diff --git a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/find_peers.rs b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/find_peers.rs
index 03b109b3..647dc78b 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/find_peers.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/find_peers.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 use super::*;
 
 impl RoutingTable {
-    /// Utility to find all closest nodes to a particular key, including possibly our own node and nodes further away from the key than our own, returning their peer info
-    pub fn find_all_closest_peers(
+    /// Utility to find the closest nodes to a particular key, preferring reliable nodes first,
+    /// including possibly our own node and nodes further away from the key than our own,
+    /// returning their peer info
+    pub fn find_preferred_closest_peers(
         &self,
         key: TypedKey,
         capabilities: &[Capability],
@@ -49,7 +51,7 @@ impl RoutingTable {
         };
 
         let own_peer_info = self.get_own_peer_info(RoutingDomain::PublicInternet);
-        let closest_nodes = match self.find_closest_nodes(
+        let closest_nodes = match self.find_preferred_closest_nodes(
             node_count,
             key,
             filters,
@@ -68,9 +70,10 @@ impl RoutingTable {
         NetworkResult::value(closest_nodes)
     }
 
-    /// Utility to find nodes that are closer to a key than our own node, returning their peer info
+    /// Utility to find nodes that are closer to a key than our own node,
+    /// preferring reliable nodes first, and returning their peer info
     /// Can filter based on a particular set of capabiltiies
-    pub fn find_peers_closer_to_key(
+    pub fn find_preferred_peers_closer_to_key(
         &self,
         key: TypedKey,
         required_capabilities: Vec<Capability>,
@@ -126,7 +129,7 @@ impl RoutingTable {
         };
 
         //
-        let closest_nodes = match self.find_closest_nodes(
+        let closest_nodes = match self.find_preferred_closest_nodes(
             node_count,
             key,
             filters,
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/mod.rs b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/mod.rs
index a3917be0..45808558 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/mod.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/mod.rs
@@ -939,7 +939,7 @@ impl RoutingTable {
 
         let filters = VecDeque::from([filter]);
 
-        self.find_fastest_nodes(
+        self.find_preferred_fastest_nodes(
             protocol_types_len * 2 * max_per_type,
             filters,
             |_rti, entry: Option<Arc<BucketEntry>>| {
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ impl RoutingTable {
             .find_peers_with_sort_and_filter(node_count, cur_ts, filters, compare, transform)
     }
 
-    pub fn find_fastest_nodes<'a, T, O>(
+    pub fn find_preferred_fastest_nodes<'a, T, O>(
         &self,
         node_count: usize,
         filters: VecDeque<RoutingTableEntryFilter>,
@@ -1001,10 +1001,10 @@ impl RoutingTable {
     {
         self.inner
             .read()
-            .find_fastest_nodes(node_count, filters, transform)
+            .find_preferred_fastest_nodes(node_count, filters, transform)
     }
 
-    pub fn find_closest_nodes<'a, T, O>(
+    pub fn find_preferred_closest_nodes<'a, T, O>(
         &self,
         node_count: usize,
         node_id: TypedKey,
@@ -1016,14 +1016,14 @@ impl RoutingTable {
     {
         self.inner
             .read()
-            .find_closest_nodes(node_count, node_id, filters, transform)
+            .find_preferred_closest_nodes(node_count, node_id, filters, transform)
     }
 
     pub fn sort_and_clean_closest_noderefs(
         &self,
         node_id: TypedKey,
-        closest_nodes: &mut Vec<NodeRef>,
-    ) {
+        closest_nodes: &[NodeRef],
+    ) -> Vec<NodeRef> {
         self.inner
             .read()
             .sort_and_clean_closest_noderefs(node_id, closest_nodes)
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/routing_table_inner.rs b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/routing_table_inner.rs
index 8ba6cf88..44c001a4 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/routing_table_inner.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/routing_table_inner.rs
@@ -963,7 +963,7 @@ impl RoutingTableInner {
             }) as RoutingTableEntryFilter;
         filters.push_front(public_node_filter);
 
-        self.find_fastest_nodes(
+        self.find_preferred_fastest_nodes(
             node_count,
             filters,
             |_rti: &RoutingTableInner, v: Option<Arc<BucketEntry>>| {
@@ -1062,7 +1062,7 @@ impl RoutingTableInner {
         out
     }
 
-    pub fn find_fastest_nodes<T, O>(
+    pub fn find_preferred_fastest_nodes<T, O>(
         &self,
         node_count: usize,
         mut filters: VecDeque<RoutingTableEntryFilter>,
@@ -1154,7 +1154,7 @@ impl RoutingTableInner {
         out
     }
 
-    pub fn find_closest_nodes<T, O>(
+    pub fn find_preferred_closest_nodes<T, O>(
         &self,
         node_count: usize,
         node_id: TypedKey,
@@ -1242,8 +1242,8 @@ impl RoutingTableInner {
     pub fn sort_and_clean_closest_noderefs(
         &self,
         node_id: TypedKey,
-        closest_nodes: &mut Vec<NodeRef>,
-    ) {
+        closest_nodes: &[NodeRef],
+    ) -> Vec<NodeRef> {
         // Lock all noderefs
         let kind = node_id.kind;
         let mut closest_nodes_locked: Vec<NodeRefLocked> = closest_nodes
@@ -1263,7 +1263,7 @@ impl RoutingTableInner {
         closest_nodes_locked.sort_by(sort);
 
         // Unlock noderefs
-        *closest_nodes = closest_nodes_locked.iter().map(|x| x.unlocked()).collect();
+        closest_nodes_locked.iter().map(|x| x.unlocked()).collect()
     }
 }
 
@@ -1271,7 +1271,6 @@ fn make_closest_noderef_sort(
     crypto: Crypto,
     node_id: TypedKey,
 ) -> impl Fn(&NodeRefLocked, &NodeRefLocked) -> core::cmp::Ordering {
-    let cur_ts = get_aligned_timestamp();
     let kind = node_id.kind;
     // Get cryptoversion to check distance with
     let vcrypto = crypto.get(kind).unwrap();
@@ -1282,19 +1281,8 @@ fn make_closest_noderef_sort(
             return core::cmp::Ordering::Equal;
         }
 
-        // reliable nodes come first, pessimistically treating our own node as unreliable
         a.operate(|_rti, a_entry| {
             b.operate(|_rti, b_entry| {
-                let ra = a_entry.check_reliable(cur_ts);
-                let rb = b_entry.check_reliable(cur_ts);
-                if ra != rb {
-                    if ra {
-                        return core::cmp::Ordering::Less;
-                    } else {
-                        return core::cmp::Ordering::Greater;
-                    }
-                }
-
                 // get keys
                 let a_key = a_entry.node_ids().get(kind).unwrap();
                 let b_key = b_entry.node_ids().get(kind).unwrap();
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/tasks/peer_minimum_refresh.rs b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/tasks/peer_minimum_refresh.rs
index f2dc92fc..00581179 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/tasks/peer_minimum_refresh.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/tasks/peer_minimum_refresh.rs
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ impl RoutingTable {
             ) as RoutingTableEntryFilter;
             filters.push_front(filter);
 
-            let noderefs = routing_table.find_fastest_nodes(
+            let noderefs = routing_table.find_preferred_fastest_nodes(
                 min_peer_count,
                 filters,
                 |_rti, entry: Option<Arc<BucketEntry>>| {
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/fanout_call.rs b/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/fanout_call.rs
index 94dfda66..3f7529ad 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/fanout_call.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/fanout_call.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,7 @@ struct FanoutContext<R>
 where
     R: Unpin,
 {
-    closest_nodes: Vec<NodeRef>,
-    called_nodes: HashSet<TypedKey>,
+    fanout_queue: FanoutQueue,
     result: Option<Result<R, RPCError>>,
 }
 
@@ -72,8 +71,7 @@ where
         check_done: D,
     ) -> Arc<Self> {
         let context = Mutex::new(FanoutContext {
-            closest_nodes: Vec::with_capacity(node_count),
-            called_nodes: HashSet::new(),
+            fanout_queue: FanoutQueue::new(node_id.kind),
             result: None,
         });
 
@@ -91,82 +89,44 @@ where
         })
     }
 
-    fn add_new_nodes(self: Arc<Self>, new_nodes: Vec<NodeRef>) {
-        let mut ctx = self.context.lock();
-
-        for nn in new_nodes {
-            // Make sure the new node isnt already in the list
-            let mut dup = false;
-            for cn in &ctx.closest_nodes {
-                if cn.same_entry(&nn) {
-                    dup = true;
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-            if !dup {
-                // Add the new node if we haven't already called it before (only one call per node ever)
-                if let Some(key) = nn.node_ids().get(self.crypto_kind) {
-                    if !ctx.called_nodes.contains(&key) {
-                        ctx.closest_nodes.push(nn.clone());
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        self.routing_table
-            .sort_and_clean_closest_noderefs(self.node_id, &mut ctx.closest_nodes);
-        ctx.closest_nodes.truncate(self.node_count);
-    }
-
-    fn remove_node(self: Arc<Self>, dead_node: NodeRef) {
-        let mut ctx = self.context.lock();
-        for n in 0..ctx.closest_nodes.len() {
-            let cn = &ctx.closest_nodes[n];
-            if cn.same_entry(&dead_node) {
-                ctx.closest_nodes.remove(n);
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn get_next_node(self: Arc<Self>) -> Option<NodeRef> {
-        let mut next_node = None;
-        let mut ctx = self.context.lock();
-        for cn in ctx.closest_nodes.clone() {
-            if let Some(key) = cn.node_ids().get(self.crypto_kind) {
-                if !ctx.called_nodes.contains(&key) {
-                    // New fanout call candidate found
-                    next_node = Some(cn.clone());
-                    ctx.called_nodes.insert(key);
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        next_node
-    }
-
-    fn evaluate_done(self: Arc<Self>) -> bool {
-        let mut ctx = self.context.lock();
-
+    fn evaluate_done(self: Arc<Self>, ctx: &mut FanoutContext<R>) -> bool {
         // If we have a result, then we're done
         if ctx.result.is_some() {
             return true;
         }
 
         // Check for a new done result
-        ctx.result = (self.check_done)(&ctx.closest_nodes).map(|o| Ok(o));
+        ctx.result = (self.check_done)(ctx.fanout_queue.nodes()).map(|o| Ok(o));
         ctx.result.is_some()
     }
 
+    fn add_to_fanout_queue(self: Arc<Self>, new_nodes: &[NodeRef]) {
+        let ctx = &mut *self.context.lock();
+        let this = self.clone();
+        ctx.fanout_queue.add(&new_nodes, |current_nodes| {
+            let mut current_nodes_vec = this
+                .routing_table
+                .sort_and_clean_closest_noderefs(this.node_id, current_nodes);
+            current_nodes_vec.truncate(self.node_count);
+            current_nodes_vec
+        });
+    }
+
     async fn fanout_processor(self: Arc<Self>) {
-        // Check to see if we have a result or are done
-        while !self.clone().evaluate_done() {
-            // Get the closest node we haven't processed yet
-            let next_node = self.clone().get_next_node();
+        // Loop until we have a result or are done
+        loop {
+            // Get the closest node we haven't processed yet if we're not done yet
+            let next_node = {
+                let mut ctx = self.context.lock();
+                if self.clone().evaluate_done(&mut ctx) {
+                    break;
+                }
+                self.context.lock().fanout_queue.next()
+            };
 
             // If we don't have a node to process, stop fanning out
             let Some(next_node) = next_node else {
-                return;
+                break;
             };
 
             // Do the call for this node
@@ -188,20 +148,18 @@ where
                         .collect();
 
                     // Call succeeded
-                    // Register the returned nodes and add them to the closest nodes list in sorted order
+                    // Register the returned nodes and add them to the fanout queue in sorted order
                     let new_nodes = self
                         .routing_table
                         .register_find_node_answer(self.crypto_kind, filtered_v);
-                    self.clone().add_new_nodes(new_nodes);
+                    self.clone().add_to_fanout_queue(&new_nodes);
                 }
                 Ok(None) => {
-                    // Call failed, remove the node so it isn't considered as part of the fanout
-                    self.clone().remove_node(next_node);
+                    // Call failed, node will node be considered again
                 }
                 Err(e) => {
                     // Error happened, abort everything and return the error
-                    let mut ctx = self.context.lock();
-                    ctx.result = Some(Err(e));
+                    self.context.lock().result = Some(Err(e));
                     return;
                 }
             };
@@ -231,7 +189,7 @@ where
                             return false;
                         }
 
-                        // Check our node info ilter
+                        // Check our node info filter
                         let node_ids = e.node_ids().to_vec();
                         if !(node_info_filter)(&node_ids, signed_node_info.node_info()) {
                             return false;
@@ -248,12 +206,10 @@ where
             };
 
             routing_table
-                .find_closest_nodes(self.node_count, self.node_id, filters, transform)
+                .find_preferred_closest_nodes(self.node_count, self.node_id, filters, transform)
                 .map_err(RPCError::invalid_format)?
         };
-
-        let mut ctx = self.context.lock();
-        ctx.closest_nodes = closest_nodes;
+        self.clone().add_to_fanout_queue(&closest_nodes);
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -272,9 +228,11 @@ where
         }
 
         // Do a quick check to see if we're already done
-        if self.clone().evaluate_done() {
+        {
             let mut ctx = self.context.lock();
-            return TimeoutOr::value(ctx.result.take().transpose());
+            if self.clone().evaluate_done(&mut ctx) {
+                return TimeoutOr::value(ctx.result.take().transpose());
+            }
         }
 
         // If not, do the fanout
@@ -287,19 +245,12 @@ where
             }
         }
         // Wait for them to complete
-        timeout(timeout_ms, async {
-            while let Some(_) = unord.next().await {
-                if self.clone().evaluate_done() {
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-        })
-        .await
-        .into_timeout_or()
-        .map(|_| {
-            // Finished, return whatever value we came up with
-            let mut ctx = self.context.lock();
-            ctx.result.take().transpose()
-        })
+        timeout(timeout_ms, async { while unord.next().await.is_some() {} })
+            .await
+            .into_timeout_or()
+            .map(|_| {
+                // Finished, return whatever value we came up with
+                self.context.lock().result.take().transpose()
+            })
     }
 }
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/fanout_queue.rs b/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/fanout_queue.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3655012b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/fanout_queue.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+use super::*;
+
+pub struct FanoutQueue {
+    crypto_kind: CryptoKind,
+    current_nodes: VecDeque<NodeRef>,
+    returned_nodes: HashSet<TypedKey>,
+}
+
+impl FanoutQueue {
+    // Create a queue for fanout candidates that have a crypto-kind compatible node id
+    pub fn new(crypto_kind: CryptoKind) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            crypto_kind,
+            current_nodes: VecDeque::new(),
+            returned_nodes: HashSet::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Add new nodes to list of fanout candidates
+    // Run a cleanup routine afterwards to trim down the list of candidates so it doesn't grow too large
+    pub fn add<F: FnOnce(&[NodeRef]) -> Vec<NodeRef>>(
+        &mut self,
+        new_nodes: &[NodeRef],
+        cleanup: F,
+    ) {
+        for nn in new_nodes {
+            // Ensure the node has a comparable key with our current crypto kind
+            let Some(key) = nn.node_ids().get(self.crypto_kind) else {
+                continue;
+            };
+            // Check if we have already done this node before (only one call per node ever)
+            if self.returned_nodes.contains(&key) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            // Make sure the new node isnt already in the list
+            let mut dup = false;
+            for cn in &self.current_nodes {
+                if cn.same_entry(nn) {
+                    dup = true;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            if !dup {
+                // Add the new node
+                self.current_nodes.push_front(nn.clone());
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Make sure the deque is a single slice
+        self.current_nodes.make_contiguous();
+
+        // Sort and trim the candidate set
+        self.current_nodes =
+            VecDeque::from_iter(cleanup(self.current_nodes.as_slices().0).iter().cloned());
+    }
+
+    // Return next fanout candidate
+    pub fn next(&mut self) -> Option<NodeRef> {
+        let cn = self.current_nodes.pop_front()?;
+        self.current_nodes.make_contiguous();
+        let key = cn.node_ids().get(self.crypto_kind).unwrap();
+
+        // Ensure we don't return this node again
+        self.returned_nodes.insert(key);
+        Some(cn)
+    }
+
+    // Get a slice of all the current fanout candidates
+    pub fn nodes(&self) -> &[NodeRef] {
+        self.current_nodes.as_slices().0
+    }
+}
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/mod.rs b/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/mod.rs
index b4a06628..8f4baea8 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/mod.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/mod.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 mod coders;
 mod destination;
 mod fanout_call;
+mod fanout_queue;
 mod operation_waiter;
 mod rpc_app_call;
 mod rpc_app_message;
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ mod rpc_start_tunnel;
 pub use coders::*;
 pub use destination::*;
 pub use fanout_call::*;
+pub use fanout_queue::*;
 pub use operation_waiter::*;
 pub use rpc_error::*;
 pub use rpc_status::*;
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/rpc_find_node.rs b/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/rpc_find_node.rs
index 6bbcf5fa..d205081f 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/rpc_find_node.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/rpc_find_node.rs
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ impl RPCProcessor {
         // Get a chunk of the routing table near the requested node id
         let routing_table = self.routing_table();
         let closest_nodes =
-            network_result_try!(routing_table.find_all_closest_peers(node_id, &capabilities));
+            network_result_try!(routing_table.find_preferred_closest_peers(node_id, &capabilities));
 
         // Make FindNode answer
         let find_node_a = RPCOperationFindNodeA::new(closest_nodes)?;
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/rpc_get_value.rs b/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/rpc_get_value.rs
index 3895d9cb..4dff0c0d 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/rpc_get_value.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/rpc_get_value.rs
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ impl RPCProcessor {
 
         // Get the nodes that we know about that are closer to the the key than our own node
         let routing_table = self.routing_table();
-        let closer_to_key_peers = network_result_try!(routing_table.find_peers_closer_to_key(key, vec![CAP_DHT]));
+        let closer_to_key_peers = network_result_try!(routing_table.find_preferred_peers_closer_to_key(key, vec![CAP_DHT]));
 
         let debug_string = format!(
             "IN <=== GetValueQ({} #{}{}) <== {}",
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/rpc_set_value.rs b/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/rpc_set_value.rs
index 82f9afc4..62ad8da8 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/rpc_set_value.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/rpc_processor/rpc_set_value.rs
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ impl RPCProcessor {
 
         // Get the nodes that we know about that are closer to the the key than our own node
         let routing_table = self.routing_table();
-        let closer_to_key_peers = network_result_try!(routing_table.find_peers_closer_to_key(key, vec![CAP_DHT]));
+        let closer_to_key_peers = network_result_try!(routing_table.find_preferred_peers_closer_to_key(key, vec![CAP_DHT]));
 
         let debug_string = format!(
             "IN <=== SetValueQ({} #{} len={} seq={} writer={}{}) <== {}",