diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader.go b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
index 245f73e80da..45375bda9c5 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ var (
 	fsHeaderSafetyNet      = 2048            // Number of headers to discard in case a chain violation is detected
 	fsHeaderContCheck      = 3 * time.Second // Time interval to check for header continuations during state download
 	fsMinFullBlocks        = 64              // Number of blocks to retrieve fully even in fast sync
+
+	stalledSyncThreshold    = 5 * time.Minute // Duration after which an unfinished sync round is reported as stalled
+	stalledSyncWarnInterval = time.Minute     // Minimum interval between two stalled sync warnings
 )
 
 var (
@@ -126,6 +129,8 @@ type Downloader struct {
 	// Status
 	synchroniseMock func(id string, hash common.Hash) error // Replacement for synchronise during testing
 	synchronising   int32
+	syncStartTime   int64 // Unix nanos at which the in-flight sync round started (0 if idle)
+	lastStallWarn   int64 // Unix nanos at which the last stalled sync warning was emitted
 	notified        int32
 	committed       int32
 
@@ -399,6 +404,32 @@ func (d *Downloader) Synchronise(id string, head common.Hash, td *big.Int, mode
 	return err
 }
 
+// warnIfSyncStalled reports a sync round that has been holding the
+// synchronising flag for an unusually long time. Such a round silently rejects
+// every subsequent attempt with errBusy, so without this the node can stop
+// syncing indefinitely without emitting a single log line.
+func (d *Downloader) warnIfSyncStalled(id string) {
+	started := atomic.LoadInt64(&d.syncStartTime)
+	if started == 0 {
+		// The running round is already tearing down, nothing to report.
+		return
+	}
+	now := time.Now().UnixNano()
+	elapsed := time.Duration(now - started)
+	if elapsed < stalledSyncThreshold {
+		return
+	}
+	last := atomic.LoadInt64(&d.lastStallWarn)
+	if last != 0 && time.Duration(now-last) < stalledSyncWarnInterval {
+		return
+	}
+	if !atomic.CompareAndSwapInt64(&d.lastStallWarn, last, now) {
+		// Another goroutine won the race and is emitting the warning.
+		return
+	}
+	log.Warn("Sync round has not finished, downloader may be stalled", "elapsed", common.PrettyDuration(elapsed), "peer", id)
+}
+
 // synchronise will select the peer and use it for synchronising. If an empty string is given
 // it will use the best peer possible and synchronize if its TD is higher than our own. If any of the
 // checks fail an error will be returned. This method is synchronous
@@ -409,9 +440,14 @@ func (d *Downloader) synchronise(id string, hash common.Hash, td *big.Int, mode
 	}
 	// Make sure only one goroutine is ever allowed past this point at once
 	if !atomic.CompareAndSwapInt32(&d.synchronising, 0, 1) {
+		d.warnIfSyncStalled(id)
 		return errBusy
 	}
-	defer atomic.StoreInt32(&d.synchronising, 0)
+	atomic.StoreInt64(&d.syncStartTime, time.Now().UnixNano())
+	defer func() {
+		atomic.StoreInt64(&d.syncStartTime, 0)
+		atomic.StoreInt32(&d.synchronising, 0)
+	}()
 
 	// Post a user notification of the sync (only once per session)
 	if atomic.CompareAndSwapInt32(&d.notified, 0, 1) {
diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go b/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
index a5d770d9640..49789cdec91 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
@@ -2183,3 +2183,49 @@ func TestRequestTTL(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("ttlLimit (%v) is below rttMaxEstimate (%v)", ttlLimit, rttMaxEstimate)
 	}
 }
+
+// TestSynchroniseStalledSyncWarning checks that a sync round which never
+// releases the synchronising flag is reported, and that the report is
+// rate limited. Without it a wedged round silently rejects every subsequent
+// attempt with errBusy and the node stops syncing without any log line.
+func TestSynchroniseStalledSyncWarning(t *testing.T) {
+	d := new(Downloader)
+	atomic.StoreInt32(&d.synchronising, 1)
+
+	// A round that just started must not be reported yet.
+	atomic.StoreInt64(&d.syncStartTime, time.Now().UnixNano())
+	if err := d.synchronise("peer", common.Hash{}, nil, FullSync); err != errBusy {
+		t.Fatalf("synchronise error mismatch: have %v, want %v", err, errBusy)
+	}
+	if warned := atomic.LoadInt64(&d.lastStallWarn); warned != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("fresh sync round reported as stalled")
+	}
+
+	// A round older than the threshold must be reported.
+	atomic.StoreInt64(&d.syncStartTime, time.Now().Add(-2*stalledSyncThreshold).UnixNano())
+	if err := d.synchronise("peer", common.Hash{}, nil, FullSync); err != errBusy {
+		t.Fatalf("synchronise error mismatch: have %v, want %v", err, errBusy)
+	}
+	warned := atomic.LoadInt64(&d.lastStallWarn)
+	if warned == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("stalled sync round not reported")
+	}
+
+	// Further attempts within the rate limit window must stay quiet.
+	if err := d.synchronise("peer", common.Hash{}, nil, FullSync); err != errBusy {
+		t.Fatalf("synchronise error mismatch: have %v, want %v", err, errBusy)
+	}
+	if again := atomic.LoadInt64(&d.lastStallWarn); again != warned {
+		t.Fatalf("stalled sync warning not rate limited: have %d, want %d", again, warned)
+	}
+
+	// A round that is already tearing down must not be reported.
+	atomic.StoreInt64(&d.syncStartTime, 0)
+	atomic.StoreInt64(&d.lastStallWarn, 0)
+	if err := d.synchronise("peer", common.Hash{}, nil, FullSync); err != errBusy {
+		t.Fatalf("synchronise error mismatch: have %v, want %v", err, errBusy)
+	}
+	if warned := atomic.LoadInt64(&d.lastStallWarn); warned != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("finishing sync round reported as stalled")
+	}
+}