diff --git a/sync/fork_test/fork.go b/sync/fork_test/fork.go
index e11c5543..1518bb20 100644
--- a/sync/fork_test/fork.go
+++ b/sync/fork_test/fork.go
@@ -56,20 +56,28 @@ func main() {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
-	logging.Logger("sync")
-	err = logging.SetLogLevel("sync", "debug")
+	_, err = ee.trustedPeer.GetByHeight(ctx, 100)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	_, err = ee.eclipsedExchange.GetByHeight(ctx, 100)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
+	logging.Logger("sync")
+
 	err = syncer.Start(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
-	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+	// this sleep is necessary to allow the syncer to trigger a job
+	// as calling SyncWait prematurely may falsely return without error
+	// as the syncer has not yet registered a sync job.
+	//time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 100)
+	time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 500)
 	syncer.SyncWait(ctx) //nolint:errcheck
-
 }
 
 // eclipsedExchange is an exchange that can serve a good Head to the syncer
diff --git a/sync/sync.go b/sync/sync.go
index 641e1812..a50dfec6 100644
--- a/sync/sync.go
+++ b/sync/sync.go
@@ -173,11 +173,9 @@ func (s *Syncer[H]) wantSync() {
 
 // syncLoop controls syncing process.
 func (s *Syncer[H]) syncLoop() {
-	fmt.Println("Spawned")
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-s.triggerSync:
-			fmt.Println("triggering sync")
 			s.sync(s.ctx)
 		case <-s.ctx.Done():
 			return
@@ -192,7 +190,6 @@ func (s *Syncer[H]) sync(ctx context.Context) {
 		log.Errorw("getting sync target", "err", err)
 		return
 	}
-	fmt.Println("got sync target: ", target.Height())
 
 	storeHead, err := s.store.Head(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/sync/sync_fork_test.go b/sync/sync_fork_test.go
index 254c748d..55df59ad 100644
--- a/sync/sync_fork_test.go
+++ b/sync/sync_fork_test.go
@@ -15,12 +15,13 @@ import (
 // 4. sync up to subjective head - 1, try to apply subjective head (fails)
 // 5. ensure fork is tossed and Fatal is thrown
 func TestForkFollowingPrevention(t *testing.T) {
-
 	path, err := filepath.Abs("./fork_test/fork.go")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	cmd := exec.Command("go", "run", path)
-	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
+	cmd.Stdout = os.Stderr
+	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
 	err = cmd.Run()
-	t.Log("err: ", err)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	require.Contains(t, err.Error(), "exit status 1")
 }