diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index bcd81e45cbe..2f008df2578 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ jobs:
       - capture_test_logs
 
   acceptanceTestsPermissioning:
-    executor: besu_executor_xl
+    executor: besu_executor_med
     steps:
       - prepare
       - attach_workspace:
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ jobs:
           name: AcceptanceTests (Non-Mainnet)
           no_output_timeout: 20m
           command: |
-            ./gradlew --no-daemon acceptanceTestPermissioning
+            ./gradlew --no-daemon --max-workers=1 acceptanceTestPermissioning
       - capture_test_results
       - capture_test_logs
 
@@ -428,12 +428,12 @@ workflows:
       - acceptanceTestsPermissioning:
           requires:
             - assemble
-            - acceptanceTestsCliqueBft
       - buildDocker:
           requires:
             - assemble
       - buildArm64Docker:
           requires:
+            - buildDocker
             - assemble
       - publish:
           filters:
diff --git a/acceptance-tests/dsl/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/tests/acceptance/dsl/node/cluster/Cluster.java b/acceptance-tests/dsl/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/tests/acceptance/dsl/node/cluster/Cluster.java
index 16a02874262..b454894e066 100644
--- a/acceptance-tests/dsl/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/tests/acceptance/dsl/node/cluster/Cluster.java
+++ b/acceptance-tests/dsl/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/tests/acceptance/dsl/node/cluster/Cluster.java
@@ -86,11 +86,8 @@ public void start(final List<? extends RunnableNode> nodes) {
     final Optional<? extends RunnableNode> bootnode = selectAndStartBootnode(nodes);
 
     nodes.parallelStream()
-        .filter(
-            node -> {
-              LOG.info("starting non-bootnode {}", node.getName());
-              return bootnode.map(boot -> boot != node).orElse(true);
-            })
+        .filter(node -> bootnode.map(boot -> boot != node).orElse(true))
+        .peek(node -> LOG.info("starting non-bootnode {}", node.getName()))
         .forEach(this::startNode);
 
     if (clusterConfiguration.isAwaitPeerDiscovery()) {