl {
             // loading from snapshot without a block log so fork_db can't be considered valid
             fork_db_reset_root_to_chain_head();
          } else if( !except_ptr && !check_shutdown() && !irreversible_mode() && fork_db.head()) {
-            // applies all blocks up to fork_db head from fork_db
-            maybe_apply_blocks(forked_callback_t{}, trx_meta_cache_lookup{});
+            // applies all blocks up to fork_db head from fork_db, shouldn't return incomplete, but if it does loop until complete
+            while (maybe_apply_blocks(forked_callback_t{}, trx_meta_cache_lookup{}) == controller::apply_blocks_result::incomplete)
+               ;
             auto head = fork_db.head();
             ilog( "reversible blocks replayed to ${bn} : ${id}", ("bn", head->block_num())("id", head->id()) );
          }
@@ -1842,8 +1841,6 @@ struct controller_impl {
       };
       fork_db_.apply<void>(replay_fork_db);
 
-      replaying = false;
-
       if( except_ptr ) {
          std::rethrow_exception( except_ptr );
       }
@@ -1992,6 +1989,7 @@ struct controller_impl {
          ilog( "chain database started with hash: ${hash}", ("hash", calculate_integrity_hash()) );
       okay_to_print_integrity_hash_on_stop = true;
 
+      fc::scoped_set_value r(replaying, true);
       replay( startup ); // replay any irreversible and reversible blocks ahead of current head
 
       if( check_shutdown() ) return;
@@ -2013,7 +2011,9 @@ struct controller_impl {
                // See comment below about pause-at-block for why `|| conf.num_configured_p2p_peers > 0`
                if (chain_head_is_root || conf.num_configured_p2p_peers > 0) {
                   ilog("applying branch from fork database ending with block: ${id}", ("id", pending_head->id()));
-                  maybe_apply_blocks(forked_callback_t{}, trx_meta_cache_lookup{});
+                  // applies all blocks up to forkdb head from forkdb, shouldn't return incomplete, but if it does loop until complete
+                  while (maybe_apply_blocks(forked_callback_t{}, trx_meta_cache_lookup{}) == controller::apply_blocks_result::incomplete)
+                     ;
                }
             }
          } else {
@@ -4301,23 +4301,25 @@ struct controller_impl {
       } FC_LOG_AND_RETHROW( )
    }
 
-   void apply_blocks(const forked_callback_t& cb, const trx_meta_cache_lookup& trx_lookup) {
+   controller::apply_blocks_result apply_blocks(const forked_callback_t& cb, const trx_meta_cache_lookup& trx_lookup) {
       try {
          if( !irreversible_mode() ) {
-            maybe_apply_blocks( cb, trx_lookup );
-         } else {
-            log_irreversible();
-            transition_to_savanna_if_needed();
+            return maybe_apply_blocks( cb, trx_lookup );
          }
+
+         log_irreversible();
+         transition_to_savanna_if_needed();
+         return controller::apply_blocks_result::complete;
       } FC_LOG_AND_RETHROW( )
    }
 
-   void maybe_apply_blocks( const forked_callback_t& forked_cb, const trx_meta_cache_lookup& trx_lookup )
+   controller::apply_blocks_result maybe_apply_blocks( const forked_callback_t& forked_cb, const trx_meta_cache_lookup& trx_lookup )
    {
+      controller::apply_blocks_result result = controller::apply_blocks_result::complete;
       auto do_apply_blocks = [&](auto& fork_db) {
          auto new_head = fork_db.head(); // use best head
          if (!new_head)
-            return; // nothing to do, fork_db at root
+            return;// nothing to do, fork_db at root
          auto [new_head_branch, old_head_branch] = fork_db.fetch_branch_from( new_head->id(), chain_head.id() );
 
          bool switch_fork = !old_head_branch.empty();
@@ -4356,15 +4358,24 @@ struct controller_impl {
             }
          }
 
+         auto start = fc::time_point::now();
          for( auto ritr = new_head_branch.rbegin(); ritr != new_head_branch.rend(); ++ritr ) {
             auto except = std::exception_ptr{};
             const auto& bsp = *ritr;
             try {
                bool applied = apply_block( bsp, bsp->is_valid() ? controller::block_status::validated
                                                                 : controller::block_status::complete, trx_lookup );
-               if (!switch_fork && (!applied || check_shutdown())) {
-                  shutdown();
-                  break;
+               if (!switch_fork) { // always complete a switch fork
+                  if (!applied || check_shutdown()) {
+                     shutdown();
+                     break; // result should be complete since we are shutting down
+                  }
+                  // Break every ~500ms to allow other tasks (e.g. get_info, SHiP) opportunity to run. User expected
+                  // to call apply_blocks again if this returns incomplete.
+                  if (!replaying && fc::time_point::now() - start > fc::milliseconds(500)) {
+                     result = controller::apply_blocks_result::incomplete;
+                     break;
+                  }
                }
             } catch ( const std::bad_alloc& ) {
                throw;
@@ -4421,6 +4432,8 @@ struct controller_impl {
       };
 
       fork_db_.apply<void>(do_apply_blocks);
+
+      return result;
    }
 
    deque<transaction_metadata_ptr> abort_block() {
@@ -5183,9 +5196,9 @@ void controller::set_async_aggregation(async_t val) {
    my->async_aggregation = val;
 }
 
-void controller::apply_blocks(const forked_callback_t& cb, const trx_meta_cache_lookup& trx_lookup) {
+controller::apply_blocks_result controller::apply_blocks(const forked_callback_t& cb, const trx_meta_cache_lookup& trx_lookup) {
    validate_db_available_size();
-   my->apply_blocks(cb, trx_lookup);
+   return my->apply_blocks(cb, trx_lookup);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/libraries/chain/include/eosio/chain/controller.hpp b/libraries/chain/include/eosio/chain/controller.hpp
index 28c2f1f422..378718558c 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/include/eosio/chain/controller.hpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/include/eosio/chain/controller.hpp
@@ -230,9 +230,6 @@ namespace eosio::chain {
          void set_async_voting(async_t val);
          void set_async_aggregation(async_t val);
 
-         /// Apply any blocks that are ready from the fork_db
-         void apply_blocks(const forked_callback_t& cb, const trx_meta_cache_lookup& trx_lookup);
-
          struct accepted_block_result {
             const bool is_new_best_head = false; // true if new best head
             std::optional<block_handle> block;   // empty optional if block is unlinkable
@@ -240,6 +237,13 @@ namespace eosio::chain {
          // thread-safe
          accepted_block_result accept_block( const block_id_type& id, const signed_block_ptr& b ) const;
 
+         /// Apply any blocks that are ready from the fork_db
+         enum class apply_blocks_result {
+            complete,  // all ready blocks in forkdb have been applied
+            incomplete // time limit reached, additional blocks may be available in forkdb to process
+         };
+         apply_blocks_result apply_blocks(const forked_callback_t& cb, const trx_meta_cache_lookup& trx_lookup);
+
          boost::asio::io_context& get_thread_pool();
 
          const chainbase::database& db()const;
diff --git a/plugins/chain_interface/include/eosio/chain/plugin_interface.hpp b/plugins/chain_interface/include/eosio/chain/plugin_interface.hpp
index bf75866b87..a6da2398f6 100644
--- a/plugins/chain_interface/include/eosio/chain/plugin_interface.hpp
+++ b/plugins/chain_interface/include/eosio/chain/plugin_interface.hpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace eosio::chain::plugin_interface {
    namespace incoming {
       namespace methods {
          // synchronously push a block/trx to a single provider, block_state_legacy_ptr may be null
-         using block_sync            = method_decl<chain_plugin_interface, bool(const signed_block_ptr&, const block_id_type&, const block_handle&), first_provider_policy>;
+         using block_sync            = method_decl<chain_plugin_interface, controller::apply_blocks_result(const signed_block_ptr&, const block_id_type&, const block_handle&), first_provider_policy>;
          using transaction_async     = method_decl<chain_plugin_interface, void(const packed_transaction_ptr&, bool, transaction_metadata::trx_type, bool, next_function<transaction_trace_ptr>), first_provider_policy>;
       }
    }
diff --git a/plugins/net_plugin/net_plugin.cpp b/plugins/net_plugin/net_plugin.cpp
index 974724fbb0..2cb613aa37 100644
--- a/plugins/net_plugin/net_plugin.cpp
+++ b/plugins/net_plugin/net_plugin.cpp
@@ -3776,11 +3776,21 @@ namespace eosio {
          if (best_head) {
             ++c->unique_blocks_rcvd_count;
             fc_dlog(logger, "posting incoming_block to app thread, block ${n}", ("n", ptr->block_num()));
+
+            auto process_incoming_blocks = [](auto self) -> void {
+               try {
+                  auto r = my_impl->producer_plug->on_incoming_block();
+                  if (r == controller::apply_blocks_result::incomplete) {
+                     app().executor().post(handler_id::process_incoming_block, priority::medium, exec_queue::read_write, [self]() {
+                        self(self);
+                     });
+                  }
+               } catch (...) {} // errors on applied blocks logged in controller
+             };
+
             app().executor().post(handler_id::process_incoming_block, priority::medium, exec_queue::read_write,
-                                  []() {
-                                     try {
-                                        my_impl->producer_plug->on_incoming_block();
-                                     } catch (...) {} // errors on applied blocks logged in controller
+                                  [process_incoming_blocks]() {
+                                     process_incoming_blocks(process_incoming_blocks);
                                   });
 
             // ready to process immediately, so signal producer to interrupt start_block
diff --git a/plugins/producer_plugin/include/eosio/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.hpp b/plugins/producer_plugin/include/eosio/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.hpp
index b85cb99c1d..fa4f235684 100644
--- a/plugins/producer_plugin/include/eosio/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.hpp
+++ b/plugins/producer_plugin/include/eosio/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.hpp
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class producer_plugin : public appbase::plugin<producer_plugin> {
    virtual void plugin_shutdown();
    void handle_sighup() override;
 
-   bool on_incoming_block();
+   controller::apply_blocks_result on_incoming_block();
 
    void pause();
    void resume();
diff --git a/plugins/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.cpp b/plugins/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.cpp
index 14427df4b2..e0236fcc88 100644
--- a/plugins/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.cpp
+++ b/plugins/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.cpp
@@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ class producer_plugin_impl : public std::enable_shared_from_this<producer_plugin
 
    // called on incoming blocks from net_plugin on the main thread. Will notify controller to process any
    // blocks ready in the fork database.
-   bool on_incoming_block() {
+   controller::apply_blocks_result on_incoming_block() {
       auto now = fc::time_point::now();
       _time_tracker.add_idle_time(now);
 
@@ -905,12 +905,14 @@ class producer_plugin_impl : public std::enable_shared_from_this<producer_plugin
                     ("num", fhead.block_num())("id", fhead.id()));
          }
          _time_tracker.add_other_time();
-         return true; // return true because block was accepted
+         // return complete as we are producing and don't want to be interrupted right now. Next start_block will
+         // give an opportunity for this incoming block to be processed.
+         return controller::apply_blocks_result::complete;
       }
 
       // no reason to abort_block if we have nothing ready to process
       if (chain.head().id() == chain.fork_db_head().id()) {
-         return true; // return true as nothing failed
+         return controller::apply_blocks_result::complete; // nothing to do
       }
 
       // start a new speculative block, adds to time tracker which includes this method's time
@@ -919,13 +921,14 @@ class producer_plugin_impl : public std::enable_shared_from_this<producer_plugin
       // abort the pending block
       abort_block();
 
+      controller::apply_blocks_result result = controller::apply_blocks_result::complete;
       try {
-         chain.apply_blocks(
+         result = chain.apply_blocks(
             [this](const transaction_metadata_ptr& trx) { _unapplied_transactions.add_forked(trx); },
             [this](const transaction_id_type& id) { return _unapplied_transactions.get_trx(id); });
       } catch (const guard_exception& e) {
          chain_plugin::handle_guard_exception(e);
-         return false;
+         return controller::apply_blocks_result::complete; // shutting down
       } catch (const std::bad_alloc&) {
          chain_apis::api_base::handle_bad_alloc();
       } catch (boost::interprocess::bad_alloc&) {
@@ -933,7 +936,7 @@ class producer_plugin_impl : public std::enable_shared_from_this<producer_plugin
       } catch (const fork_database_exception& e) {
          fc_elog(_log, "Cannot recover from ${e}. Shutting down.", ("e", e.to_detail_string()));
          appbase::app().quit();
-         return false;
+         return controller::apply_blocks_result::complete; // shutting down
       } catch (const fc::exception& e) {
          throw;
       } catch (const std::exception& e) {
@@ -945,7 +948,7 @@ class producer_plugin_impl : public std::enable_shared_from_this<producer_plugin
          _production_enabled = true;
       }
 
-      return true;
+      return result;
    }
 
    void restart_speculative_block() {
@@ -1650,7 +1653,7 @@ void producer_plugin::handle_sighup() {
    fc::logger::update(transient_trx_failed_trace_logger_name, _transient_trx_failed_trace_log);
 }
 
-bool producer_plugin::on_incoming_block() {
+controller::apply_blocks_result producer_plugin::on_incoming_block() {
    return my->on_incoming_block();
 }
 
@@ -1992,8 +1995,10 @@ producer_plugin_impl::start_block_result producer_plugin_impl::start_block() {
 
    abort_block();
 
-   chain.apply_blocks([this](const transaction_metadata_ptr& trx) { _unapplied_transactions.add_forked(trx); },
-                      [this](const transaction_id_type& id) { return _unapplied_transactions.get_trx(id); });
+   auto r = chain.apply_blocks([this](const transaction_metadata_ptr& trx) { _unapplied_transactions.add_forked(trx); },
+                               [this](const transaction_id_type& id) { return _unapplied_transactions.get_trx(id); });
+   if (r != controller::apply_blocks_result::complete)
+      return start_block_result::failed;
 
    if (chain.should_terminate()) {
       app().quit();