diff --git a/consensus/qbft-core/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/qbft/core/statemachine/QbftController.java b/consensus/qbft-core/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/qbft/core/statemachine/QbftController.java
index d43e9de4521..c049ccfe9eb 100644
--- a/consensus/qbft-core/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/qbft/core/statemachine/QbftController.java
+++ b/consensus/qbft-core/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/qbft/core/statemachine/QbftController.java
@@ -260,6 +260,12 @@ public void handleNewBlockEvent(final QbftNewChainHead newChainHead) {
   @Override
   public void handleBlockTimerExpiry(final BlockTimerExpiry blockTimerExpiry) {
     final ConsensusRoundIdentifier roundIdentifier = blockTimerExpiry.getRoundIdentifier();
+    // Discard block timer events that target a height already on the blockchain (e.g., block
+    // was imported via peer sync while the timer was pending). Same guard as handleRoundExpiry.
+    if (roundIdentifier.getSequenceNumber() <= blockchain.getChainHeadBlockNumber()) {
+      LOG.debug("Discarding a block-timer which targets a height not above current chain height.");
+      return;
+    }
     if (isMsgForCurrentHeight(roundIdentifier, getCurrentChainHeight())) {
       getCurrentHeightManager().handleBlockTimerExpiry(roundIdentifier);
     } else {
diff --git a/consensus/qbft-core/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/qbft/core/statemachine/QbftControllerTest.java b/consensus/qbft-core/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/qbft/core/statemachine/QbftControllerTest.java
index 0339133de3b..ecfdbe65a39 100644
--- a/consensus/qbft-core/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/qbft/core/statemachine/QbftControllerTest.java
+++ b/consensus/qbft-core/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/qbft/core/statemachine/QbftControllerTest.java
@@ -341,6 +341,28 @@ public void blockTimerForPastHeightIsDiscarded() {
     verify(blockHeightManager, never()).handleBlockTimerExpiry(any());
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void blockTimerForAlreadyImportedHeightIsDiscarded() {
+    // Simulate peer sync: blockchain head advances to current height while block timer is pending
+    when(blockChain.getChainHeadBlockNumber()).thenReturn(4L);
+    final BlockTimerExpiry blockTimerExpiry = new BlockTimerExpiry(roundIdentifier);
+    constructQbftController();
+    qbftController.start();
+    qbftController.handleBlockTimerExpiry(blockTimerExpiry);
+    verify(blockHeightManager, never()).handleBlockTimerExpiry(any());
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void blockTimerForHeightBelowChainHeadIsDiscarded() {
+    // Blockchain head has advanced beyond the timer's target height
+    when(blockChain.getChainHeadBlockNumber()).thenReturn(5L);
+    final BlockTimerExpiry blockTimerExpiry = new BlockTimerExpiry(roundIdentifier);
+    constructQbftController();
+    qbftController.start();
+    qbftController.handleBlockTimerExpiry(blockTimerExpiry);
+    verify(blockHeightManager, never()).handleBlockTimerExpiry(any());
+  }
+
   @Test
   public void proposalForUnknownValidatorIsDiscarded() {
     setupProposal(roundIdentifier, unknownValidator);