diff --git a/eth/catalyst/api.go b/eth/catalyst/api.go
index 9077f20bff..7049a45ff2 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/api.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/api.go
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ func (api *ConsensusAPI) verifyPayloadAttributes(attr *engine.PayloadAttributes)
 	return nil
 }
 
+// TODO: figure out the timing here
 func (api *ConsensusAPI) forkchoiceUpdated(update engine.ForkchoiceStateV1, payloadAttributes *engine.PayloadAttributes) (engine.ForkChoiceResponse, error) {
 	api.forkchoiceLock.Lock()
 	defer api.forkchoiceLock.Unlock()
diff --git a/grpc/execution/server.go b/grpc/execution/server.go
index 5a46ffd9e0..848be6006c 100644
--- a/grpc/execution/server.go
+++ b/grpc/execution/server.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ package execution
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/beacon/engine"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
@@ -45,7 +44,7 @@ func NewExecutionServiceServer(eth *eth.Ethereum) *ExecutionServiceServer {
 }
 
 func (s *ExecutionServiceServer) DoBlock(ctx context.Context, req *executionv1.DoBlockRequest) (*executionv1.DoBlockResponse, error) {
-	log.Info("DoBlock called request", "request", req)
+	log.Info("DoBlock called request [sam version]", "request", req)
 	prevHeadHash := common.BytesToHash(req.PrevBlockHash)
 
 	// The Engine API has been modified to use transactions from this mempool and abide by it's ordering.
@@ -62,6 +61,8 @@ func (s *ExecutionServiceServer) DoBlock(ctx context.Context, req *executionv1.D
 		Random:                common.Hash{},
 		SuggestedFeeRecipient: common.Address{},
 	}
+	// NOTE: ForkchoiceUpdatedV1 calls forkchoiceUpdated. forkchoiceUpdated calls api.forkchoiceLock.Lock()
+	// what is this doing that requires us to wait?
 	fcStartResp, err := s.consensus.ForkchoiceUpdatedV1(*startForkChoice, payloadAttributes)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -69,8 +70,8 @@ func (s *ExecutionServiceServer) DoBlock(ctx context.Context, req *executionv1.D
 
 	// super janky but this is what the payload builder requires :/ (miner.worker.buildPayload())
 	// we should probably just execute + store the block directly instead of using the engine api.
-	time.Sleep(time.Second)
-	payloadResp, err := s.consensus.GetPayloadV1(*fcStartResp.PayloadID)
+	// time.Sleep(time.Second)
+	payloadResp, err := s.consensus.GetPayloadV1(*fcStartResp.PayloadID) // this looks like it is totally fine
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error("failed to call GetPayloadV1", "err", err)
 		return nil, err