diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index 98d0d93764..cb4bcc56ce 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ type BlockChain struct {
 	wg            sync.WaitGroup
 	quit          chan struct{} // shutdown signal, closed in Stop.
 	running       int32         // 0 if chain is running, 1 when stopped
-	procInterrupt int32         // interrupt signaler for block processing
+	procInterrupt atomic.Bool   // interrupt signaler for block processing
 
 	engine    consensus.Engine
 	processor Processor // block processor interface
@@ -1116,7 +1116,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) Stop() {
 
 	// Signal shutdown to all goroutines.
 	close(bc.quit)
-	bc.StopInsert()
+	bc.InterruptInsert(true)
 
 	// Now wait for all chain modifications to end and persistent goroutines to exit.
 	//
@@ -1130,16 +1130,20 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) Stop() {
 	log.Info("Blockchain manager stopped")
 }
 
-// StopInsert interrupts all insertion methods, causing them to return
-// errInsertionInterrupted as soon as possible. Insertion is permanently disabled after
-// calling this method.
-func (bc *BlockChain) StopInsert() {
-	atomic.StoreInt32(&bc.procInterrupt, 1)
+// InterruptInsert interrupts all insertion methods, causing them to return
+// errInsertionInterrupted as soon as possible, or resume the chain insertion
+// if required.
+func (bc *BlockChain) InterruptInsert(on bool) {
+	if on {
+		bc.procInterrupt.Store(true)
+	} else {
+		bc.procInterrupt.Store(false)
+	}
 }
 
 // insertStopped returns true after StopInsert has been called.
 func (bc *BlockChain) insertStopped() bool {
-	return atomic.LoadInt32(&bc.procInterrupt) == 1
+	return bc.procInterrupt.Load()
 }
 
 func (bc *BlockChain) procFutureBlocks() {
@@ -1251,7 +1255,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 	for i, block := range blockChain {
 		receipts := receiptChain[i]
 		// Short circuit insertion if shutting down or processing failed
-		if atomic.LoadInt32(&bc.procInterrupt) == 1 {
+		if bc.insertStopped() {
 			return 0, nil
 		}
 		blockHash, blockNumber := block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()
@@ -1646,7 +1650,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) insertChain(chain types.Blocks, verifySeals bool) (int, []
 	// Iterate over the blocks and insert when the verifier permits
 	for i, block := range chain {
 		// If the chain is terminating, stop processing blocks
-		if atomic.LoadInt32(&bc.procInterrupt) == 1 {
+		if bc.insertStopped() {
 			log.Debug("Premature abort during blocks processing")
 			break
 		}
@@ -1984,7 +1988,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) getResultBlock(block *types.Block, verifiedM2 bool) (*Resu
 	bc.calculatingBlock.Add(block.HashNoValidator(), calculatedBlock)
 	// Start the parallel header verifier
 	// If the chain is terminating, stop processing blocks
-	if atomic.LoadInt32(&bc.procInterrupt) == 1 {
+	if bc.insertStopped() {
 		log.Debug("Premature abort during blocks processing")
 		return nil, ErrBlacklistedHash
 	}
diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader.go b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
index 6e362b397c..63f3bc1d7c 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
@@ -200,6 +200,9 @@ type BlockChain interface {
 	// InsertChain inserts a batch of blocks into the local chain.
 	InsertChain(types.Blocks) (int, error)
 
+	// InterruptInsert disables or enables chain insertion.
+	InterruptInsert(on bool)
+
 	// InsertReceiptChain inserts a batch of receipts into the local chain.
 	InsertReceiptChain(types.Blocks, []types.Receipts) (int, error)
 }
@@ -533,8 +536,10 @@ func (d *Downloader) cancel() {
 // Cancel aborts all of the operations and waits for all download goroutines to
 // finish before returning.
 func (d *Downloader) Cancel() {
+	d.blockchain.InterruptInsert(true)
 	d.cancel()
 	d.cancelWg.Wait()
+	d.blockchain.InterruptInsert(false)
 }
 
 // Terminate interrupts the downloader, canceling all pending operations.
diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go b/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
index d3d45b8f09..ed1cd028b0 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
@@ -317,6 +317,9 @@ func (dl *downloadTester) Config() *params.ChainConfig {
 	return &config
 }
 
+func (bc *downloadTester) InterruptInsert(on bool) {
+}
+
 type downloadTesterPeer struct {
 	dl            *downloadTester
 	id            string
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api.go b/internal/ethapi/api.go
index d4ca6b33ea..c1626085b1 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api.go
@@ -3202,8 +3202,16 @@ func (api *PrivateDebugAPI) ChaindbCompact() error {
 }
 
 // SetHead rewinds the head of the blockchain to a previous block.
-func (api *PrivateDebugAPI) SetHead(number hexutil.Uint64) {
+func (api *PrivateDebugAPI) SetHead(number hexutil.Uint64) error {
+	header := api.b.CurrentHeader()
+	if header == nil {
+		return errors.New("current header is not available")
+	}
+	if header.Number.Uint64() <= uint64(number) {
+		return errors.New("not allowed to rewind to a future block")
+	}
 	api.b.SetHead(uint64(number))
+	return nil
 }
 
 // DbGet returns the raw value of a key stored in the database.