diff --git a/core/block_validator.go b/core/block_validator.go
index b82965a99d..6a2c7d0a83 100644
--- a/core/block_validator.go
+++ b/core/block_validator.go
@@ -262,3 +262,8 @@ func CalcGasLimit(parentGasLimit, desiredLimit uint64) uint64 {
 	}
 	return limit
 }
+
+// CalcGasLimitForBuilder computes the gas limit of the next block.
+func CalcGasLimitForBuilder(parentGasLimit, desiredLimit uint64) uint64 {
+	return CalcGasLimit(parentGasLimit, desiredLimit) / 2
+}
diff --git a/miner/bidder.go b/miner/bidder.go
index 3469775448..8c8da93fe3 100644
--- a/miner/bidder.go
+++ b/miner/bidder.go
@@ -119,11 +119,7 @@ func (b *Bidder) mainLoop() {
 				betterBidBefore = bidutil.BidBetterBefore(parentHeader, b.chain.Config().Parlia.Period, b.delayLeftOver,
 					bidSimulationLeftOver)
 
-				if time.Now().After(betterBidBefore) {
-					timer.Reset(0)
-				} else {
-					timer.Reset(time.Until(betterBidBefore) / time.Duration(maxBid))
-				}
+				timer.Reset(0)
 			}
 			if bidNum < maxBid && b.isBestWork(work) {
 				// update the bestWork and do bid
diff --git a/miner/miner.go b/miner/miner.go
index a6474bb694..f4d91c57e0 100644
--- a/miner/miner.go
+++ b/miner/miner.go
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ func (miner *Miner) prepareSimulationEnv(parent *types.Header, state *state.Stat
 	header := &types.Header{
 		ParentHash: parent.Hash(),
 		Number:     new(big.Int).Add(parent.Number, common.Big1),
-		GasLimit:   core.CalcGasLimit(parent.GasLimit, miner.worker.config.GasCeil),
+		GasLimit:   core.CalcGasLimitForBuilder(parent.GasLimit, miner.worker.config.GasCeil),
 		Extra:      miner.worker.extra,
 		Time:       uint64(timestamp),
 		Coinbase:   miner.worker.etherbase(),
diff --git a/miner/worker.go b/miner/worker.go
index 884453b721..4818ca414d 100644
--- a/miner/worker.go
+++ b/miner/worker.go
@@ -1017,7 +1017,7 @@ func (w *worker) prepareWork(genParams *generateParams) (*environment, error) {
 	header := &types.Header{
 		ParentHash: parent.Hash(),
 		Number:     new(big.Int).Add(parent.Number, common.Big1),
-		GasLimit:   core.CalcGasLimit(parent.GasLimit, w.config.GasCeil),
+		GasLimit:   core.CalcGasLimitForBuilder(parent.GasLimit, w.config.GasCeil),
 		Time:       timestamp,
 		Coinbase:   genParams.coinbase,
 	}
@@ -1034,7 +1034,7 @@ func (w *worker) prepareWork(genParams *generateParams) (*environment, error) {
 		header.BaseFee = eip1559.CalcBaseFee(w.chainConfig, parent)
 		if w.chainConfig.Parlia == nil && !w.chainConfig.IsLondon(parent.Number) {
 			parentGasLimit := parent.GasLimit * w.chainConfig.ElasticityMultiplier()
-			header.GasLimit = core.CalcGasLimit(parentGasLimit, w.config.GasCeil)
+			header.GasLimit = core.CalcGasLimitForBuilder(parentGasLimit, w.config.GasCeil)
 		}
 	}
 	// Run the consensus preparation with the default or customized consensus engine.
diff --git a/miner/worker_builder.go b/miner/worker_builder.go
index fdd41752c9..e8d0d7711f 100644
--- a/miner/worker_builder.go
+++ b/miner/worker_builder.go
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 )
 
+const smallBundleGas = 10 * params.TxGas
+
 var (
 	errNonRevertingTxInBundleFailed = errors.New("non-reverting tx in bundle failed")
 	errBundlePriceTooLow            = errors.New("bundle price too low")
@@ -349,6 +351,11 @@ func (w *worker) mergeBundles(
 	}
 
 	for _, bundle := range bundles {
+		// if we don't have enough gas for any further transactions then we're done
+		if gasPool.Gas() < smallBundleGas {
+			break
+		}
+
 		prevState := currentState.Copy()
 		prevGasPool := new(core.GasPool).AddGas(gasPool.Gas())