diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index eeaf1b7e0a..9cd7ccce61 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -2114,13 +2114,14 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) insertChain(chain types.Blocks, verifySeals bool) (int, er
 
 		// Enable prefetching to pull in trie node paths while processing transactions
 		statedb.StartPrefetcher("chain")
-		var followupInterrupt uint32
+		interruptChan := make(chan struct{})
 		// For diff sync, it may fallback to full sync, so we still do prefetch
 		if len(block.Transactions()) >= prefetchTxNumber {
 			throwaway := statedb.Copy()
-			go func(start time.Time, followup *types.Block, throwaway *state.StateDB, interrupt *uint32) {
-				bc.prefetcher.Prefetch(followup, throwaway, bc.vmConfig, &followupInterrupt)
-			}(time.Now(), block, throwaway, &followupInterrupt)
+			// do Prefetch in a separate goroutine to avoid blocking the critical path
+			go func() {
+				bc.prefetcher.Prefetch(block, throwaway, bc.vmConfig, interruptChan)
+			}()
 		}
 		//Process block using the parent state as reference point
 		substart := time.Now()
@@ -2129,7 +2130,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) insertChain(chain types.Blocks, verifySeals bool) (int, er
 		}
 		statedb.SetExpectedStateRoot(block.Root())
 		statedb, receipts, logs, usedGas, err := bc.processor.Process(block, statedb, bc.vmConfig)
-		atomic.StoreUint32(&followupInterrupt, 1)
+		close(interruptChan) // state prefetch can be stopped
 		activeState = statedb
 		if err != nil {
 			bc.reportBlock(block, receipts, err)
diff --git a/core/state_prefetcher.go b/core/state_prefetcher.go
index 4a731d8dfe..01e781e9b7 100644
--- a/core/state_prefetcher.go
+++ b/core/state_prefetcher.go
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@
 package core
 
 import (
-	"sync/atomic"
-
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
@@ -50,43 +48,45 @@ func NewStatePrefetcher(config *params.ChainConfig, bc *BlockChain, engine conse
 // Prefetch processes the state changes according to the Ethereum rules by running
 // the transaction messages using the statedb, but any changes are discarded. The
 // only goal is to pre-cache transaction signatures and snapshot clean state.
-func (p *statePrefetcher) Prefetch(block *types.Block, statedb *state.StateDB, cfg vm.Config, interrupt *uint32) {
+func (p *statePrefetcher) Prefetch(block *types.Block, statedb *state.StateDB, cfg vm.Config, interruptChan chan struct{}) {
 	var (
 		header = block.Header()
 		signer = types.MakeSigner(p.config, header.Number)
 	)
 	transactions := block.Transactions()
-	sortTransactions := make([][]*types.Transaction, prefetchThread)
-	for i := 0; i < prefetchThread; i++ {
-		sortTransactions[i] = make([]*types.Transaction, 0, len(transactions)/prefetchThread)
-	}
-	for idx := range transactions {
-		threadIdx := idx % prefetchThread
-		sortTransactions[threadIdx] = append(sortTransactions[threadIdx], transactions[idx])
-	}
+	txChan := make(chan int, prefetchThread)
 	// No need to execute the first batch, since the main processor will do it.
 	for i := 0; i < prefetchThread; i++ {
-		go func(idx int) {
+		go func() {
 			newStatedb := statedb.Copy()
 			newStatedb.EnableWriteOnSharedStorage()
 			gaspool := new(GasPool).AddGas(block.GasLimit())
 			blockContext := NewEVMBlockContext(header, p.bc, nil)
 			evm := vm.NewEVM(blockContext, vm.TxContext{}, statedb, p.config, cfg)
 			// Iterate over and process the individual transactions
-			for i, tx := range sortTransactions[idx] {
-				// If block precaching was interrupted, abort
-				if interrupt != nil && atomic.LoadUint32(interrupt) == 1 {
+			for {
+				select {
+				case txIndex := <-txChan:
+					tx := transactions[txIndex]
+					// Convert the transaction into an executable message and pre-cache its sender
+					msg, err := tx.AsMessageNoNonceCheck(signer)
+					if err != nil {
+						return // Also invalid block, bail out
+					}
+					newStatedb.Prepare(tx.Hash(), header.Hash(), txIndex)
+					precacheTransaction(msg, p.config, gaspool, newStatedb, header, evm)
+
+				case <-interruptChan:
+					// If block precaching was interrupted, abort
 					return
 				}
-				// Convert the transaction into an executable message and pre-cache its sender
-				msg, err := tx.AsMessageNoNonceCheck(signer)
-				if err != nil {
-					return // Also invalid block, bail out
-				}
-				newStatedb.Prepare(tx.Hash(), header.Hash(), i)
-				precacheTransaction(msg, p.config, gaspool, newStatedb, header, evm)
 			}
-		}(i)
+		}()
+	}
+
+	// we are in a separate goroutine, won't block the critical path of insertChain
+	for i := 0; i < len(transactions); i++ {
+		txChan <- i
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/core/types.go b/core/types.go
index c9061233e6..54b16865f8 100644
--- a/core/types.go
+++ b/core/types.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ type Prefetcher interface {
 	// Prefetch processes the state changes according to the Ethereum rules by running
 	// the transaction messages using the statedb, but any changes are discarded. The
 	// only goal is to pre-cache transaction signatures and state trie nodes.
-	Prefetch(block *types.Block, statedb *state.StateDB, cfg vm.Config, interrupt *uint32)
+	Prefetch(block *types.Block, statedb *state.StateDB, cfg vm.Config, interruptChan chan struct{})
 	// PrefetchMining used for pre-caching transaction signatures and state trie nodes. Only used for mining stage.
 	PrefetchMining(txs *types.TransactionsByPriceAndNonce, header *types.Header, gasLimit uint64, statedb *state.StateDB, cfg vm.Config, interruptCh <-chan struct{}, txCurr **types.Transaction)
 }