diff --git a/core/state/statedb.go b/core/state/statedb.go
index f90b30f399..4710681da7 100644
--- a/core/state/statedb.go
+++ b/core/state/statedb.go
@@ -765,13 +765,6 @@ func (s *StateDB) Copy() *StateDB {
 	// in the middle of a transaction.
 	state.accessList = s.accessList.Copy()
 	state.transientStorage = s.transientStorage.Copy()
-
-	// If there's a prefetcher running, make an inactive copy of it that can
-	// only access data but does not actively preload (since the user will not
-	// know that they need to explicitly terminate an active copy).
-	if s.prefetcher != nil {
-		state.prefetcher = s.prefetcher.copy()
-	}
 	return state
 }
 
diff --git a/core/state/trie_prefetcher.go b/core/state/trie_prefetcher.go
index c2a49417d4..f000645c25 100644
--- a/core/state/trie_prefetcher.go
+++ b/core/state/trie_prefetcher.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 package state
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
@@ -37,7 +38,6 @@ var (
 type triePrefetcher struct {
 	db       Database               // Database to fetch trie nodes through
 	root     common.Hash            // Root hash of the account trie for metrics
-	fetches  map[string]Trie        // Partially or fully fetched tries. Only populated for inactive copies.
 	fetchers map[string]*subfetcher // Subfetchers for each trie
 
 	deliveryMissMeter metrics.Meter
@@ -71,11 +71,12 @@ func newTriePrefetcher(db Database, root common.Hash, namespace string) *triePre
 	return p
 }
 
-// close iterates over all the subfetchers, aborts any that were left spinning
-// and reports the stats to the metrics subsystem.
+// close iterates over all the subfetchers, waits on any that were left spinning
+// and reports the stats to the metrics subsystem.  close should not be called
+// more than once on a triePrefetcher instance.
 func (p *triePrefetcher) close() {
 	for _, fetcher := range p.fetchers {
-		fetcher.abort() // safe to do multiple times
+		fetcher.wait() // safe to do multiple times
 
 		if metrics.Enabled {
 			if fetcher.root == p.root {
@@ -99,54 +100,17 @@ func (p *triePrefetcher) close() {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	// Clear out all fetchers (will crash on a second call, deliberate)
-	p.fetchers = nil
-}
-
-// copy creates a deep-but-inactive copy of the trie prefetcher. Any trie data
-// already loaded will be copied over, but no goroutines will be started. This
-// is mostly used in the miner which creates a copy of it's actively mutated
-// state to be sealed while it may further mutate the state.
-func (p *triePrefetcher) copy() *triePrefetcher {
-	copy := &triePrefetcher{
-		db:      p.db,
-		root:    p.root,
-		fetches: make(map[string]Trie), // Active prefetchers use the fetches map
-
-		deliveryMissMeter: p.deliveryMissMeter,
-		accountLoadMeter:  p.accountLoadMeter,
-		accountDupMeter:   p.accountDupMeter,
-		accountSkipMeter:  p.accountSkipMeter,
-		accountWasteMeter: p.accountWasteMeter,
-		storageLoadMeter:  p.storageLoadMeter,
-		storageDupMeter:   p.storageDupMeter,
-		storageSkipMeter:  p.storageSkipMeter,
-		storageWasteMeter: p.storageWasteMeter,
-	}
-	// If the prefetcher is already a copy, duplicate the data
-	if p.fetches != nil {
-		for root, fetch := range p.fetches {
-			if fetch == nil {
-				continue
-			}
-			copy.fetches[root] = p.db.CopyTrie(fetch)
-		}
-		return copy
-	}
-	// Otherwise we're copying an active fetcher, retrieve the current states
-	for id, fetcher := range p.fetchers {
-		copy.fetches[id] = fetcher.peek()
-	}
-	return copy
 }
 
 // prefetch schedules a batch of trie items to prefetch.
+//
+// prefetch is called from two locations:
+//  1. Finalize of the state-objects storage roots. This happens at the end
+//     of every transaction, meaning that if several transactions touches
+//     upon the same contract, the parameters invoking this method may be
+//     repeated.
+//  2. Finalize of the main account trie. This happens only once per block.
 func (p *triePrefetcher) prefetch(owner common.Hash, root common.Hash, addr common.Address, keys [][]byte) {
-	// If the prefetcher is an inactive one, bail out
-	if p.fetches != nil {
-		return
-	}
-	// Active fetcher, schedule the retrievals
 	id := p.trieID(owner, root)
 	fetcher := p.fetchers[id]
 	if fetcher == nil {
@@ -159,32 +123,19 @@ func (p *triePrefetcher) prefetch(owner common.Hash, root common.Hash, addr comm
 // trie returns the trie matching the root hash, or nil if the prefetcher doesn't
 // have it.
 func (p *triePrefetcher) trie(owner common.Hash, root common.Hash) Trie {
-	// If the prefetcher is inactive, return from existing deep copies
-	id := p.trieID(owner, root)
-	if p.fetches != nil {
-		trie := p.fetches[id]
-		if trie == nil {
-			p.deliveryMissMeter.Mark(1)
-			return nil
-		}
-		return p.db.CopyTrie(trie)
-	}
-	// Otherwise the prefetcher is active, bail if no trie was prefetched for this root
-	fetcher := p.fetchers[id]
+	// Bail if no trie was prefetched for this root
+	fetcher := p.fetchers[p.trieID(owner, root)]
 	if fetcher == nil {
 		p.deliveryMissMeter.Mark(1)
 		return nil
 	}
-	// Interrupt the prefetcher if it's by any chance still running and return
-	// a copy of any pre-loaded trie.
-	fetcher.abort() // safe to do multiple times
-
-	trie := fetcher.peek()
-	if trie == nil {
+	// Wait for the fetcher to finish
+	fetcher.wait() // safe to do multiple times
+	if fetcher.trie == nil {
 		p.deliveryMissMeter.Mark(1)
 		return nil
 	}
-	return trie
+	return fetcher.db.CopyTrie(fetcher.trie)
 }
 
 // used marks a batch of state items used to allow creating statistics as to
@@ -215,13 +166,12 @@ type subfetcher struct {
 	addr  common.Address // Address of the account that the trie belongs to
 	trie  Trie           // Trie being populated with nodes
 
-	tasks [][]byte   // Items queued up for retrieval
-	lock  sync.Mutex // Lock protecting the task queue
+	tasks   [][]byte   // Items queued up for retrieval
+	lock    sync.Mutex // Lock protecting the task queue
+	closing bool       // set to true if the subfetcher is closing
 
-	wake chan struct{}  // Wake channel if a new task is scheduled
-	stop chan struct{}  // Channel to interrupt processing
-	term chan struct{}  // Channel to signal interruption
-	copy chan chan Trie // Channel to request a copy of the current trie
+	wake chan bool     // Wake channel if a new task is scheduled, true if the subfetcher should continue running when there are no pending tasks
+	term chan struct{} // Channel to signal interruption
 
 	seen map[string]struct{} // Tracks the entries already loaded
 	dups int                 // Number of duplicate preload tasks
@@ -237,10 +187,8 @@ func newSubfetcher(db Database, state common.Hash, owner common.Hash, root commo
 		owner: owner,
 		root:  root,
 		addr:  addr,
-		wake:  make(chan struct{}, 1),
-		stop:  make(chan struct{}),
+		wake:  make(chan bool, 1),
 		term:  make(chan struct{}),
-		copy:  make(chan chan Trie),
 		seen:  make(map[string]struct{}),
 	}
 	go sf.loop()
@@ -251,42 +199,30 @@ func newSubfetcher(db Database, state common.Hash, owner common.Hash, root commo
 func (sf *subfetcher) schedule(keys [][]byte) {
 	// Append the tasks to the current queue
 	sf.lock.Lock()
+
 	sf.tasks = append(sf.tasks, keys...)
 	sf.lock.Unlock()
-
 	// Notify the prefetcher, it's fine if it's already terminated
 	select {
-	case sf.wake <- struct{}{}:
+	case sf.wake <- true:
 	default:
 	}
 }
 
-// peek tries to retrieve a deep copy of the fetcher's trie in whatever form it
-// is currently.
-func (sf *subfetcher) peek() Trie {
-	ch := make(chan Trie)
-	select {
-	case sf.copy <- ch:
-		// Subfetcher still alive, return copy from it
-		return <-ch
-
-	case <-sf.term:
-		// Subfetcher already terminated, return a copy directly
-		if sf.trie == nil {
-			return nil
-		}
-		return sf.db.CopyTrie(sf.trie)
-	}
-}
-
-// abort interrupts the subfetcher immediately. It is safe to call abort multiple
+// wait waits for the subfetcher to finish it's task. It is safe to call wait multiple
 // times but it is not thread safe.
-func (sf *subfetcher) abort() {
-	select {
-	case <-sf.stop:
-	default:
-		close(sf.stop)
+func (sf *subfetcher) wait() {
+	// Signal termination by nil tasks
+	sf.lock.Lock()
+	if sf.closing {
+		sf.lock.Unlock()
+		return // already exiting
 	}
+	sf.closing = true
+	sf.lock.Unlock()
+	// Notify the prefetcher. The wake-chan is buffered, so this is async.
+	sf.wake <- false
+	// Wait for it to terminate
 	<-sf.term
 }
 
@@ -316,50 +252,32 @@ func (sf *subfetcher) loop() {
 	}
 	// Trie opened successfully, keep prefetching items
 	for {
-		select {
-		case <-sf.wake:
-			// Subfetcher was woken up, retrieve any tasks to avoid spinning the lock
-			sf.lock.Lock()
-			tasks := sf.tasks
-			sf.tasks = nil
-			sf.lock.Unlock()
+		keepRunning := <-sf.wake
+		if !keepRunning {
+			return
+		}
+		// Subfetcher was woken up, retrieve any tasks to avoid spinning the lock
+		sf.lock.Lock()
+		tasks := sf.tasks
+		sf.tasks = nil
+		sf.lock.Unlock()
 
-			// Prefetch any tasks until the loop is interrupted
-			for i, task := range tasks {
-				select {
-				case <-sf.stop:
-					// If termination is requested, add any leftover back and return
-					sf.lock.Lock()
-					sf.tasks = append(sf.tasks, tasks[i:]...)
-					sf.lock.Unlock()
-					return
-
-				case ch := <-sf.copy:
-					// Somebody wants a copy of the current trie, grant them
-					ch <- sf.db.CopyTrie(sf.trie)
-
-				default:
-					// No termination request yet, prefetch the next entry
-					if _, ok := sf.seen[string(task)]; ok {
-						sf.dups++
-					} else {
-						if len(task) == common.AddressLength {
-							sf.trie.GetAccount(common.BytesToAddress(task))
-						} else {
-							sf.trie.GetStorage(sf.addr, task)
-						}
-						sf.seen[string(task)] = struct{}{}
-					}
+		// Prefetch all tasks
+		for _, task := range tasks {
+			if _, ok := sf.seen[string(task)]; ok {
+				sf.dups++
+				continue
+			}
+			if len(task) == common.AddressLength {
+				sf.trie.GetAccount(common.BytesToAddress(task))
+			} else {
+				_, err := sf.trie.GetStorage(sf.addr, task)
+				if err != nil {
+					// TODO: see what needs to be done in this case
+					fmt.Printf("prefetch storage failed: %+v\n", err)
 				}
 			}
-
-		case ch := <-sf.copy:
-			// Somebody wants a copy of the current trie, grant them
-			ch <- sf.db.CopyTrie(sf.trie)
-
-		case <-sf.stop:
-			// Termination is requested, abort and leave remaining tasks
-			return
+			sf.seen[string(task)] = struct{}{}
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/core/state/trie_prefetcher_test.go b/core/state/trie_prefetcher_test.go
index 711ec83250..e990d0504f 100644
--- a/core/state/trie_prefetcher_test.go
+++ b/core/state/trie_prefetcher_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ package state
 import (
 	"math/big"
 	"testing"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
@@ -45,31 +44,6 @@ func filledStateDB() *StateDB {
 	return state
 }
 
-func TestCopyAndClose(t *testing.T) {
-	db := filledStateDB()
-	prefetcher := newTriePrefetcher(db.db, db.originalRoot, "")
-	skey := common.HexToHash("aaa")
-	prefetcher.prefetch(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot, common.Address{}, [][]byte{skey.Bytes()})
-	prefetcher.prefetch(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot, common.Address{}, [][]byte{skey.Bytes()})
-	time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
-	a := prefetcher.trie(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot)
-	prefetcher.prefetch(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot, common.Address{}, [][]byte{skey.Bytes()})
-	b := prefetcher.trie(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot)
-	cpy := prefetcher.copy()
-	cpy.prefetch(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot, common.Address{}, [][]byte{skey.Bytes()})
-	cpy.prefetch(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot, common.Address{}, [][]byte{skey.Bytes()})
-	c := cpy.trie(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot)
-	prefetcher.close()
-	cpy2 := cpy.copy()
-	cpy2.prefetch(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot, common.Address{}, [][]byte{skey.Bytes()})
-	d := cpy2.trie(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot)
-	cpy.close()
-	cpy2.close()
-	if a.Hash() != b.Hash() || a.Hash() != c.Hash() || a.Hash() != d.Hash() {
-		t.Fatalf("Invalid trie, hashes should be equal: %v %v %v %v", a.Hash(), b.Hash(), c.Hash(), d.Hash())
-	}
-}
-
 func TestUseAfterClose(t *testing.T) {
 	db := filledStateDB()
 	prefetcher := newTriePrefetcher(db.db, db.originalRoot, "")
@@ -81,32 +55,7 @@ func TestUseAfterClose(t *testing.T) {
 	if a == nil {
 		t.Fatal("Prefetching before close should not return nil")
 	}
-	if b != nil {
-		t.Fatal("Trie after close should return nil")
-	}
-}
-
-func TestCopyClose(t *testing.T) {
-	db := filledStateDB()
-	prefetcher := newTriePrefetcher(db.db, db.originalRoot, "")
-	skey := common.HexToHash("aaa")
-	prefetcher.prefetch(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot, common.Address{}, [][]byte{skey.Bytes()})
-	cpy := prefetcher.copy()
-	a := prefetcher.trie(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot)
-	b := cpy.trie(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot)
-	prefetcher.close()
-	c := prefetcher.trie(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot)
-	d := cpy.trie(common.Hash{}, db.originalRoot)
-	if a == nil {
-		t.Fatal("Prefetching before close should not return nil")
-	}
 	if b == nil {
-		t.Fatal("Copy trie should return nil")
-	}
-	if c != nil {
-		t.Fatal("Trie after close should return nil")
-	}
-	if d == nil {
-		t.Fatal("Copy trie should not return nil")
+		t.Fatal("Trie after close should not return nil")
 	}
 }