diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 712c0db..297ef5c 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ members = ["crates/*"]
 resolver = "2"
 
 [workspace.package]
-version = "0.16.0-rc.8"
+version = "0.16.0-rc.9"
 edition = "2024"
 rust-version = "1.88"
 authors = ["init4"]
@@ -34,15 +34,15 @@ debug = false
 incremental = false
 
 [workspace.dependencies]
-signet-blobber = { version = "0.16.0-rc.8", path = "crates/blobber" }
-signet-block-processor = { version = "0.16.0-rc.8", path = "crates/block-processor" }
-signet-db = { version = "0.16.0-rc.8", path = "crates/db" }
-signet-genesis = { version = "0.16.0-rc.8", path = "crates/genesis" }
-signet-node = { version = "0.16.0-rc.8", path = "crates/node" }
-signet-node-config = { version = "0.16.0-rc.8", path = "crates/node-config" }
-signet-node-tests = { version = "0.16.0-rc.8", path = "crates/node-tests" }
-signet-node-types = { version = "0.16.0-rc.8", path = "crates/node-types" }
-signet-rpc = { version = "0.16.0-rc.8", path = "crates/rpc" }
+signet-blobber = { version = "0.16.0-rc.9", path = "crates/blobber" }
+signet-block-processor = { version = "0.16.0-rc.9", path = "crates/block-processor" }
+signet-db = { version = "0.16.0-rc.9", path = "crates/db" }
+signet-genesis = { version = "0.16.0-rc.9", path = "crates/genesis" }
+signet-node = { version = "0.16.0-rc.9", path = "crates/node" }
+signet-node-config = { version = "0.16.0-rc.9", path = "crates/node-config" }
+signet-node-tests = { version = "0.16.0-rc.9", path = "crates/node-tests" }
+signet-node-types = { version = "0.16.0-rc.9", path = "crates/node-types" }
+signet-rpc = { version = "0.16.0-rc.9", path = "crates/rpc" }
 
 init4-bin-base = { version = "0.18.0-rc.8", features = ["alloy"] }
 
diff --git a/crates/node-config/src/core.rs b/crates/node-config/src/core.rs
index 4656c85..08a2959 100644
--- a/crates/node-config/src/core.rs
+++ b/crates/node-config/src/core.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ use std::{
     fmt::Display,
     path::PathBuf,
     sync::{Arc, OnceLock},
+    time::Duration,
 };
 use tracing::warn;
 use trevm::revm::primitives::hardfork::SpecId;
@@ -72,6 +73,15 @@ pub struct SignetNodeConfig {
         optional
     )]
     backfill_max_blocks: Option<u64>,
+
+    /// Maximum duration of a backfill batch.
+    /// This prevents MDBX from killing the read transaction, leading to a crash if reth's default mdbx read transaction timeout is exceeded.
+    #[from_env(
+        var = "BACKFILL_MAX_DURATION",
+        desc = "Maximum duration of a backfill batch, in seconds",
+        optional
+    )]
+    backfill_max_duration: Option<u64>,
 }
 
 impl Display for SignetNodeConfig {
@@ -105,6 +115,7 @@ impl SignetNodeConfig {
             genesis,
             slot_calculator,
             backfill_max_blocks: None, // Uses default of 10,000 via accessor
+            backfill_max_duration: None, // Uses default of 30 seconds via accessor
         }
     }
 
@@ -252,6 +263,12 @@ impl SignetNodeConfig {
         // Default to 10,000 if not explicitly configured
         Some(self.backfill_max_blocks.unwrap_or(10_000))
     }
+
+    /// Get the maximum duration of a backfill batch.
+    /// Returns `Some(30)` seconds by default if not configured.
+    pub fn backfill_max_duration(&self) -> Option<Duration> {
+        Some(Duration::from_secs(self.backfill_max_duration.unwrap_or(30)))
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -272,6 +289,7 @@ mod defaults {
                 genesis: GenesisSpec::Known(KnownChains::Test),
                 slot_calculator: SlotCalculator::new(0, 0, 12),
                 backfill_max_blocks: None, // Uses default of 10,000 via accessor
+                backfill_max_duration: None, // Uses default of 30 seconds via accessor
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/node/src/node.rs b/crates/node/src/node.rs
index 8b4ed05..4b5ac4f 100644
--- a/crates/node/src/node.rs
+++ b/crates/node/src/node.rs
@@ -299,13 +299,14 @@ where
     /// This should be called after `set_with_head` to configure how many
     /// blocks can be processed per backfill batch.
     fn set_backfill_thresholds(&mut self) {
-        if let Some(max_blocks) = self.config.backfill_max_blocks() {
-            self.host.notifications.set_backfill_thresholds(ExecutionStageThresholds {
-                max_blocks: Some(max_blocks),
-                ..Default::default()
-            });
-            debug!(max_blocks, "configured backfill thresholds");
-        }
+        let max_blocks = self.config.backfill_max_blocks();
+        let max_duration = self.config.backfill_max_duration();
+        self.host.notifications.set_backfill_thresholds(ExecutionStageThresholds {
+            max_blocks,
+            max_duration,
+            ..Default::default()
+        });
+        debug!(?max_blocks, ?max_duration, "configured backfill thresholds");
     }
 
     /// Runs on any notification received from the ExEx context.