diff --git a/engine/access/rpc/backend/backend_accounts.go b/engine/access/rpc/backend/backend_accounts.go
index dbb2c03ab64..963887e440f 100644
--- a/engine/access/rpc/backend/backend_accounts.go
+++ b/engine/access/rpc/backend/backend_accounts.go
@@ -66,14 +66,12 @@ func (b *backendAccounts) GetAccountAtBlockHeight(
 	address flow.Address,
 	height uint64,
 ) (*flow.Account, error) {
-	header, err := b.headers.ByHeight(height)
+	blockID, err := b.headers.BlockIDByHeight(height)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, rpc.ConvertStorageError(err)
 	}
 
-	blockID := header.ID()
-
-	account, err := b.getAccountAtBlock(ctx, address, blockID, header.Height)
+	account, err := b.getAccountAtBlock(ctx, address, blockID, height)
 	if err != nil {
 		b.log.Debug().Err(err).Msgf("failed to get account at height: %d", height)
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/engine/access/rpc/backend/backend_accounts_test.go b/engine/access/rpc/backend/backend_accounts_test.go
index 614f91bfb49..1e3cc4e920d 100644
--- a/engine/access/rpc/backend/backend_accounts_test.go
+++ b/engine/access/rpc/backend/backend_accounts_test.go
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ func (s *BackendAccountsSuite) testGetAccountAtLatestBlock(ctx context.Context,
 
 func (s *BackendAccountsSuite) testGetAccountAtBlockHeight(ctx context.Context, backend *backendAccounts, statusCode codes.Code) {
 	height := s.block.Header.Height
-	s.headers.On("ByHeight", height).Return(s.block.Header, nil).Once()
+	s.headers.On("BlockIDByHeight", height).Return(s.block.Header.ID(), nil).Once()
 
 	if statusCode == codes.OK {
 		actual, err := backend.GetAccountAtBlockHeight(ctx, s.account.Address, height)
diff --git a/engine/consensus/approvals/assignment_collector_tree.go b/engine/consensus/approvals/assignment_collector_tree.go
index e161a75faa4..c31282b3e8a 100644
--- a/engine/consensus/approvals/assignment_collector_tree.go
+++ b/engine/consensus/approvals/assignment_collector_tree.go
@@ -160,11 +160,10 @@ func (t *AssignmentCollectorTree) selectCollectorsForFinalizedFork(startHeight,
 	var fork []*assignmentCollectorVertex
 	for height := startHeight; height <= finalizedHeight; height++ {
 		iter := t.forest.GetVerticesAtLevel(height)
-		finalizedBlock, err := t.headers.ByHeight(height)
+		finalizedBlockID, err := t.headers.BlockIDByHeight(height)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve finalized block at height %d: %w", height, err)
 		}
-		finalizedBlockID := finalizedBlock.ID()
 		for iter.HasNext() {
 			vertex := iter.NextVertex().(*assignmentCollectorVertex)
 			if finalizedBlockID == vertex.collector.BlockID() {
diff --git a/engine/consensus/approvals/testutil.go b/engine/consensus/approvals/testutil.go
index df5e98fa36b..610ffceeb43 100644
--- a/engine/consensus/approvals/testutil.go
+++ b/engine/consensus/approvals/testutil.go
@@ -134,20 +134,22 @@ func (s *BaseAssignmentCollectorTestSuite) SetupTest() {
 			return realstorage.ErrNotFound
 		}
 	})
-	s.Headers.On("ByHeight", mock.Anything).Return(
-		func(height uint64) *flow.Header {
+	s.Headers.On("BlockIDByHeight", mock.Anything).Return(
+		func(height uint64) (flow.Identifier, error) {
 			if block, found := s.FinalizedAtHeight[height]; found {
-				return block
+				return block.ID(), nil
 			} else {
-				return nil
+				return flow.ZeroID, realstorage.ErrNotFound
 			}
 		},
-		func(height uint64) error {
-			_, found := s.FinalizedAtHeight[height]
-			if !found {
-				return realstorage.ErrNotFound
+	)
+	s.Headers.On("ByHeight", mock.Anything).Return(
+		func(height uint64) (*flow.Header, error) {
+			if block, found := s.FinalizedAtHeight[height]; found {
+				return block, nil
+			} else {
+				return nil, realstorage.ErrNotFound
 			}
-			return nil
 		},
 	)
 
diff --git a/engine/consensus/sealing/core.go b/engine/consensus/sealing/core.go
index 1bf9350e09f..32e912a3344 100644
--- a/engine/consensus/sealing/core.go
+++ b/engine/consensus/sealing/core.go
@@ -257,11 +257,11 @@ func (c *Core) processIncorporatedResult(incRes *flow.IncorporatedResult) error
 	// For incorporating blocks at heights that are already finalized, we check that the incorporating block
 	// is on the finalized fork. Otherwise, the incorporating block is orphaned, and we can drop the result.
 	if incorporatedAtHeight <= c.counterLastFinalizedHeight.Value() {
-		finalized, err := c.headers.ByHeight(incorporatedAtHeight)
+		finalizedID, err := c.headers.BlockIDByHeight(incorporatedAtHeight)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve finalized block at height %d: %w", incorporatedAtHeight, err)
 		}
-		if finalized.ID() != incRes.IncorporatedBlockID {
+		if finalizedID != incRes.IncorporatedBlockID {
 			// it means that we got incorporated incRes for a block which doesn't extend our chain
 			// and should be discarded from future processing
 			return engine.NewOutdatedInputErrorf("won't process incorporated incRes from orphan block %s", incRes.IncorporatedBlockID)
diff --git a/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unexecuted_loader.go b/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unexecuted_loader.go
index a9eba76115f..7d32ba11ec4 100644
--- a/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unexecuted_loader.go
+++ b/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unexecuted_loader.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import (
 type UnexecutedLoader struct {
 	log       zerolog.Logger
 	state     protocol.State
-	headers   storage.Headers // see comments on getHeaderByHeight for why we need it
+	headers   storage.Headers
 	execState state.ExecutionState
 }
 
@@ -157,12 +157,12 @@ func (e *UnexecutedLoader) finalizedUnexecutedBlocks(ctx context.Context, finali
 	}
 
 	for ; lastExecuted > rootBlock.Height; lastExecuted-- {
-		header, err := e.getHeaderByHeight(lastExecuted)
+		finalizedID, err := e.headers.BlockIDByHeight(lastExecuted)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not get header at height: %v, %w", lastExecuted, err)
 		}
 
-		executed, err := e.execState.IsBlockExecuted(header.Height, header.ID())
+		executed, err := e.execState.IsBlockExecuted(lastExecuted, finalizedID)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not check whether block is executed: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -179,12 +179,12 @@ func (e *UnexecutedLoader) finalizedUnexecutedBlocks(ctx context.Context, finali
 	// starting from the first unexecuted block, go through each unexecuted and finalized block
 	// reload its block to execution queues
 	for height := firstUnexecuted; height <= final.Height; height++ {
-		header, err := e.getHeaderByHeight(height)
+		finalizedID, err := e.headers.BlockIDByHeight(height)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not get header at height: %v, %w", height, err)
 		}
 
-		unexecuted = append(unexecuted, header.ID())
+		unexecuted = append(unexecuted, finalizedID)
 	}
 
 	e.log.Info().
@@ -227,12 +227,3 @@ func (e *UnexecutedLoader) pendingUnexecutedBlocks(ctx context.Context, finalize
 
 	return unexecuted, nil
 }
-
-// if the EN is dynamically bootstrapped, the finalized blocks at height range:
-// [ sealedRoot.Height, finalizedRoot.Height - 1] can not be retrieved from
-// protocol state, but only from headers
-func (e *UnexecutedLoader) getHeaderByHeight(height uint64) (*flow.Header, error) {
-	// we don't use protocol state because for dynamic boostrapped execution node
-	// the last executed and sealed block is below the finalized root block
-	return e.headers.ByHeight(height)
-}
diff --git a/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unexecuted_loader_test.go b/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unexecuted_loader_test.go
index 23779394c5b..df5ef452606 100644
--- a/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unexecuted_loader_test.go
+++ b/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unexecuted_loader_test.go
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ func TestLoadingUnexecutedBlocks(t *testing.T) {
 		loader := loader.NewUnexecutedLoader(log, ps, headers, es)
 
 		// block C is the only finalized block, index its header by its height
-		headers.EXPECT().ByHeight(blockC.Header.Height).Return(blockC.Header, nil)
+		headers.EXPECT().BlockIDByHeight(blockC.Header.Height).Return(blockC.Header.ID(), nil)
 
 		es.ExecuteBlock(t, blockA)
 		es.ExecuteBlock(t, blockB)
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ func TestLoadingUnexecutedBlocks(t *testing.T) {
 		loader := loader.NewUnexecutedLoader(log, ps, headers, es)
 
 		// block C is finalized, index its header by its height
-		headers.EXPECT().ByHeight(blockC.Header.Height).Return(blockC.Header, nil)
+		headers.EXPECT().BlockIDByHeight(blockC.Header.Height).Return(blockC.Header.ID(), nil)
 
 		es.ExecuteBlock(t, blockA)
 		es.ExecuteBlock(t, blockB)
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ func TestLoadingUnexecutedBlocks(t *testing.T) {
 		loader := loader.NewUnexecutedLoader(log, ps, headers, es)
 
 		// block A is finalized, index its header by its height
-		headers.EXPECT().ByHeight(blockA.Header.Height).Return(blockA.Header, nil)
+		headers.EXPECT().BlockIDByHeight(blockA.Header.Height).Return(blockA.Header.ID(), nil)
 
 		es.ExecuteBlock(t, blockA)
 		es.ExecuteBlock(t, blockB)
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ func TestLoadingUnexecutedBlocks(t *testing.T) {
 		loader := loader.NewUnexecutedLoader(log, ps, headers, es)
 
 		// block C is finalized, index its header by its height
-		headers.EXPECT().ByHeight(blockC.Header.Height).Return(blockC.Header, nil)
+		headers.EXPECT().BlockIDByHeight(blockC.Header.Height).Return(blockC.Header.ID(), nil)
 
 		es.ExecuteBlock(t, blockA)
 		es.ExecuteBlock(t, blockB)
diff --git a/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unfinalized_loader.go b/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unfinalized_loader.go
index ed90efec40d..75deefb0120 100644
--- a/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unfinalized_loader.go
+++ b/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unfinalized_loader.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import (
 type UnfinalizedLoader struct {
 	log       zerolog.Logger
 	state     protocol.State
-	headers   storage.Headers // see comments on getHeaderByHeight for why we need it
+	headers   storage.Headers
 	execState state.FinalizedExecutionState
 }
 
@@ -60,12 +60,12 @@ func (e *UnfinalizedLoader) LoadUnexecuted(ctx context.Context) ([]flow.Identifi
 	// reload its block to execution queues
 	// loading finalized blocks
 	for height := lastExecuted + 1; height <= final.Height; height++ {
-		header, err := e.getHeaderByHeight(height)
+		finalizedID, err := e.headers.BlockIDByHeight(height)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not get header at height: %v, %w", height, err)
 		}
 
-		unexecutedFinalized = append(unexecutedFinalized, header.ID())
+		unexecutedFinalized = append(unexecutedFinalized, finalizedID)
 	}
 
 	// loaded all pending blocks
@@ -85,12 +85,3 @@ func (e *UnfinalizedLoader) LoadUnexecuted(ctx context.Context) ([]flow.Identifi
 
 	return unexecuted, nil
 }
-
-// if the EN is dynamically bootstrapped, the finalized blocks at height range:
-// [ sealedRoot.Height, finalizedRoot.Height - 1] can not be retrieved from
-// protocol state, but only from headers
-func (e *UnfinalizedLoader) getHeaderByHeight(height uint64) (*flow.Header, error) {
-	// we don't use protocol state because for dynamic boostrapped execution node
-	// the last executed and sealed block is below the finalized root block
-	return e.headers.ByHeight(height)
-}
diff --git a/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unfinalized_loader_test.go b/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unfinalized_loader_test.go
index 3c8b84aed40..c5ded941006 100644
--- a/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unfinalized_loader_test.go
+++ b/engine/execution/ingestion/loader/unfinalized_loader_test.go
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ func TestLoadingUnfinalizedBlocks(t *testing.T) {
 	es := new(stateMock.FinalizedExecutionState)
 	es.On("GetHighestFinalizedExecuted").Return(genesis.Header.Height)
 	headers := new(storage.Headers)
-	headers.On("ByHeight", blockA.Header.Height).Return(blockA.Header, nil)
-	headers.On("ByHeight", blockB.Header.Height).Return(blockB.Header, nil)
-	headers.On("ByHeight", blockC.Header.Height).Return(blockC.Header, nil)
+	headers.On("BlockIDByHeight", blockA.Header.Height).Return(blockA.Header.ID(), nil)
+	headers.On("BlockIDByHeight", blockB.Header.Height).Return(blockB.Header.ID(), nil)
+	headers.On("BlockIDByHeight", blockC.Header.Height).Return(blockC.Header.ID(), nil)
 
 	loader := loader.NewUnfinalizedLoader(unittest.Logger(), ps, headers, es)
 
diff --git a/engine/execution/ingestion/stop/stop_control.go b/engine/execution/ingestion/stop/stop_control.go
index bb14e8905d5..b91738e5d31 100644
--- a/engine/execution/ingestion/stop/stop_control.go
+++ b/engine/execution/ingestion/stop/stop_control.go
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ func (s stopBoundary) String() string {
 // StopControlHeaders is an interface for fetching headers
 // Its jut a small subset of storage.Headers for comments see storage.Headers
 type StopControlHeaders interface {
-	ByHeight(height uint64) (*flow.Header, error)
+	BlockIDByHeight(height uint64) (flow.Identifier, error)
 }
 
 // NewStopControl creates new StopControl.
@@ -476,12 +476,12 @@ func (s *StopControl) blockFinalized(
 
 		// Let's find the ID of the block that should be executed last
 		// which is the parent of the block at the stopHeight
-		header, err := s.headers.ByHeight(s.stopBoundary.StopBeforeHeight - 1)
+		finalizedID, err := s.headers.BlockIDByHeight(s.stopBoundary.StopBeforeHeight - 1)
 		if err != nil {
 			handleErr(fmt.Errorf("failed to get header by height: %w", err))
 			return
 		}
-		parentID = header.ID()
+		parentID = finalizedID
 	}
 
 	s.stopBoundary.stopAfterExecuting = parentID
diff --git a/engine/execution/ingestion/stop/stop_control_test.go b/engine/execution/ingestion/stop/stop_control_test.go
index 6698c3cc7b8..274729ce8dd 100644
--- a/engine/execution/ingestion/stop/stop_control_test.go
+++ b/engine/execution/ingestion/stop/stop_control_test.go
@@ -162,12 +162,12 @@ type stopControlMockHeaders struct {
 	headers map[uint64]*flow.Header
 }
 
-func (m *stopControlMockHeaders) ByHeight(height uint64) (*flow.Header, error) {
+func (m *stopControlMockHeaders) BlockIDByHeight(height uint64) (flow.Identifier, error) {
 	h, ok := m.headers[height]
 	if !ok {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("header not found")
+		return flow.ZeroID, fmt.Errorf("header not found")
 	}
-	return h, nil
+	return h.ID(), nil
 }
 
 func TestAddStopForPastBlocks(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/engine/execution/state/state.go b/engine/execution/state/state.go
index 47152585256..9f2de2807ef 100644
--- a/engine/execution/state/state.go
+++ b/engine/execution/state/state.go
@@ -487,11 +487,11 @@ func (s *state) GetHighestExecutedBlockID(ctx context.Context) (uint64, flow.Ide
 		// when storehouse is enabled, the highest executed block is consisted as
 		// the highest finalized and executed block
 		height := s.GetHighestFinalizedExecuted()
-		header, err := s.headers.ByHeight(height)
+		finalizedID, err := s.headers.BlockIDByHeight(height)
 		if err != nil {
 			return 0, flow.ZeroID, fmt.Errorf("could not get header by height %v: %w", height, err)
 		}
-		return height, header.ID(), nil
+		return height, finalizedID, nil
 	}
 
 	var blockID flow.Identifier
diff --git a/module/finalizedreader/finalizedreader.go b/module/finalizedreader/finalizedreader.go
index 01b6e4ec5ce..19012407d30 100644
--- a/module/finalizedreader/finalizedreader.go
+++ b/module/finalizedreader/finalizedreader.go
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ func (r *FinalizedReader) FinalizedBlockIDAtHeight(height uint64) (flow.Identifi
 		return flow.ZeroID, fmt.Errorf("height not finalized (%v): %w", height, storage.ErrNotFound)
 	}
 
-	header, err := r.headers.ByHeight(height)
+	finalizedID, err := r.headers.BlockIDByHeight(height)
 	if err != nil {
 		return flow.ZeroID, err
 	}
 
-	return header.ID(), nil
+	return finalizedID, nil
 }
 
 // BlockFinalized implements the protocol.Consumer interface, which allows FinalizedReader
diff --git a/module/finalizer/consensus/finalizer.go b/module/finalizer/consensus/finalizer.go
index d0f8bdda796..b5fd97de564 100644
--- a/module/finalizer/consensus/finalizer.go
+++ b/module/finalizer/consensus/finalizer.go
@@ -75,12 +75,12 @@ func (f *Finalizer) MakeFinal(blockID flow.Identifier) error {
 	}
 
 	if pending.Height <= finalized {
-		dup, err := f.headers.ByHeight(pending.Height)
+		dupID, err := f.headers.BlockIDByHeight(pending.Height)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve finalized equivalent: %w", err)
 		}
-		if dup.ID() != blockID {
-			return fmt.Errorf("cannot finalize pending block conflicting with finalized state (height: %d, pending: %x, finalized: %x)", pending.Height, blockID, dup.ID())
+		if dupID != blockID {
+			return fmt.Errorf("cannot finalize pending block conflicting with finalized state (height: %d, pending: %x, finalized: %x)", pending.Height, blockID, dupID)
 		}
 		return nil
 	}