diff --git a/changelog.d/ibd-header-prefix-first-failure.md b/changelog.d/ibd-header-prefix-first-failure.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b4a20aec7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/ibd-header-prefix-first-failure.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+Fixed
+
+- **A headers batch whose first header does not connect skips the longer
+  prefix search.** After the full batch failed, IBD tried about ten longer
+  prefixes even when the first header could not be stored. The search now
+  stops after that first header fails. A connected first header still
+  binary-searches the rest of the batch.
diff --git a/crates/rbitcoin-net/src/ibd/events/ibd_memory_tests.rs b/crates/rbitcoin-net/src/ibd/events/ibd_memory_tests.rs
index c522eceda..51bc7bbe2 100644
--- a/crates/rbitcoin-net/src/ibd/events/ibd_memory_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/rbitcoin-net/src/ibd/events/ibd_memory_tests.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Header-path and body-intake bounds (findings C03, C05).
 
 use super::super::state::IbdWorkState;
-use super::{apply_block_framed, on_headers_batch};
+use super::{accepted_prefix_after_failure, apply_block_framed, on_headers_batch};
 use bitcoin::absolute::LockTime;
 use bitcoin::block::{Header, Version};
 use bitcoin::consensus::encode::serialize;
@@ -267,6 +267,88 @@ fn unmapped_stored_run_walks_once_not_per_header() {
     let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(dir);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn failed_first_prefix_stops_search() {
+    let mut probes = Vec::new();
+    let (lo, values): (usize, Vec<u32>) = accepted_prefix_after_failure(2000, |mid| {
+        probes.push(mid);
+        Err(crate::error::NetError::Protocol("first header rejected"))
+    });
+    assert_eq!(lo, 0);
+    assert!(values.is_empty());
+    assert_eq!(
+        probes,
+        vec![1],
+        "do not retry longer prefixes after first header fails"
+    );
+
+    let mut probes = Vec::new();
+    let (lo, values) = accepted_prefix_after_failure(2000, |mid| {
+        probes.push(mid);
+        if mid <= 731 {
+            Ok((1..=mid).collect::<Vec<_>>())
+        } else {
+            Err(crate::error::NetError::Protocol("rejected tail"))
+        }
+    });
+    assert_eq!(lo, 731);
+    assert_eq!(values.len(), lo);
+    assert_eq!(values[0], 1);
+    assert_eq!(values[lo - 1], 731);
+    assert_eq!(probes[0], 1);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn unknown_first_header_does_not_retry_longer_prefixes() {
+    let (dir, hub) = tmp_hub();
+    hub.ensure_genesis().unwrap();
+    let unknown = BlockHash::from_byte_array([0x7d; 32]);
+    let mut chain = Vec::new();
+    let mut prev = unknown;
+    for height in 1..=20 {
+        let header = mine(prev, 1_500_050_000 + height * 600, height).header;
+        prev = header.block_hash();
+        chain.push(header);
+    }
+    let mut st = IbdWorkState::new(Vec::new(), hub.tip_hash(), hub.tip_height());
+    on_headers_batch(&mut st, &hub, chain.clone());
+    assert!(st.header_fks.is_empty());
+    for header in &chain {
+        assert!(!st.hash_height.contains_key(&header.block_hash()));
+    }
+    let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(dir);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn rejected_tail_keeps_stored_prefix() {
+    const CAP: u32 = 4;
+    let (dir, hub) = tmp_hub();
+    hub.ensure_genesis().unwrap();
+    let gen = hub.tip_hash().unwrap();
+    let mut chain = Vec::new();
+    let mut prev = gen;
+    for height in 1..=CAP + 8 {
+        let header = mine(prev, 1_500_030_000 + height * 600, height).header;
+        prev = header.block_hash();
+        chain.push(header);
+    }
+    hub.ensure_headers_batch(&chain).unwrap();
+    hub.set_stored_height_walk_cap(CAP);
+    let mut st = IbdWorkState::new(Vec::new(), hub.tip_hash(), hub.tip_height());
+    let mut rejected = mine(prev, 1_500_030_000 + (CAP + 9) * 600, CAP + 9).header;
+    rejected.time = 0;
+    let mut batch = chain[CAP as usize..].to_vec();
+    batch.push(rejected);
+    let _ = hub.take_stored_height_walk_steps();
+    on_headers_batch(&mut st, &hub, batch);
+    assert!(hub.take_stored_height_walk_steps() >= u64::from(CAP));
+    for header in &chain[CAP as usize..] {
+        assert!(st.header_fks.contains_key(&header.block_hash()));
+    }
+    assert!(!st.header_fks.contains_key(&rejected.block_hash()));
+    let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(dir);
+}
+
 /// `stored_header_height` stops after a cap (10,000 in production). A stored
 /// run that opens above that cap must walk once; later headers stay
 /// unresolved instead of each walking to the cap. The hub cap is lowered so
diff --git a/crates/rbitcoin-net/src/ibd/events/mod.rs b/crates/rbitcoin-net/src/ibd/events/mod.rs
index 7e898a9a7..1c43dae65 100644
--- a/crates/rbitcoin-net/src/ibd/events/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/rbitcoin-net/src/ibd/events/mod.rs
@@ -213,10 +213,41 @@ fn try_enqueue_ordered_header(
     false
 }
 
+/// After the full batch fails, probe one header before searching.
+///
+/// A rejected first header means no longer prefix can be stored.
+fn accepted_prefix_after_failure<T>(
+    len: usize,
+    mut probe: impl FnMut(usize) -> Result<Vec<T>, NetError>,
+) -> (usize, Vec<T>) {
+    let Ok(mut lo_fks) = probe(1) else {
+        return (0, Vec::new());
+    };
+    let mut lo = 1usize;
+    let mut hi = len;
+    for _ in 0..len {
+        let width = hi - lo;
+        if width <= 1 {
+            break;
+        }
+        let mid = lo + width / 2;
+        match probe(mid) {
+            Ok(fks) => {
+                lo = mid;
+                lo_fks = fks;
+            }
+            Err(_) => hi = mid,
+        }
+    }
+    (lo, lo_fks)
+}
+
 /// Longest prefix [`ChainHub::ensure_headers_batch`] accepts.
 ///
 /// A rejected tail is not stored and must not update path or explore state.
-/// The success path is one batch. A failing tail binary-searches the prefix.
+/// The success path is one batch. A failing batch probes the first header
+/// and stops when that header is rejected. Otherwise the rest of the prefix
+/// is binary-searched.
 fn ensure_accepted_prefix(
     hub: &ChainHub,
     headers: &[bitcoin::block::Header],
@@ -230,25 +261,9 @@ fn ensure_accepted_prefix(
     if headers.len() == 1 {
         return Vec::new();
     }
-    let mut lo = 0usize;
-    let mut lo_fks = Vec::new();
-    let mut hi = headers.len();
-    // A midpoint that does not shrink the window is not a longer prefix.
-    // The batch length caps a stuck step so it returns this `lo`.
-    for _ in 0..headers.len() {
-        let width = hi - lo;
-        if width <= 1 {
-            break;
-        }
-        let mid = lo + width / 2;
-        match hub.ensure_headers_batch(&headers[..mid]) {
-            Ok(fks) => {
-                lo = mid;
-                lo_fks = fks;
-            }
-            Err(_) => hi = mid,
-        }
-    }
+    let (lo, lo_fks) = accepted_prefix_after_failure(headers.len(), |mid| {
+        hub.ensure_headers_batch(&headers[..mid])
+    });
     headers[..lo].iter().copied().zip(lo_fks).collect()
 }