diff --git a/crates/consensus/auto-seal/src/task.rs b/crates/consensus/auto-seal/src/task.rs
index 06f637d389..5217661c4c 100644
--- a/crates/consensus/auto-seal/src/task.rs
+++ b/crates/consensus/auto-seal/src/task.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 use crate::{mode::MiningMode, Storage};
-use futures_util::{future::BoxFuture, FutureExt, StreamExt};
-use reth_beacon_consensus::BeaconEngineMessage;
+use futures_util::{future::BoxFuture, FutureExt};
+use reth_beacon_consensus::{BeaconEngineMessage, ForkchoiceStatus};
 use reth_interfaces::consensus::ForkchoiceState;
 use reth_primitives::{
     constants::{EMPTY_RECEIPTS, EMPTY_TRANSACTIONS, ETHEREUM_BLOCK_GAS_LIMIT},
-    proofs,
-    stage::StageId,
-    Block, BlockBody, ChainSpec, Header, IntoRecoveredTransaction, ReceiptWithBloom,
+    proofs, Block, BlockBody, ChainSpec, Header, IntoRecoveredTransaction, ReceiptWithBloom,
     SealedBlockWithSenders, EMPTY_OMMER_ROOT, U256,
 };
 use reth_provider::{CanonChainTracker, CanonStateNotificationSender, Chain, StateProviderFactory};
@@ -26,7 +24,7 @@ use std::{
 };
 use tokio::sync::{mpsc::UnboundedSender, oneshot};
 use tokio_stream::wrappers::UnboundedReceiverStream;
-use tracing::{debug, trace, warn};
+use tracing::{debug, error, trace, warn};
 
 /// A Future that listens for new ready transactions and puts new blocks into storage
 pub struct MiningTask<Client, Pool: TransactionPool> {
@@ -117,7 +115,7 @@ where
                 let client = this.client.clone();
                 let chain_spec = Arc::clone(&this.chain_spec);
                 let pool = this.pool.clone();
-                let mut events = this.pipe_line_events.take();
+                let events = this.pipe_line_events.take();
                 let canon_state_notification = this.canon_state_notification.clone();
 
                 // Create the mining future that creates a block, notifies the engine that drives
@@ -226,29 +224,38 @@ where
                             };
                             drop(storage);
 
-                            // send the new update to the engine, this will trigger the pipeline to
-                            // download the block, execute it and store it in the database.
-                            let (tx, _rx) = oneshot::channel();
-                            let _ = to_engine.send(BeaconEngineMessage::ForkchoiceUpdated {
-                                state,
-                                payload_attrs: None,
-                                tx,
-                            });
-                            debug!(target: "consensus::auto", ?state, "sent fork choice update");
+                            // TODO: make this a future
+                            // await the fcu call rx for SYNCING, then wait for a VALID response
+                            loop {
+                                // send the new update to the engine, this will trigger the engine
+                                // to download and execute the block we just inserted
+                                let (tx, rx) = oneshot::channel();
+                                let _ = to_engine.send(BeaconEngineMessage::ForkchoiceUpdated {
+                                    state,
+                                    payload_attrs: None,
+                                    tx,
+                                });
+                                debug!(target: "consensus::auto", ?state, "Sent fork choice update");
 
-                            // wait for the pipeline to finish
-                            if let Some(events) = events.as_mut() {
-                                debug!(target: "consensus::auto", "waiting for finish stage event...");
-                                // wait for the finish stage to
-                                loop {
-                                    if let Some(PipelineEvent::Running { stage_id, .. }) =
-                                        events.next().await
-                                    {
-                                        if stage_id == StageId::Finish {
-                                            debug!(target: "consensus::auto", "received finish stage event");
-                                            break
+                                match rx.await.unwrap() {
+                                    Ok(fcu_response) => {
+                                        match fcu_response.forkchoice_status() {
+                                            ForkchoiceStatus::Valid => break,
+                                            ForkchoiceStatus::Invalid => {
+                                                error!(target: "consensus::auto", ?fcu_response, "Forkchoice update returned invalid response");
+                                                return None
+                                            }
+                                            ForkchoiceStatus::Syncing => {
+                                                debug!(target: "consensus::auto", ?fcu_response, "Forkchoice update returned SYNCING, waiting for VALID");
+                                                // wait for the next fork choice update
+                                                continue
+                                            }
                                         }
                                     }
+                                    Err(err) => {
+                                        error!(target: "consensus::auto", ?err, "Autoseal fork choice update failed");
+                                        return None
+                                    }
                                 }
                             }
 
diff --git a/crates/consensus/beacon/src/engine/message.rs b/crates/consensus/beacon/src/engine/message.rs
index 7223cb621f..2e5e542aab 100644
--- a/crates/consensus/beacon/src/engine/message.rs
+++ b/crates/consensus/beacon/src/engine/message.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ impl OnForkChoiceUpdated {
     }
 
     /// Returns the determined status of the received ForkchoiceState.
-    pub(crate) fn forkchoice_status(&self) -> ForkchoiceStatus {
+    pub fn forkchoice_status(&self) -> ForkchoiceStatus {
         self.forkchoice_status
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/consensus/beacon/src/engine/mod.rs b/crates/consensus/beacon/src/engine/mod.rs
index 9403597278..f1f38cb0fb 100644
--- a/crates/consensus/beacon/src/engine/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/consensus/beacon/src/engine/mod.rs
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ mod handle;
 pub use handle::BeaconConsensusEngineHandle;
 
 mod forkchoice;
+pub use forkchoice::ForkchoiceStatus;
 mod metrics;
 pub(crate) mod prune;
 pub(crate) mod sync;