diff --git a/consensus/ibft/consensus_backend.go b/consensus/ibft/consensus_backend.go
index e25ed19137..1d73ae1a85 100644
--- a/consensus/ibft/consensus_backend.go
+++ b/consensus/ibft/consensus_backend.go
@@ -221,8 +221,7 @@ func (i *backendIBFT) writeTransactions(
 	}
 
 	var (
-		blockTimer    = time.NewTimer(i.blockTime)
-		stopExecution = false
+		blockTimer = time.NewTimer(i.blockTime)
 
 		successful = 0
 		failed     = 0
@@ -230,8 +229,6 @@ func (i *backendIBFT) writeTransactions(
 	)
 
 	defer func() {
-		blockTimer.Stop()
-
 		i.logger.Info(
 			"executed txs",
 			"successful", successful,
@@ -243,16 +240,12 @@ func (i *backendIBFT) writeTransactions(
 
 	i.txpool.Prepare()
 
+write:
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-blockTimer.C:
 			return
 		default:
-			if stopExecution {
-				// wait for the timer to expire
-				continue
-			}
-
 			// execute transactions one by one
 			result, ok := i.writeTransaction(
 				i.txpool.Peek(),
@@ -261,9 +254,7 @@ func (i *backendIBFT) writeTransactions(
 			)
 
 			if !ok {
-				stopExecution = true
-
-				continue
+				break write
 			}
 
 			tx := result.tx
@@ -279,6 +270,11 @@ func (i *backendIBFT) writeTransactions(
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
+	//	wait for the timer to expire
+	<-blockTimer.C
+
+	return
 }
 
 func (i *backendIBFT) writeTransaction(
diff --git a/consensus/ibft/ibft.go b/consensus/ibft/ibft.go
index 16b081d596..306ecdd323 100644
--- a/consensus/ibft/ibft.go
+++ b/consensus/ibft/ibft.go
@@ -376,6 +376,11 @@ func (i *backendIBFT) startConsensus() {
 
 	defer newBlockSub.Close()
 
+	var (
+		sequenceCh  = make(<-chan struct{})
+		isValidator bool
+	)
+
 	for {
 		var (
 			latest  = i.blockchain.Header().Number
@@ -384,22 +389,23 @@ func (i *backendIBFT) startConsensus() {
 
 		i.updateActiveValidatorSet(latest)
 
-		if !i.isActiveValidator() {
-			// we are not participating in consensus for this height
-			continue
+		isValidator = i.isActiveValidator()
+
+		if isValidator {
+			sequenceCh = i.consensus.runSequence(pending)
 		}
 
 		select {
-		case <-i.consensus.runSequence(pending):
-			// consensus inserted block
-			continue
 		case <-syncerBlockCh:
-			// syncer inserted block -> stop running consensus
-			i.consensus.stopSequence()
-			i.logger.Info("canceled sequence", "sequence", pending)
+			if isValidator {
+				i.consensus.stopSequence()
+				i.logger.Info("canceled sequence", "sequence", pending)
+			}
+		case <-sequenceCh:
 		case <-i.closeCh:
-			// IBFT consensus stopped
-			i.consensus.stopSequence()
+			if isValidator {
+				i.consensus.stopSequence()
+			}
 
 			return
 		}