diff --git a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.test.ts b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.test.ts
index 9caa6a86f14..ef1685bc3bd 100644
--- a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.test.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.test.ts
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
 
     globalVariableBuilder.buildGlobalVariables.mockResolvedValueOnce(mockedGlobalVariables);
 
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
 
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       2,
@@ -222,33 +222,32 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
 
   it.each([
     {
-      previousState: SequencerState.PROPOSER_CHECK,
       delayedState: SequencerState.WAITING_FOR_TXS,
     },
     // It would be nice to add the other states, but we would need to inject delays within the `work` loop
-  ])(
-    'does not build a block if it does not have enough time left in the slot',
-    async ({ previousState, delayedState }) => {
-      // trick the sequencer into thinking that we are just too far into the slot
-      sequencer.setL1GenesisTime(Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) - (sequencer.getTimeTable()[delayedState] + 1));
+  ])('does not build a block if it does not have enough time left in the slot', async ({ delayedState }) => {
+    // trick the sequencer into thinking that we are just too far into the slot
+    sequencer.setL1GenesisTime(Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) - (sequencer.getTimeTable()[delayedState] + 1));
 
-      const tx = mockTxForRollup();
-      tx.data.constants.txContext.chainId = chainId;
+    const tx = mockTxForRollup();
+    tx.data.constants.txContext.chainId = chainId;
 
-      p2p.getTxs.mockReturnValueOnce([tx]);
-      blockBuilder.setBlockCompleted.mockResolvedValue(block);
-      publisher.proposeL2Block.mockResolvedValueOnce(true);
+    p2p.getTxs.mockReturnValueOnce([tx]);
+    blockBuilder.setBlockCompleted.mockResolvedValue(block);
+    publisher.proposeL2Block.mockResolvedValueOnce(true);
 
-      globalVariableBuilder.buildGlobalVariables.mockResolvedValueOnce(mockedGlobalVariables);
+    globalVariableBuilder.buildGlobalVariables.mockResolvedValueOnce(mockedGlobalVariables);
 
-      await expect(sequencer.work()).rejects.toThrow(
-        `Cannot set sequencer from ${previousState} to ${delayedState} as there is not enough time left in the slot.`,
-      );
+    await expect(sequencer.doRealWork()).rejects.toThrow(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        name: 'SequencerTooSlowError',
+        message: expect.stringContaining(`Too far into slot to transition to ${delayedState}.`),
+      }),
+    );
 
-      expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-      expect(publisher.proposeL2Block).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    },
-  );
+    expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(publisher.proposeL2Block).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
 
   it('builds a block when it is their turn', async () => {
     const tx = mockTxForRollup();
@@ -265,7 +264,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
     publisher.canProposeAtNextEthBlock.mockRejectedValue(new Error());
     publisher.validateBlockForSubmission.mockRejectedValue(new Error());
 
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 
     // Now we can propose, but lets assume that the content is still "bad" (missing sigs etc)
@@ -274,14 +273,14 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
       block.header.globalVariables.blockNumber.toBigInt(),
     ]);
 
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 
     // Now it is!
     publisher.validateBlockForSubmission.mockClear();
     publisher.validateBlockForSubmission.mockResolvedValue();
 
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       2,
       mockedGlobalVariables,
@@ -314,7 +313,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
       );
     });
 
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
 
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       2,
@@ -343,7 +342,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
     // We make the chain id on the invalid tx not equal to the configured chain id
     invalidChainTx.data.constants.txContext.chainId = new Fr(1n + chainId.value);
 
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
 
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       2,
@@ -374,7 +373,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
     (txs[invalidTransactionIndex].unencryptedLogs.functionLogs[0].logs[0] as Writeable<UnencryptedL2Log>).data =
       randomBytes(1024 * 1022);
 
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
 
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       2,
@@ -402,20 +401,20 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
     // block is not built with 0 txs
     p2p.getTxs.mockReturnValueOnce([]);
     //p2p.getTxs.mockReturnValueOnce(txs.slice(0, 4));
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
 
     // block is not built with 3 txs
     p2p.getTxs.mockReturnValueOnce(txs.slice(0, 3));
 
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
 
     // block is built with 4 txs
     p2p.getTxs.mockReturnValueOnce(txs.slice(0, 4));
     const txHashes = txs.slice(0, 4).map(tx => tx.getTxHash());
 
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       4,
       mockedGlobalVariables,
@@ -442,12 +441,12 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
 
     // block is not built with 0 txs
     p2p.getTxs.mockReturnValueOnce([]);
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
 
     // block is not built with 3 txs
     p2p.getTxs.mockReturnValueOnce(txs.slice(0, 3));
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
 
     // flush the sequencer and it should build a block
@@ -455,7 +454,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
 
     // block is built with 0 txs
     p2p.getTxs.mockReturnValueOnce([]);
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       2,
@@ -483,12 +482,12 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
 
     // block is not built with 0 txs
     p2p.getTxs.mockReturnValueOnce([]);
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
 
     // block is not built with 3 txs
     p2p.getTxs.mockReturnValueOnce(txs.slice(0, 3));
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
 
     // flush the sequencer and it should build a block
@@ -498,7 +497,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
     const postFlushTxs = txs.slice(0, 3);
     p2p.getTxs.mockReturnValueOnce(postFlushTxs);
     const postFlushTxHashes = postFlushTxs.map(tx => tx.getTxHash());
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     expect(blockBuilder.startNewBlock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       3,
@@ -537,7 +536,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
       .mockResolvedValueOnce()
       .mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error());
 
-    await sequencer.work();
+    await sequencer.doRealWork();
 
     expect(publisher.proposeL2Block).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
@@ -613,7 +612,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
       // The previous epoch can be claimed
       publisher.getClaimableEpoch.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve(currentEpoch - 1n));
 
-      await sequencer.work();
+      await sequencer.doRealWork();
       expect(publisher.proposeL2Block).toHaveBeenCalledWith(block, getSignatures(), [txHash], proofQuote);
     });
 
@@ -635,7 +634,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
 
       publisher.getClaimableEpoch.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve(undefined));
 
-      await sequencer.work();
+      await sequencer.doRealWork();
       expect(publisher.proposeL2Block).toHaveBeenCalledWith(block, getSignatures(), [txHash], undefined);
     });
 
@@ -659,7 +658,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
       // The previous epoch can be claimed
       publisher.getClaimableEpoch.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve(currentEpoch - 1n));
 
-      await sequencer.work();
+      await sequencer.doRealWork();
       expect(publisher.proposeL2Block).toHaveBeenCalledWith(block, getSignatures(), [txHash], undefined);
     });
 
@@ -681,7 +680,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
 
       publisher.getClaimableEpoch.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
 
-      await sequencer.work();
+      await sequencer.doRealWork();
       expect(publisher.proposeL2Block).toHaveBeenCalledWith(block, getSignatures(), [txHash], undefined);
     });
 
@@ -706,7 +705,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
       // The previous epoch can be claimed
       publisher.getClaimableEpoch.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve(currentEpoch - 1n));
 
-      await sequencer.work();
+      await sequencer.doRealWork();
       expect(publisher.proposeL2Block).toHaveBeenCalledWith(block, getSignatures(), [txHash], undefined);
     });
 
@@ -761,7 +760,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
       // The previous epoch can be claimed
       publisher.getClaimableEpoch.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve(currentEpoch - 1n));
 
-      await sequencer.work();
+      await sequencer.doRealWork();
       expect(publisher.proposeL2Block).toHaveBeenCalledWith(block, getSignatures(), [txHash], validProofQuote);
     });
 
@@ -820,7 +819,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
       // The previous epoch can be claimed
       publisher.getClaimableEpoch.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve(currentEpoch - 1n));
 
-      await sequencer.work();
+      await sequencer.doRealWork();
       expect(publisher.proposeL2Block).toHaveBeenCalledWith(block, getSignatures(), [txHash], validQuotes[0]);
     });
   });
@@ -834,8 +833,9 @@ class TestSubject extends Sequencer {
   public setL1GenesisTime(l1GenesisTime: number) {
     this.l1GenesisTime = l1GenesisTime;
   }
-  public override work() {
+
+  public override doRealWork() {
     this.setState(SequencerState.IDLE, true /** force */);
-    return super.work();
+    return super.doRealWork();
   }
 }
diff --git a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.ts b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.ts
index 66208d9302a..2e30f8cab68 100644
--- a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ import { prettyLogViemErrorMsg } from '../publisher/utils.js';
 import { type TxValidatorFactory } from '../tx_validator/tx_validator_factory.js';
 import { type SequencerConfig } from './config.js';
 import { SequencerMetrics } from './metrics.js';
-import { SequencerState, orderAttestations } from './utils.js';
+import { SequencerState, getSecondsIntoSlot, orderAttestations } from './utils.js';
 
 export type ShouldProposeArgs = {
   pendingTxsCount?: number;
@@ -47,6 +47,20 @@ export type ShouldProposeArgs = {
   processedTxsCount?: number;
 };
 
+export class SequencerTooSlowError extends Error {
+  constructor(
+    public readonly currentState: SequencerState,
+    public readonly proposedState: SequencerState,
+    public readonly maxAllowedTime: number,
+    public readonly currentTime: number,
+  ) {
+    super(
+      `Too far into slot to transition to ${proposedState}. max allowed: ${maxAllowedTime}s, time into slot: ${currentTime}s`,
+    );
+    this.name = 'SequencerTooSlowError';
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Sequencer client
  * - Wins a period of time to become the sequencer (depending on finalized protocol).
@@ -216,7 +230,7 @@ export class Sequencer {
    *          - Submit block
    *          - If our block for some reason is not included, revert the state
    */
-  private async doRealWork() {
+  protected async doRealWork() {
     this.setState(SequencerState.SYNCHRONIZING);
     // Update state when the previous block has been synced
     const prevBlockSynced = await this.isBlockSynced();
@@ -314,6 +328,13 @@ export class Sequencer {
   protected async work() {
     try {
       await this.doRealWork();
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (err instanceof SequencerTooSlowError) {
+        this.log.warn(err.message);
+      } else {
+        // Re-throw other errors
+        throw err;
+      }
     } finally {
       this.setState(SequencerState.IDLE);
     }
@@ -350,7 +371,7 @@ export class Sequencer {
     }
   }
 
-  doIHaveEnoughTimeLeft(proposedState: SequencerState): boolean {
+  doIHaveEnoughTimeLeft(proposedState: SequencerState, secondsIntoSlot: number): boolean {
     if (!this.enforceTimeTable) {
       return true;
     }
@@ -359,7 +380,6 @@ export class Sequencer {
       return true;
     }
 
-    const secondsIntoSlot = (Date.now() / 1000 - this.l1GenesisTime) % AZTEC_SLOT_DURATION;
     const bufferSeconds = this.timeTable[proposedState] - secondsIntoSlot;
     this.metrics.recordStateTransitionBufferMs(bufferSeconds * 1000, proposedState);
 
@@ -382,10 +402,9 @@ export class Sequencer {
       );
       return;
     }
-    if (!this.doIHaveEnoughTimeLeft(proposedState)) {
-      throw new Error(
-        `Cannot set sequencer from ${this.state} to ${proposedState} as there is not enough time left in the slot.`,
-      );
+    const secondsIntoSlot = getSecondsIntoSlot(this.l1GenesisTime);
+    if (!this.doIHaveEnoughTimeLeft(proposedState, secondsIntoSlot)) {
+      throw new SequencerTooSlowError(this.state, proposedState, this.timeTable[proposedState], secondsIntoSlot);
     }
     this.state = proposedState;
   }
diff --git a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/utils.ts b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/utils.ts
index 8c878571d74..eee02811b3a 100644
--- a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/utils.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/utils.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { BlockAttestation, EthAddress } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
+import { AZTEC_SLOT_DURATION } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
 import { Signature } from '@aztec/foundation/eth-signature';
 
 export enum SequencerState {
@@ -72,3 +73,7 @@ export function orderAttestations(attestations: BlockAttestation[], orderAddress
 
   return orderedAttestations;
 }
+
+export function getSecondsIntoSlot(l1GenesisTime: number): number {
+  return (Date.now() / 1000 - l1GenesisTime) % AZTEC_SLOT_DURATION;
+}