diff --git a/node/rpc/hypergraph_sync_rpc_server.go b/node/rpc/hypergraph_sync_rpc_server.go
index 5c3be4a..2a50300 100644
--- a/node/rpc/hypergraph_sync_rpc_server.go
+++ b/node/rpc/hypergraph_sync_rpc_server.go
@@ -69,13 +69,11 @@ func NewHypergraphComparisonServer(
 // node at the given path in the local tree and sends it over the stream.
 func sendLeafData(
 	stream HyperStream,
-	backpressure chan struct{},
 	hypergraphStore store.HypergraphStore,
 	localTree *crypto.VectorCommitmentTree,
 	path []int32,
 	metadataOnly bool,
 ) error {
-	backpressure <- struct{}{}
 	send := func(leaf *crypto.VectorCommitmentLeafNode) error {
 		update := &protobufs.LeafData{
 			Key:        leaf.Key,
@@ -394,7 +392,6 @@ func walk(
 	logger *zap.Logger,
 	path []int32,
 	lnode, rnode *protobufs.HypergraphComparisonResponse,
-	backpressure chan struct{},
 	incomingQueries <-chan *protobufs.HypergraphComparisonQuery,
 	incomingResponses <-chan *protobufs.HypergraphComparisonResponse,
 	stream HyperStream,
@@ -420,7 +417,6 @@ func walk(
 			logger.Info("leaves mismatch commitments, sending", pathString)
 			sendLeafData(
 				stream,
-				backpressure,
 				hypergraphStore,
 				localTree,
 				path,
@@ -434,7 +430,6 @@ func walk(
 		logger.Info("leaf/branch mismatch at path", pathString)
 		sendLeafData(
 			stream,
-			backpressure,
 			hypergraphStore,
 			localTree,
 			path,
@@ -483,7 +478,6 @@ func walk(
 					logger.Info("traversal could not reach path, sending leaf data")
 					sendLeafData(
 						stream,
-						backpressure,
 						hypergraphStore,
 						localTree,
 						path,
@@ -499,7 +493,6 @@ func walk(
 				path,
 				lnode,
 				rtrav,
-				backpressure,
 				incomingQueries,
 				incomingResponses,
 				stream,
@@ -537,7 +530,6 @@ func walk(
 							logger.Info("traversal could not reach path, sending leaf data")
 							sendLeafData(
 								stream,
-								backpressure,
 								hypergraphStore,
 								localTree,
 								path,
@@ -559,7 +551,6 @@ func walk(
 						)
 						sendLeafData(
 							stream,
-							backpressure,
 							hypergraphStore,
 							localTree,
 							append(append([]int32{}, preTraversal...), child.Index),
@@ -575,7 +566,6 @@ func walk(
 				path,
 				ltrav,
 				rnode,
-				backpressure,
 				incomingQueries,
 				incomingResponses,
 				stream,
@@ -612,7 +602,6 @@ func walk(
 					logger.Info("branch divergence", pathString)
 					sendLeafData(
 						stream,
-						backpressure,
 						hypergraphStore,
 						localTree,
 						path,
@@ -635,7 +624,6 @@ func walk(
 							logger.Info("incomplete branch descension, sending leaves")
 							sendLeafData(
 								stream,
-								backpressure,
 								hypergraphStore,
 								localTree,
 								nextPath,
@@ -650,7 +638,6 @@ func walk(
 							nextPath,
 							lc,
 							rc,
-							backpressure,
 							incomingQueries,
 							incomingResponses,
 							stream,
@@ -667,7 +654,6 @@ func walk(
 			logger.Info("prefix mismatch on both sides", pathString)
 			sendLeafData(
 				stream,
-				backpressure,
 				hypergraphStore,
 				localTree,
 				path,
@@ -754,7 +740,6 @@ func syncTreeBidirectionallyServer(
 		)
 	}
 
-	backpressure := make(chan struct{}, 1000)
 	incomingQueriesIn, incomingQueriesOut :=
 		UnboundedChan[*protobufs.HypergraphComparisonQuery]("server incoming")
 	incomingResponsesIn, incomingResponsesOut :=
@@ -784,7 +769,6 @@ func syncTreeBidirectionallyServer(
 			}
 			switch m := msg.Payload.(type) {
 			case *protobufs.HypergraphComparison_LeafData:
-				go func() { <-backpressure }()
 				incomingLeavesIn <- m.LeafData
 			case *protobufs.HypergraphComparison_Query:
 				incomingQueriesIn <- m.Query
@@ -805,7 +789,6 @@ func syncTreeBidirectionallyServer(
 			[]int32{},
 			branchInfo,
 			response,
-			backpressure,
 			incomingQueriesOut,
 			incomingResponsesOut,
 			stream,
@@ -962,7 +945,6 @@ func SyncTreeBidirectionally(
 		return err
 	}
 
-	backpressure := make(chan struct{}, 1000)
 	incomingQueriesIn, incomingQueriesOut :=
 		UnboundedChan[*protobufs.HypergraphComparisonQuery]("server incoming")
 	incomingResponsesIn, incomingResponsesOut :=
@@ -990,7 +972,6 @@ func SyncTreeBidirectionally(
 			}
 			switch m := msg.Payload.(type) {
 			case *protobufs.HypergraphComparison_LeafData:
-				go func() { <-backpressure }()
 				incomingLeavesIn <- m.LeafData
 			case *protobufs.HypergraphComparison_Query:
 				incomingQueriesIn <- m.Query
@@ -1010,7 +991,6 @@ func SyncTreeBidirectionally(
 			[]int32{},
 			branchInfo,
 			response,
-			backpressure,
 			incomingQueriesOut,
 			incomingResponsesOut,
 			stream,