diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index de9a5512..3f5820b5 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-4.9.8
+4.9.9
diff --git a/gas/__init__.py b/gas/__init__.py
index 72689c2b..5635b1b8 100644
--- a/gas/__init__.py
+++ b/gas/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-__version__ = "4.9.8"
+__version__ = "4.9.9"
 
 version_split = __version__.split(".")
 __spec_version__ = (
diff --git a/gas/evaluation/miner_type_tracker.py b/gas/evaluation/miner_type_tracker.py
index 48b27615..4c2d78bf 100644
--- a/gas/evaluation/miner_type_tracker.py
+++ b/gas/evaluation/miner_type_tracker.py
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ async def update_miner_types(self, miner_uids: Optional[List[int]] = None, force
                         session,
                         self.wallet.hotkey,
                         self.config.neuron.miner_total_timeout,
+                        # Unreachable axons drop packets rather than refuse;
+                        # without a connect bound they hold the sweep open
+                        # until the total timeout.
+                        sock_connect_timeout=10,
                     )
                     for uid in miner_uids
                 ],
diff --git a/gas/utils/metagraph.py b/gas/utils/metagraph.py
index eaf9ee36..c848ad9d 100644
--- a/gas/utils/metagraph.py
+++ b/gas/utils/metagraph.py
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ def __init__(self, url: str, ss58_format: int, type_registry: dict):
         self.type_registry = type_registry
         self.running = False
         self.task = None
+        self._callback_tasks = set()
 
     async def _connect_and_subscribe(self, callback: Callable):
         bt.logging.info(f"Connecting to async substrate: {self.url}")
@@ -166,9 +167,19 @@ async def _run_subscription_attempt(self, callback: Callable):
         """Run one subscription attempt and always reap its child tasks."""
         block_received = asyncio.Event()
 
+        def _reap_callback_task(task):
+            self._callback_tasks.discard(task)
+            if not task.cancelled() and task.exception() is not None:
+                bt.logging.error(f"Block callback task failed: {task.exception()}")
+
         async def tracked_callback(block):
             block_received.set()
-            await callback(block)
+            # Detach callbacks from header processing: a slow callback (e.g.
+            # the miner-type sweep) must not stall the subscription and trip
+            # the staleness watchdog, which cancels this attempt's tasks.
+            task = asyncio.create_task(callback(block))
+            self._callback_tasks.add(task)
+            task.add_done_callback(_reap_callback_task)
 
         subscription_task = asyncio.create_task(
             self._connect_and_subscribe(tracked_callback)
diff --git a/neurons/validator/validator.py b/neurons/validator/validator.py
index b466c013..89a63f96 100644
--- a/neurons/validator/validator.py
+++ b/neurons/validator/validator.py
@@ -143,7 +143,8 @@ async def run(self):
             "\N{GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES}",
             f"Initialization Complete. Validator starting at block: {self.subtensor.block}",
         )
-        await self.set_weights(0)
+        # await self.set_weights(0)
+        # await self.issue_generator_challenge(0)
         while not self.exit_context.isExiting:
             self.step += 1
             if self.config.autoupdate and (self.step == 0 or not self.step % 300):