diff --git a/dot/sync/fullsync.go b/dot/sync/fullsync.go
index ed373b7bab..8a004abc56 100644
--- a/dot/sync/fullsync.go
+++ b/dot/sync/fullsync.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ type importer interface {
 type syncTask struct {
 	id           TaskID
 	requestMaker network.RequestMaker
-	request      messages.P2PMessage
+	request      *messages.BlockRequestMessage
 }
 
 func (s *syncTask) ID() TaskID {
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ func validateResult(result TaskResult, badBlocks []string) (repChange *Change,
 		return
 	}
 
-	request := task.request.(*messages.BlockRequestMessage)
+	request := task.request
 	response := result.Result.(*messages.BlockResponseMessage)
 	if request.Direction == messages.Descending {
 		// reverse blocks before pre-validating and placing in ready queue
diff --git a/dot/sync/fullsync_test.go b/dot/sync/fullsync_test.go
index 9b1bc1e794..0a421ea0f1 100644
--- a/dot/sync/fullsync_test.go
+++ b/dot/sync/fullsync_test.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func TestFullSyncNextActions(t *testing.T) {
 		task, err := fs.NextActions()
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		request := task[0].(*syncTask).request.(*messages.BlockRequestMessage)
+		request := task[0].(*syncTask).request
 		require.Equal(t, uint(1), request.StartingBlock.RawValue())
 		require.Equal(t, uint32(128), *request.Max)
 	})