diff --git a/crates/net/network/src/fetch/mod.rs b/crates/net/network/src/fetch/mod.rs
index e284ffda35d..c160dc76e6d 100644
--- a/crates/net/network/src/fetch/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/net/network/src/fetch/mod.rs
@@ -288,6 +288,15 @@ impl<N: NetworkPrimitives> StateFetcher<N> {
             peer.state = req.peer_state();
         }
 
+        self.prepare_inflight_block_request(peer_id, req)
+    }
+
+    /// Tracks an inflight request and converts it into a peer request.
+    fn prepare_inflight_block_request(
+        &mut self,
+        peer_id: PeerId,
+        req: DownloadRequest<N>,
+    ) -> BlockRequest {
         match req {
             DownloadRequest::GetBlockHeaders { request, response, .. } => {
                 let inflight = Request { request: request.clone(), response };
@@ -318,12 +327,23 @@ impl<N: NetworkPrimitives> StateFetcher<N> {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Returns a new followup request for the peer.
+    /// Returns a queued followup request the peer can serve.
+    ///
+    /// This is an immediate scheduling shortcut after a successful response. It skips queued
+    /// requests whose hard requirements do not match this peer, leaving them for the regular peer
+    /// selection path.
     ///
     /// Caution: this expects that the peer is _not_ closed.
     fn followup_request(&mut self, peer_id: PeerId) -> Option<BlockResponseOutcome> {
-        let req = self.queued_requests.pop_front()?;
-        let req = self.prepare_block_request(peer_id, req);
+        let peer = self.peers.get_mut(&peer_id)?;
+        let req_idx = self.queued_requests.iter().position(|req| {
+            // Find the first queued request this peer can serve.
+            peer.satisfies(&req.best_peer_requirements())
+        })?;
+        let req = self.queued_requests.remove(req_idx).expect("valid request index");
+
+        peer.state = req.peer_state();
+        let req = self.prepare_inflight_block_request(peer_id, req);
         Some(BlockResponseOutcome::Request(peer_id, req))
     }
 
@@ -1449,6 +1469,98 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(matches!(outcome, Some(BlockResponseOutcome::Request(pid, _)) if pid == peer_id));
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_followup_skips_request_peer_cannot_serve() {
+        let (mut fetcher, peer_id) = fetcher_with_peer();
+
+        let peer_71 = B512::random();
+        let caps_71 = Arc::new(Capabilities::from(vec![Capability::new("eth".into(), 71)]));
+        fetcher.new_active_peer(
+            peer_71,
+            B256::random(),
+            100,
+            caps_71,
+            Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(10)),
+            None,
+        );
+        fetcher.peers.get_mut(&peer_71).expect("peer exists").state = PeerState::GetBlockHeaders;
+
+        let (followup_tx, _followup_rx) = oneshot::channel();
+        fetcher.queued_requests.push_back(DownloadRequest::GetBlockAccessLists {
+            request: vec![B256::random()],
+            response: followup_tx,
+            priority: Priority::Normal,
+            requirement: BalRequirement::Optional,
+        });
+
+        let _rx = insert_inflight_receipts(&mut fetcher, peer_id);
+
+        let resp = ReceiptsResponse::new(vec![vec![]]);
+        assert!(fetcher.on_receipts_response(peer_id, Ok(resp)).is_none());
+        assert!(fetcher.peers[&peer_id].state.is_idle());
+        assert!(!fetcher.inflight_bals_requests.contains_key(&peer_id));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            fetcher.queued_requests.front(),
+            Some(DownloadRequest::GetBlockAccessLists {
+                requirement: BalRequirement::Optional,
+                ..
+            })
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_followup_uses_first_satisfiable_request() {
+        let (mut fetcher, peer_id) = fetcher_with_peer();
+
+        let peer_71 = B512::random();
+        let caps_71 = Arc::new(Capabilities::from(vec![Capability::new("eth".into(), 71)]));
+        fetcher.new_active_peer(
+            peer_71,
+            B256::random(),
+            100,
+            caps_71,
+            Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(10)),
+            None,
+        );
+        fetcher.peers.get_mut(&peer_71).expect("peer exists").state = PeerState::GetBlockHeaders;
+
+        let (bal_tx, _bal_rx) = oneshot::channel();
+        fetcher.queued_requests.push_back(DownloadRequest::GetBlockAccessLists {
+            request: vec![B256::random()],
+            response: bal_tx,
+            priority: Priority::Normal,
+            requirement: BalRequirement::Optional,
+        });
+
+        let (bodies_tx, _bodies_rx) = oneshot::channel();
+        fetcher.queued_requests.push_back(DownloadRequest::GetBlockBodies {
+            request: vec![B256::random()],
+            response: bodies_tx,
+            priority: Priority::Normal,
+            range_hint: None,
+        });
+
+        let _rx = insert_inflight_receipts(&mut fetcher, peer_id);
+
+        let resp = ReceiptsResponse::new(vec![vec![]]);
+        let outcome = fetcher.on_receipts_response(peer_id, Ok(resp));
+
+        assert!(matches!(
+            outcome,
+            Some(BlockResponseOutcome::Request(pid, BlockRequest::GetBlockBodies(_))) if pid == peer_id
+        ));
+        assert!(fetcher.inflight_bodies_requests.contains_key(&peer_id));
+        assert!(matches!(fetcher.peers[&peer_id].state, PeerState::GetBlockBodies));
+        assert_eq!(fetcher.queued_requests.len(), 1);
+        assert!(matches!(
+            fetcher.queued_requests.front(),
+            Some(DownloadRequest::GetBlockAccessLists {
+                requirement: BalRequirement::Optional,
+                ..
+            })
+        ));
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_prepare_block_request_creates_inflight_receipts() {
         let (mut fetcher, peer_id) = fetcher_with_peer();