diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader.go b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
index c7a05eb35..a79eabb3c 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ type Downloader struct {
 	checks map[common.Hash]*crossCheck // Pending cross checks to verify a hash chain
 	banned *set.Set                    // Set of hashes we've received and banned
 
+	interrupt int32 // Atomic boolean to signal termination
+
 	// Statistics
 	importStart time.Time // Instance when the last blocks were taken from the cache
 	importQueue []*Block  // Previously taken blocks to check import progress
@@ -245,12 +247,6 @@ func (d *Downloader) synchronise(id string, hash common.Hash) error {
 	if atomic.CompareAndSwapInt32(&d.notified, 0, 1) {
 		glog.V(logger.Info).Infoln("Block synchronisation started")
 	}
-
-	// Create cancel channel for aborting mid-flight
-	d.cancelLock.Lock()
-	d.cancelCh = make(chan struct{})
-	d.cancelLock.Unlock()
-
 	// Abort if the queue still contains some leftover data
 	if _, cached := d.queue.Size(); cached > 0 && d.queue.GetHeadBlock() != nil {
 		return errPendingQueue
@@ -260,12 +256,16 @@ func (d *Downloader) synchronise(id string, hash common.Hash) error {
 	d.peers.Reset()
 	d.checks = make(map[common.Hash]*crossCheck)
 
+	// Create cancel channel for aborting mid-flight
+	d.cancelLock.Lock()
+	d.cancelCh = make(chan struct{})
+	d.cancelLock.Unlock()
+
 	// Retrieve the origin peer and initiate the downloading process
 	p := d.peers.Peer(id)
 	if p == nil {
 		return errUnknownPeer
 	}
-
 	return d.syncWithPeer(p, hash)
 }
 
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ func (d *Downloader) syncWithPeer(p *peer, hash common.Hash) (err error) {
 	defer func() {
 		// reset on error
 		if err != nil {
-			d.Cancel()
+			d.cancel()
 			d.mux.Post(FailedEvent{err})
 		} else {
 			d.mux.Post(DoneEvent{})
@@ -301,9 +301,9 @@ func (d *Downloader) syncWithPeer(p *peer, hash common.Hash) (err error) {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Cancel cancels all of the operations and resets the queue. It returns true
+// cancel cancels all of the operations and resets the queue. It returns true
 // if the cancel operation was completed.
-func (d *Downloader) Cancel() {
+func (d *Downloader) cancel() {
 	// Close the current cancel channel
 	d.cancelLock.Lock()
 	if d.cancelCh != nil {
@@ -320,6 +320,12 @@ func (d *Downloader) Cancel() {
 	d.queue.Reset()
 }
 
+// Terminate interrupts the downloader, canceling all pending operations.
+func (d *Downloader) Terminate() {
+	atomic.StoreInt32(&d.interrupt, 1)
+	d.cancel()
+}
+
 // fetchHahes starts retrieving hashes backwards from a specific peer and hash,
 // up until it finds a common ancestor. If the source peer times out, alternative
 // ones are tried for continuation.
@@ -737,12 +743,6 @@ func (d *Downloader) process() (err error) {
 
 		atomic.StoreInt32(&d.processing, 0)
 	}()
-
-	// Fetch the current cancel channel to allow termination
-	d.cancelLock.RLock()
-	cancel := d.cancelCh
-	d.cancelLock.RUnlock()
-
 	// Repeat the processing as long as there are blocks to import
 	for {
 		// Fetch the next batch of blocks
@@ -759,12 +759,10 @@ func (d *Downloader) process() (err error) {
 
 		// Actually import the blocks
 		glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("Inserting chain with %d blocks (#%v - #%v)\n", len(blocks), blocks[0].RawBlock.Number(), blocks[len(blocks)-1].RawBlock.Number())
-		for len(blocks) != 0 { // TODO: quit
+		for len(blocks) != 0 {
 			// Check for any termination requests
-			select {
-			case <-cancel:
+			if atomic.LoadInt32(&d.interrupt) == 1 {
 				return errCancelChainImport
-			default:
 			}
 			// Retrieve the first batch of blocks to insert
 			max := int(math.Min(float64(len(blocks)), float64(maxBlockProcess)))
@@ -777,7 +775,7 @@ func (d *Downloader) process() (err error) {
 			if err != nil {
 				glog.V(logger.Debug).Infof("Block #%d import failed: %v", raw[index].NumberU64(), err)
 				d.dropPeer(blocks[index].OriginPeer)
-				d.Cancel()
+				d.cancel()
 				return errCancelChainImport
 			}
 			blocks = blocks[max:]
diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go b/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
index 53eb5f81d..f97e6077b 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ func TestCancel(t *testing.T) {
 	tester.newPeer("peer", hashes, blocks)
 
 	// Make sure canceling works with a pristine downloader
-	tester.downloader.Cancel()
+	tester.downloader.cancel()
 	hashCount, blockCount := tester.downloader.queue.Size()
 	if hashCount > 0 || blockCount > 0 {
 		t.Errorf("block or hash count mismatch: %d hashes, %d blocks, want 0", hashCount, blockCount)
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ func TestCancel(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := tester.sync("peer"); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to synchronise blocks: %v", err)
 	}
-	tester.downloader.Cancel()
+	tester.downloader.cancel()
 	hashCount, blockCount = tester.downloader.queue.Size()
 	if hashCount > 0 || blockCount > 0 {
 		t.Errorf("block or hash count mismatch: %d hashes, %d blocks, want 0", hashCount, blockCount)
diff --git a/eth/sync.go b/eth/sync.go
index a3b177a4d..751bc1a2a 100644
--- a/eth/sync.go
+++ b/eth/sync.go
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) fetcher() {
 // downloading hashes and blocks as well as retrieving cached ones.
 func (pm *ProtocolManager) syncer() {
 	// Abort any pending syncs if we terminate
-	defer pm.downloader.Cancel()
+	defer pm.downloader.Terminate()
 
 	forceSync := time.Tick(forceSyncCycle)
 	for {