diff --git a/node/rpc/hypergraph_sync_rpc_server.go b/node/rpc/hypergraph_sync_rpc_server.go
index 73e00eb..7c6aeac 100644
--- a/node/rpc/hypergraph_sync_rpc_server.go
+++ b/node/rpc/hypergraph_sync_rpc_server.go
@@ -69,11 +69,13 @@ 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,
@@ -392,6 +394,7 @@ func walk(
 	logger *zap.Logger,
 	path []int32,
 	lnode, rnode *protobufs.HypergraphComparisonResponse,
+	backpressure chan struct{},
 	incomingQueries <-chan *protobufs.HypergraphComparisonQuery,
 	incomingResponses <-chan *protobufs.HypergraphComparisonResponse,
 	stream HyperStream,
@@ -417,6 +420,7 @@ func walk(
 			logger.Info("leaves mismatch commitments, sending", pathString)
 			sendLeafData(
 				stream,
+				backpressure,
 				hypergraphStore,
 				localTree,
 				path,
@@ -430,6 +434,7 @@ func walk(
 		logger.Info("leaf/branch mismatch at path", pathString)
 		sendLeafData(
 			stream,
+			backpressure,
 			hypergraphStore,
 			localTree,
 			path,
@@ -478,6 +483,7 @@ func walk(
 					logger.Info("traversal could not reach path, sending leaf data")
 					sendLeafData(
 						stream,
+						backpressure,
 						hypergraphStore,
 						localTree,
 						path,
@@ -493,6 +499,7 @@ func walk(
 				path,
 				lnode,
 				rtrav,
+				backpressure,
 				incomingQueries,
 				incomingResponses,
 				stream,
@@ -530,6 +537,7 @@ func walk(
 							logger.Info("traversal could not reach path, sending leaf data")
 							sendLeafData(
 								stream,
+								backpressure,
 								hypergraphStore,
 								localTree,
 								path,
@@ -551,6 +559,7 @@ func walk(
 						)
 						sendLeafData(
 							stream,
+							backpressure,
 							hypergraphStore,
 							localTree,
 							append(append([]int32{}, preTraversal...), child.Index),
@@ -566,6 +575,7 @@ func walk(
 				path,
 				ltrav,
 				rnode,
+				backpressure,
 				incomingQueries,
 				incomingResponses,
 				stream,
@@ -600,7 +610,14 @@ func walk(
 				if (lchild != nil && rchild == nil) ||
 					(lchild == nil && rchild != nil) {
 					logger.Info("branch divergence", pathString)
-					sendLeafData(stream, hypergraphStore, localTree, path, metadataOnly)
+					sendLeafData(
+						stream,
+						backpressure,
+						hypergraphStore,
+						localTree,
+						path,
+						metadataOnly,
+					)
 				} else {
 					if lchild != nil {
 						nextPath := append(
@@ -618,12 +635,13 @@ func walk(
 							logger.Info("incomplete branch descension, sending leaves")
 							sendLeafData(
 								stream,
+								backpressure,
 								hypergraphStore,
 								localTree,
 								nextPath,
 								metadataOnly,
 							)
-							return nil
+							continue
 						}
 
 						if err = walk(
@@ -632,6 +650,7 @@ func walk(
 							nextPath,
 							lc,
 							rc,
+							backpressure,
 							incomingQueries,
 							incomingResponses,
 							stream,
@@ -646,7 +665,14 @@ func walk(
 			}
 		} else {
 			logger.Info("prefix mismatch on both sides", pathString)
-			sendLeafData(stream, hypergraphStore, localTree, path, metadataOnly)
+			sendLeafData(
+				stream,
+				backpressure,
+				hypergraphStore,
+				localTree,
+				path,
+				metadataOnly,
+			)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -728,6 +754,7 @@ func syncTreeBidirectionallyServer(
 		)
 	}
 
+	backpressure := make(chan struct{}, 1000)
 	incomingQueriesIn, incomingQueriesOut :=
 		UnboundedChan[*protobufs.HypergraphComparisonQuery]("server incoming")
 	incomingResponsesIn, incomingResponsesOut :=
@@ -740,6 +767,7 @@ func syncTreeBidirectionallyServer(
 			msg, err := stream.Recv()
 			if err == io.EOF {
 				logger.Info("received disconnect")
+				close(backpressure)
 				close(incomingQueriesIn)
 				close(incomingResponsesIn)
 				close(incomingLeavesIn)
@@ -747,6 +775,7 @@ func syncTreeBidirectionallyServer(
 			}
 			if err != nil {
 				logger.Info("received error", zap.Error(err))
+				close(backpressure)
 				close(incomingQueriesIn)
 				close(incomingResponsesIn)
 				close(incomingLeavesIn)
@@ -757,6 +786,7 @@ func syncTreeBidirectionallyServer(
 			}
 			switch m := msg.Payload.(type) {
 			case *protobufs.HypergraphComparison_LeafData:
+				go func() { <-backpressure }()
 				incomingLeavesIn <- m.LeafData
 			case *protobufs.HypergraphComparison_Query:
 				incomingQueriesIn <- m.Query
@@ -777,6 +807,7 @@ func syncTreeBidirectionallyServer(
 			[]int32{},
 			branchInfo,
 			response,
+			backpressure,
 			incomingQueriesOut,
 			incomingResponsesOut,
 			stream,
@@ -933,6 +964,7 @@ func SyncTreeBidirectionally(
 		return err
 	}
 
+	backpressure := make(chan struct{}, 1000)
 	incomingQueriesIn, incomingQueriesOut :=
 		UnboundedChan[*protobufs.HypergraphComparisonQuery]("server incoming")
 	incomingResponsesIn, incomingResponsesOut :=
@@ -944,12 +976,14 @@ func SyncTreeBidirectionally(
 		for {
 			msg, err := stream.Recv()
 			if err == io.EOF {
+				close(backpressure)
 				close(incomingQueriesIn)
 				close(incomingResponsesIn)
 				close(incomingLeavesIn)
 				return
 			}
 			if err != nil {
+				close(backpressure)
 				close(incomingQueriesIn)
 				close(incomingResponsesIn)
 				close(incomingLeavesIn)
@@ -960,6 +994,7 @@ func SyncTreeBidirectionally(
 			}
 			switch m := msg.Payload.(type) {
 			case *protobufs.HypergraphComparison_LeafData:
+				go func() { <-backpressure }()
 				incomingLeavesIn <- m.LeafData
 			case *protobufs.HypergraphComparison_Query:
 				incomingQueriesIn <- m.Query
@@ -979,6 +1014,7 @@ func SyncTreeBidirectionally(
 			[]int32{},
 			branchInfo,
 			response,
+			backpressure,
 			incomingQueriesOut,
 			incomingResponsesOut,
 			stream,