diff --git a/src/miner.erl b/src/miner.erl
index 5b22fffa3..6eaae7e7c 100644
--- a/src/miner.erl
+++ b/src/miner.erl
@@ -345,6 +345,8 @@ version() ->
 %% ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 init(_Args) ->
+    %% flag this process as doing speculative absorbs in select_transactions
+    put('__speculative_absorb', true),
     Mode = application:get_env(miner, mode),
     lager:info("STARTING UP MINER with mode ~p", [Mode]),
     ok = blockchain_event:add_handler(self()),
diff --git a/src/miner_hbbft_sidecar.erl b/src/miner_hbbft_sidecar.erl
index feff585ed..906e1e345 100644
--- a/src/miner_hbbft_sidecar.erl
+++ b/src/miner_hbbft_sidecar.erl
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ handle_txn(update = _RequestType, Txn) ->
 init([]) ->
     init(#state{});
 init(State) ->
+    %% flag this process as doing speculative absorbs
+    put('__speculative_absorb', true),
     case blockchain_worker:blockchain() of
         undefined ->
             erlang:send_after(500, self(), chain_check),