diff --git a/eth/downloader/skeleton.go b/eth/downloader/skeleton.go
index 2cf9c4672b1..509a7fd0361 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/skeleton.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/skeleton.go
@@ -812,8 +812,14 @@ func (s *skeleton) executeTask(peer *peerConnection, req *headerRequest) {
 
 		case headers[0].Number.Uint64() != req.head:
 			// Header batch anchored at non-requested number
-			peer.log.Debug("Invalid header response head", "have", headers[0].Number, "want", req.head)
-			res.Done <- errors.New("invalid header batch anchor")
+			if peerHeader := headers[0].Number.Uint64(); peerHeader > req.head {
+				peer.log.Debug("Invalid header response head", "have", peerHeader, "want", req.head)
+				res.Done <- errors.New("invalid header batch anchor")
+			} else {
+				peer.log.Debug("Peer behind requested head, rescheduling", "have", peerHeader, "want", req.head)
+				// Do not penalize the peer if it is behind our requested head
+				res.Done <- nil
+			}
 			s.scheduleRevertRequest(req)
 
 		case req.head >= requestHeaders && len(headers) != requestHeaders:
diff --git a/eth/downloader/skeleton_test.go b/eth/downloader/skeleton_test.go
index 4aa97cf1f79..454f375a906 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/skeleton_test.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/skeleton_test.go
@@ -609,14 +609,14 @@ func TestSkeletonSyncRetrievals(t *testing.T) {
 			mid: skeletonExpect{
 				state: []*subchain{{Head: requestHeaders + 100, Tail: 100}},
 				serve: requestHeaders + 101 - 3, // len - head - genesis - missing
-				drop:  1,                        // penalize shortened header deliveries
+				drop:  0,                        // do not penalize in relaxed mode
 			},
 
 			newPeer: newSkeletonTestPeer("good-peer", chain),
 			end: skeletonExpect{
 				state: []*subchain{{Head: requestHeaders + 100, Tail: 1}},
 				serve: (requestHeaders + 101 - 3) + (100 - 1), // midserve + lenrest - genesis
-				drop:  1,                                      // no new drops
+				drop:  0,                                      // relaxed: no drops
 			},
 		},
 		// This test checks if a peer tries to withhold a header - *off* the sync
@@ -655,14 +655,14 @@ func TestSkeletonSyncRetrievals(t *testing.T) {
 			mid: skeletonExpect{
 				state: []*subchain{{Head: requestHeaders + 100, Tail: 100}},
 				serve: requestHeaders + 101 - 2, // len - head - genesis
-				drop:  1,                        // penalize invalid header sequences
+				drop:  0,                        // do not penalize in relaxed mode
 			},
 
 			newPeer: newSkeletonTestPeer("good-peer", chain),
 			end: skeletonExpect{
 				state: []*subchain{{Head: requestHeaders + 100, Tail: 1}},
 				serve: (requestHeaders + 101 - 2) + (100 - 1), // midserve + lenrest - genesis
-				drop:  1,                                      // no new drops
+				drop:  0,                                      // relaxed: no drops
 			},
 		},
 		// This test checks if a peer tries to duplicate a header - *off* the sync