diff --git a/crates/storage/src/lib.rs b/crates/storage/src/lib.rs
index 89e2fa36..5cc90805 100644
--- a/crates/storage/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/storage/src/lib.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@ pub mod backend;
 mod store;
 mod types;
 
-pub use api::StorageBackend;
+pub use api::{StorageBackend, StorageReadView, StorageWriteBatch, Table};
 pub use store::{ForkCheckpoints, SignatureKey, Store};
 pub use types::{StoredAggregatedPayload, StoredSignature};
diff --git a/crates/storage/src/store.rs b/crates/storage/src/store.rs
index a69d39c2..9bc1b307 100644
--- a/crates/storage/src/store.rs
+++ b/crates/storage/src/store.rs
@@ -478,6 +478,20 @@ impl Store {
                     "Pruned finalized data"
                 );
             }
+        } else {
+            // Fallback pruning when finalization is stalled.
+            // When finalization doesn't advance, the normal pruning path above never
+            // triggers. Prune old states and blocks on every head update to keep
+            // storage bounded. The prune methods are no-ops when within retention limits.
+            let protected_roots = [self.latest_finalized().root, self.latest_justified().root];
+            let pruned_states = self.prune_old_states(&protected_roots);
+            let pruned_blocks = self.prune_old_blocks(&protected_roots);
+            if pruned_states > 0 || pruned_blocks > 0 {
+                info!(
+                    pruned_states,
+                    pruned_blocks, "Fallback pruning (finalization stalled)"
+                );
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -1352,6 +1366,117 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(has_key(backend.as_ref(), Table::States, &justified_root));
     }
 
+    // ============ Periodic Pruning Tests ============
+
+    /// Set up finalized and justified checkpoints in metadata.
+    fn set_checkpoints(backend: &dyn StorageBackend, finalized: Checkpoint, justified: Checkpoint) {
+        let mut batch = backend.begin_write().expect("write batch");
+        batch
+            .put_batch(
+                Table::Metadata,
+                vec![
+                    (KEY_LATEST_FINALIZED.to_vec(), finalized.as_ssz_bytes()),
+                    (KEY_LATEST_JUSTIFIED.to_vec(), justified.as_ssz_bytes()),
+                ],
+            )
+            .expect("put checkpoints");
+        batch.commit().expect("commit");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn fallback_pruning_removes_old_states_and_blocks() {
+        let backend = Arc::new(InMemoryBackend::new());
+        let mut store = Store::test_store_with_backend(backend.clone());
+
+        // Use roots that are within the retention window as finalized/justified
+        let finalized_root = root(0);
+        let justified_root = root(1);
+        set_checkpoints(
+            backend.as_ref(),
+            Checkpoint {
+                slot: 0,
+                root: finalized_root,
+            },
+            Checkpoint {
+                slot: 1,
+                root: justified_root,
+            },
+        );
+
+        // Insert more than STATES_TO_KEEP headers + states, but fewer than BLOCKS_TO_KEEP
+        let total_states = STATES_TO_KEEP + 5;
+        for i in 0..total_states as u64 {
+            insert_header(backend.as_ref(), root(i), i);
+            insert_state(backend.as_ref(), root(i));
+        }
+
+        assert_eq!(count_entries(backend.as_ref(), Table::States), total_states);
+        assert_eq!(
+            count_entries(backend.as_ref(), Table::BlockHeaders),
+            total_states
+        );
+
+        // Use the last inserted root as head. Calling update_checkpoints with
+        // head_only triggers the fallback path (finalization doesn't advance).
+        let head_root = root(total_states as u64 - 1);
+        store.update_checkpoints(ForkCheckpoints::head_only(head_root));
+
+        // 905 headers total. Top 900 by slot are kept in the retention window,
+        // leaving 5 candidates. 2 are protected (finalized + justified),
+        // so 3 are pruned → 905 - 3 = 902 states remaining.
+        assert_eq!(
+            count_entries(backend.as_ref(), Table::States),
+            STATES_TO_KEEP + 2
+        );
+        // Finalized and justified states must survive
+        assert!(has_key(backend.as_ref(), Table::States, &finalized_root));
+        assert!(has_key(backend.as_ref(), Table::States, &justified_root));
+
+        // Blocks: total_states < BLOCKS_TO_KEEP, so no blocks should be pruned
+        assert_eq!(
+            count_entries(backend.as_ref(), Table::BlockHeaders),
+            total_states
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn fallback_pruning_no_op_within_retention() {
+        let backend = Arc::new(InMemoryBackend::new());
+        let mut store = Store::test_store_with_backend(backend.clone());
+
+        set_checkpoints(
+            backend.as_ref(),
+            Checkpoint {
+                slot: 0,
+                root: root(0),
+            },
+            Checkpoint {
+                slot: 0,
+                root: root(0),
+            },
+        );
+
+        // Insert exactly STATES_TO_KEEP entries (no excess)
+        for i in 0..STATES_TO_KEEP as u64 {
+            insert_header(backend.as_ref(), root(i), i);
+            insert_state(backend.as_ref(), root(i));
+        }
+
+        // Use the last inserted root as head
+        let head_root = root(STATES_TO_KEEP as u64 - 1);
+        store.update_checkpoints(ForkCheckpoints::head_only(head_root));
+
+        // Nothing should be pruned (within retention window)
+        assert_eq!(
+            count_entries(backend.as_ref(), Table::States),
+            STATES_TO_KEEP
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            count_entries(backend.as_ref(), Table::BlockHeaders),
+            STATES_TO_KEEP
+        );
+    }
+
     // ============ PayloadBuffer Tests ============
 
     fn make_payload(slot: u64) -> StoredAggregatedPayload {