diff --git a/nano/lib/thread_roles.cpp b/nano/lib/thread_roles.cpp
index 89b2c5da0c..10b6c0d333 100644
--- a/nano/lib/thread_roles.cpp
+++ b/nano/lib/thread_roles.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ std::string nano::thread_role::get_string (nano::thread_role::name role)
 		case nano::thread_role::name::io_daemon:
 			thread_role_name_string = "I/O (daemon)";
 			break;
+		case nano::thread_role::name::io_ipc:
+			thread_role_name_string = "I/O (IPC)";
+			break;
 		case nano::thread_role::name::work:
 			thread_role_name_string = "Work pool";
 			break;
@@ -206,9 +209,12 @@ std::string nano::thread_role::get_string ()
 
 void nano::thread_role::set (nano::thread_role::name role)
 {
-	auto thread_role_name_string (get_string (role));
-
-	nano::thread_role::set_os_name (thread_role_name_string);
-
+	auto thread_role_name_string = get_string (role);
+	nano::thread_role::set_os_name (thread_role_name_string); // Implementation is platform specific
 	current_thread_role = role;
 }
+
+bool nano::thread_role::is_network_io ()
+{
+	return nano::thread_role::get () == nano::thread_role::name::io;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/nano/lib/thread_roles.hpp b/nano/lib/thread_roles.hpp
index 15b4a511cb..c98248ceae 100644
--- a/nano/lib/thread_roles.hpp
+++ b/nano/lib/thread_roles.hpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ enum class name
 	unknown,
 	io,
 	io_daemon,
+	io_ipc,
 	work,
 	message_processing,
 	vote_processing,
@@ -87,4 +88,9 @@ std::string get_string ();
  * Internal only, should not be called directly
  */
 void set_os_name (std::string const &);
+
+/*
+ * Check if the current thread is a network IO thread
+ */
+bool is_network_io ();
 }
diff --git a/nano/node/ipc/ipc_server.cpp b/nano/node/ipc/ipc_server.cpp
index ce711cb392..0db3140e19 100644
--- a/nano/node/ipc/ipc_server.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/ipc/ipc_server.cpp
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ class socket_transport : public nano::ipc::transport
 		acceptor->set_option (option_keepalive);
 		accept ();
 
-		runner = std::make_unique<nano::thread_runner> (io_ctx, server.logger, static_cast<unsigned> (std::max (1, concurrency_a)));
+		runner = std::make_unique<nano::thread_runner> (io_ctx, server.logger, static_cast<unsigned> (std::max (1, concurrency_a)), nano::thread_role::name::io_ipc);
 	}
 
 	boost::asio::io_context & context () const
diff --git a/nano/node/node.cpp b/nano/node/node.cpp
index 6eb077c7c0..22ae40f352 100644
--- a/nano/node/node.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/node.cpp
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ nano::node::node (std::shared_ptr<boost::asio::io_context> io_ctx_a, std::filesy
 				if ((status_a.type == nano::election_status_type::active_confirmed_quorum || status_a.type == nano::election_status_type::active_confirmation_height))
 				{
 					auto node_l (shared_from_this ());
-					background ([node_l, block_a, account_a, amount_a, is_state_send_a, is_state_epoch_a] () {
+					io_ctx.post ([node_l, block_a, account_a, amount_a, is_state_send_a, is_state_epoch_a] () {
 						boost::property_tree::ptree event;
 						event.add ("account", account_a.to_account ());
 						event.add ("hash", block_a->hash ().to_string ());
diff --git a/nano/node/node.hpp b/nano/node/node.hpp
index 3d85f7cffa..8ade202c4c 100644
--- a/nano/node/node.hpp
+++ b/nano/node/node.hpp
@@ -76,12 +76,6 @@ class node final : public std::enable_shared_from_this<node>
 
 	std::shared_ptr<nano::node> shared ();
 
-	template <typename T>
-	void background (T action_a)
-	{
-		io_ctx.post (action_a);
-	}
-
 	bool copy_with_compaction (std::filesystem::path const &);
 	void keepalive (std::string const &, uint16_t);
 	int store_version ();
diff --git a/nano/node/repcrawler.cpp b/nano/node/repcrawler.cpp
index 5c0aa9def4..a0a67b0e6a 100644
--- a/nano/node/repcrawler.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/repcrawler.cpp
@@ -14,12 +14,16 @@ nano::rep_crawler::rep_crawler (nano::rep_crawler_config const & config_a, nano:
 	network_constants{ node_a.network_params.network },
 	active{ node_a.active }
 {
-	if (!node.flags.disable_rep_crawler)
-	{
-		node.observers.endpoint.add ([this] (std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel> const & channel) {
-			query (channel);
-		});
-	}
+	node.observers.endpoint.add ([this] (std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel> const & channel) {
+		if (!node.flags.disable_rep_crawler)
+		{
+			{
+				nano::lock_guard<nano::mutex> lock{ mutex };
+				prioritized.push_back (channel);
+			}
+			condition.notify_all ();
+		}
+	});
 }
 
 nano::rep_crawler::~rep_crawler ()
@@ -161,7 +165,7 @@ void nano::rep_crawler::run ()
 		lock.lock ();
 
 		condition.wait_for (lock, query_interval (sufficient_weight), [this, sufficient_weight] {
-			return stopped || query_predicate (sufficient_weight) || !responses.empty ();
+			return stopped || query_predicate (sufficient_weight) || !responses.empty () || !prioritized.empty ();
 		});
 
 		if (stopped)
@@ -180,6 +184,16 @@ void nano::rep_crawler::run ()
 
 		cleanup ();
 
+		if (!prioritized.empty ())
+		{
+			decltype (prioritized) prioritized_l;
+			prioritized_l.swap (prioritized);
+
+			lock.unlock ();
+			query (prioritized_l);
+			lock.lock ();
+		}
+
 		if (query_predicate (sufficient_weight))
 		{
 			last_query = std::chrono::steady_clock::now ();
@@ -230,7 +244,7 @@ void nano::rep_crawler::cleanup ()
 	});
 }
 
-std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel>> nano::rep_crawler::prepare_crawl_targets (bool sufficient_weight) const
+std::deque<std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel>> nano::rep_crawler::prepare_crawl_targets (bool sufficient_weight) const
 {
 	debug_assert (!mutex.try_lock ());
 
@@ -310,7 +324,7 @@ bool nano::rep_crawler::track_rep_request (hash_root_t hash_root, std::shared_pt
 	return true;
 }
 
-void nano::rep_crawler::query (std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel>> const & target_channels)
+void nano::rep_crawler::query (std::deque<std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel>> const & target_channels)
 {
 	auto maybe_hash_root = prepare_query_target ();
 	if (!maybe_hash_root)
@@ -356,7 +370,7 @@ void nano::rep_crawler::query (std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::chan
 
 void nano::rep_crawler::query (std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel> const & target_channel)
 {
-	query (std::vector{ target_channel });
+	query (std::deque{ target_channel });
 }
 
 bool nano::rep_crawler::is_pr (std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel> const & channel) const
@@ -432,6 +446,7 @@ std::vector<nano::representative> nano::rep_crawler::representatives (std::size_
 	}
 
 	std::vector<nano::representative> result;
+	result.reserve (ordered.size ());
 	for (auto i = ordered.begin (), n = ordered.end (); i != n && result.size () < count; ++i)
 	{
 		auto const & [weight, rep] = *i;
@@ -483,6 +498,7 @@ nano::container_info nano::rep_crawler::container_info () const
 	info.put ("reps", reps);
 	info.put ("queries", queries);
 	info.put ("responses", responses);
+	info.put ("prioritized", prioritized);
 	return info;
 }
 
diff --git a/nano/node/repcrawler.hpp b/nano/node/repcrawler.hpp
index d99bae5593..070ed95ee4 100644
--- a/nano/node/repcrawler.hpp
+++ b/nano/node/repcrawler.hpp
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class rep_crawler final
 	bool process (std::shared_ptr<nano::vote> const &, std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel> const &);
 
 	/** Attempt to determine if the peer manages one or more representative accounts */
-	void query (std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel>> const & target_channels);
+	void query (std::deque<std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel>> const & target_channels);
 
 	/** Attempt to determine if the peer manages one or more representative accounts */
 	void query (std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel> const & target_channel);
@@ -75,12 +75,10 @@ class rep_crawler final
 	/** Get total available weight from representatives */
 	nano::uint128_t total_weight () const;
 
-	/** Request a list of the top \p count known representatives in descending order of weight, with at least \p weight_a voting weight, and optionally with a minimum version \p minimum_protocol_version
-	 */
+	/** Request a list of the top \p count known representatives in descending order of weight, with at least \p weight_a voting weight, and optionally with a minimum version \p minimum_protocol_version */
 	std::vector<representative> representatives (std::size_t count = std::numeric_limits<std::size_t>::max (), nano::uint128_t minimum_weight = 0, std::optional<decltype (nano::network_constants::protocol_version)> const & minimum_protocol_version = {}) const;
 
-	/** Request a list of the top \p count known principal representatives in descending order of weight, optionally with a minimum version \p minimum_protocol_version
-	 */
+	/** Request a list of the top \p count known principal representatives in descending order of weight, optionally with a minimum version \p minimum_protocol_version */
 	std::vector<representative> principal_representatives (std::size_t count = std::numeric_limits<std::size_t>::max (), std::optional<decltype (nano::network_constants::protocol_version)> const & minimum_protocol_version = {}) const;
 
 	/** Total number of representatives */
@@ -106,7 +104,8 @@ class rep_crawler final
 	using hash_root_t = std::pair<nano::block_hash, nano::root>;
 
 	/** Returns a list of endpoints to crawl. The total weight is passed in to avoid computing it twice. */
-	std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel>> prepare_crawl_targets (bool sufficient_weight) const;
+
+	std::deque<std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel>> prepare_crawl_targets (bool sufficient_weight) const;
 	std::optional<hash_root_t> prepare_query_target () const;
 	bool track_rep_request (hash_root_t hash_root, std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel> const & channel);
 
@@ -173,9 +172,13 @@ class rep_crawler final
 
 private:
 	static size_t constexpr max_responses{ 1024 * 4 };
+
 	using response_t = std::pair<std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel>, std::shared_ptr<nano::vote>>;
 	boost::circular_buffer<response_t> responses{ max_responses };
 
+	// Freshly established connections that should be queried asap
+	std::deque<std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel>> prioritized;
+
 	std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point last_query{};
 
 	std::atomic<bool> stopped{ false };
diff --git a/nano/node/transport/channel.cpp b/nano/node/transport/channel.cpp
index 8b7055c46a..7a0a9ce40c 100644
--- a/nano/node/transport/channel.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/transport/channel.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ void nano::transport::channel::send (nano::message & message_a, std::function<vo
 	{
 		if (callback_a)
 		{
-			node.background ([callback_a] () {
+			node.io_ctx.post ([callback_a] () {
 				callback_a (boost::system::errc::make_error_code (boost::system::errc::not_supported), 0);
 			});
 		}
diff --git a/nano/node/transport/fake.cpp b/nano/node/transport/fake.cpp
index aec913adf9..e99bc69f2f 100644
--- a/nano/node/transport/fake.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/transport/fake.cpp
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ void nano::transport::fake::channel::send_buffer (nano::shared_const_buffer cons
 	auto size = buffer_a.size ();
 	if (callback_a)
 	{
-		node.background ([callback_a, size] () {
+		node.io_ctx.post ([callback_a, size] () {
 			callback_a (boost::system::errc::make_error_code (boost::system::errc::success), size);
 		});
 	}
diff --git a/nano/node/transport/inproc.cpp b/nano/node/transport/inproc.cpp
index abeca40067..1c9f4c462b 100644
--- a/nano/node/transport/inproc.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/transport/inproc.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ void nano::transport::inproc::channel::send_buffer (nano::shared_const_buffer co
 
 	if (callback_a)
 	{
-		node.background ([callback_l = std::move (callback_a), buffer_size = buffer_a.size ()] () {
+		node.io_ctx.post ([callback_l = std::move (callback_a), buffer_size = buffer_a.size ()] () {
 			callback_l (boost::system::errc::make_error_code (boost::system::errc::success), buffer_size);
 		});
 	}
diff --git a/nano/node/transport/tcp_channel.cpp b/nano/node/transport/tcp_channel.cpp
index cd0f3645bc..e596ec9951 100644
--- a/nano/node/transport/tcp_channel.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/transport/tcp_channel.cpp
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ void nano::transport::tcp_channel::send_buffer (nano::shared_const_buffer const
 	}
 	else if (callback_a)
 	{
-		node.background ([callback_a] () {
+		node.io_ctx.post ([callback_a] () {
 			callback_a (boost::system::errc::make_error_code (boost::system::errc::not_supported), 0);
 		});
 	}
diff --git a/nano/node/transport/tcp_socket.cpp b/nano/node/transport/tcp_socket.cpp
index dbaf59c46f..af8a9ed4e2 100644
--- a/nano/node/transport/tcp_socket.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/transport/tcp_socket.cpp
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ void nano::transport::tcp_socket::async_write (nano::shared_const_buffer const &
 	{
 		if (callback_a)
 		{
-			node_l->background ([callback = std::move (callback_a)] () {
+			node_l->io_ctx.post ([callback = std::move (callback_a)] () {
 				callback (boost::system::errc::make_error_code (boost::system::errc::not_supported), 0);
 			});
 		}
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ void nano::transport::tcp_socket::async_write (nano::shared_const_buffer const &
 	{
 		if (callback_a)
 		{
-			node_l->background ([callback = std::move (callback_a)] () {
+			node_l->io_ctx.post ([callback = std::move (callback_a)] () {
 				callback (boost::system::errc::make_error_code (boost::system::errc::not_supported), 0);
 			});
 		}
diff --git a/nano/qt/qt.cpp b/nano/qt/qt.cpp
index 2782e10188..db6365077c 100644
--- a/nano/qt/qt.cpp
+++ b/nano/qt/qt.cpp
@@ -714,7 +714,7 @@ nano_qt::block_viewer::block_viewer (nano_qt::wallet & wallet_a) :
 			if (this->wallet.node.ledger.any.block_exists (transaction, block))
 			{
 				rebroadcast->setEnabled (false);
-				this->wallet.node.background ([this, block] () {
+				this->wallet.node.workers.post ([this, block] () {
 					rebroadcast_action (block);
 				});
 			}
@@ -1194,7 +1194,7 @@ void nano_qt::wallet::start ()
 						if (this_l->wallet_m->store.valid_password (transaction))
 						{
 							this_l->send_blocks_send->setEnabled (false);
-							this_l->node.background ([this_w, account_l, actual] () {
+							this_l->node.workers.post ([this_w, account_l, actual] () {
 								if (auto this_l = this_w.lock ())
 								{
 									this_l->wallet_m->send_async (this_l->account, account_l, actual, [this_w] (std::shared_ptr<nano::block> const & block_a) {
diff --git a/nano/store/transaction.cpp b/nano/store/transaction.cpp
index dcfc3d7e8d..0d1d6a9008 100644
--- a/nano/store/transaction.cpp
+++ b/nano/store/transaction.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 nano::store::transaction_impl::transaction_impl (nano::id_dispenser::id_t const store_id_a) :
 	store_id{ store_id_a }
 {
+	debug_assert (!nano::thread_role::is_network_io (), "database operations are not allowed to run on network IO threads");
 }
 
 /*