diff --git a/dash-spv/src/sync/filters/manager.rs b/dash-spv/src/sync/filters/manager.rs
index f91bdeeba..50969a9f5 100644
--- a/dash-spv/src/sync/filters/manager.rs
+++ b/dash-spv/src/sync/filters/manager.rs
@@ -149,7 +149,6 @@ impl<H: BlockHeaderStorage, FH: FilterHeaderStorage, F: FilterStorage, W: Wallet
     ) -> SyncResult<Vec<SyncEvent>> {
         debug_assert!(self.is_idle(), "manager should have no in-flight state on start");
 
-        self.set_state(SyncState::Syncing);
         // Use filter_committed_height for restart recovery instead of
         // synced_height, which advances per-block and may exceed committed scan progress.
         let (wallet_birth_height, wallet_committed_height) = {
@@ -184,7 +183,10 @@ impl<H: BlockHeaderStorage, FH: FilterHeaderStorage, F: FilterStorage, W: Wallet
                     tip_height: self.progress.committed_height(),
                 }]);
             }
-            // Caught up to available filter headers but chain tip not reached yet
+            // Not enough filter headers yet to start scanning. Go back to waiting
+            // so the next FilterHeadersStored event triggers start_download again
+            // with proper batch processing initialization.
+            self.set_state(SyncState::WaitForEvents);
             return Ok(vec![]);
         }
 
@@ -207,6 +209,8 @@ impl<H: BlockHeaderStorage, FH: FilterHeaderStorage, F: FilterStorage, W: Wallet
             self.progress.filter_header_tip_height()
         );
 
+        self.set_state(SyncState::Syncing);
+
         // Initialize download pipeline for remaining filters
         if download_start <= self.progress.filter_header_tip_height() {
             self.filter_pipeline.init(download_start, self.progress.filter_header_tip_height());
@@ -723,13 +727,19 @@ impl<H: BlockHeaderStorage, FH: FilterHeaderStorage, F: FilterStorage, W: Wallet
             SyncState::Syncing | SyncState::Synced
                 if self.progress.stored_height() < self.progress.filter_header_tip_height() =>
             {
+                // Transition back to Syncing so is_synced() returns false
+                // until all new filters and matched blocks are fully processed.
+                if self.state() == SyncState::Synced {
+                    self.set_state(SyncState::Syncing);
+                }
+
                 self.filter_pipeline.extend_target(tip_height);
                 {
                     let header_storage = self.header_storage.read().await;
                     self.filter_pipeline.send_pending(requests, &*header_storage).await?;
                 }
 
-                if self.state() == SyncState::Synced && self.active_batches.is_empty() {
+                if self.active_batches.is_empty() {
                     tracing::debug!("Processing new filter (target: {})", tip_height);
                     return self.try_create_lookahead_batches().await;
                 }
@@ -755,13 +765,14 @@ impl<H: BlockHeaderStorage, FH: FilterHeaderStorage, F: FilterStorage, W: Wallet
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::network::MessageType;
+    use crate::network::{MessageType, RequestSender};
     use crate::storage::{
         DiskStorageManager, PersistentBlockHeaderStorage, PersistentFilterHeaderStorage,
         PersistentFilterStorage, StorageManager,
     };
     use crate::sync::{ManagerIdentifier, SyncManagerProgress};
     use key_wallet_manager::test_utils::MockWallet;
+    use tokio::sync::mpsc::unbounded_channel;
 
     type TestFiltersManager = FiltersManager<
         PersistentBlockHeaderStorage,
@@ -969,4 +980,76 @@ mod tests {
         // After take, should be empty
         assert!(batch.take_collected_addresses().is_empty());
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_start_download_waits_when_filter_headers_insufficient() {
+        let mut manager = create_test_manager().await;
+        assert_eq!(manager.state(), SyncState::Initializing);
+
+        // Wallet committed to height 100, so scan_start will be 101
+        manager.wallet.write().await.update_synced_height(100);
+        // Filter headers only reached 50, so its below scan_start
+        manager.progress.update_filter_header_tip_height(50);
+        // Chain tip higher so the Synced early-return is not taken
+        manager.progress.update_target_height(1000);
+
+        let (tx, _rx) = unbounded_channel();
+        let events = manager.start_download(&RequestSender::new(tx)).await.unwrap();
+
+        assert!(events.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(manager.state(), SyncState::WaitForEvents);
+        assert!(manager.is_idle());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_start_download_transitions_to_syncing_when_filters_available() {
+        let mut manager = create_test_manager().await;
+        assert_eq!(manager.state(), SyncState::Initializing);
+
+        // Store headers so send_pending can resolve stop hashes
+        let headers = dashcore::block::Header::dummy_batch(0..101);
+        manager.header_storage.write().await.store_headers(&headers).await.unwrap();
+
+        // Filter headers available up to 100, wallet at genesis (scan_start = 0)
+        manager.progress.update_filter_header_tip_height(100);
+        manager.progress.update_target_height(1000);
+
+        let (tx, _rx) = unbounded_channel();
+        let events = manager.start_download(&RequestSender::new(tx)).await.unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(manager.state(), SyncState::Syncing);
+        assert!(!manager.is_idle());
+        assert!(events.is_empty());
+        // Should have created an initial processing batch spanning scan_start to filter tip
+        let batch = manager.active_batches.get(&0).expect("batch at scan_start=0");
+        assert_eq!(batch.start_height(), 0);
+        assert_eq!(batch.end_height(), 100);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_handle_new_filter_headers_transitions_synced_to_syncing() {
+        let mut manager = create_test_manager().await;
+
+        // Simulate fully synced state at height 100
+        manager.set_state(SyncState::Synced);
+        manager.progress.update_stored_height(100);
+        manager.progress.update_filter_header_tip_height(100);
+        manager.progress.update_committed_height(100);
+        manager.progress.update_target_height(1000);
+        // Pipeline target at 150 with no pending batches, so extend_target(150)
+        // is a no-op and send_pending returns immediately (no headers needed)
+        manager.filter_pipeline.init(151, 150);
+        // Active batch prevents try_create_lookahead_batches from running
+        manager.active_batches.insert(101, FiltersBatch::new(101, 200, HashMap::new()));
+
+        let (tx, _rx) = unbounded_channel();
+        let requests = RequestSender::new(tx);
+
+        // New filter headers arrive at 150: stored(100) < tip(150)
+        let events = manager.handle_new_filter_headers(150, &requests).await.unwrap();
+
+        assert!(events.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(manager.state(), SyncState::Syncing);
+        assert!(!manager.is_idle());
+    }
 }