diff --git a/nym-api/src/network_monitor/monitor/preparer.rs b/nym-api/src/network_monitor/monitor/preparer.rs
index 7ebfe825e0..b9a585033b 100644
--- a/nym-api/src/network_monitor/monitor/preparer.rs
+++ b/nym-api/src/network_monitor/monitor/preparer.rs
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ impl PacketPreparer {
         let initialisation_backoff = Duration::from_secs(30);
         loop {
             let gateways = self.validator_cache.gateways_all().await;
-            let mixnodes = self.validator_cache.mixnodes_basic().await;
+            let mixnodes = self.validator_cache.mixnodes_all_basic().await;
 
             if gateways.len() < minimum_full_routes {
                 self.topology_wait_backoff(initialisation_backoff).await;
@@ -179,12 +179,21 @@ impl PacketPreparer {
     async fn all_mixnodes_and_gateways(&self) -> (Vec<MixNodeBond>, Vec<GatewayBond>) {
         info!("Obtaining network topology...");
 
-        let mixnodes = self.validator_cache.mixnodes_basic().await;
+        let mixnodes = self.validator_cache.mixnodes_all_basic().await;
         let gateways = self.validator_cache.gateways_all().await;
 
         (mixnodes, gateways)
     }
 
+    async fn filtered_mixnodes_and_gateways(&self) -> (Vec<MixNodeBond>, Vec<GatewayBond>) {
+        info!("Obtaining network topology...");
+
+        let mixnodes = self.validator_cache.mixnodes_filtered_basic().await;
+        let gateways = self.validator_cache.gateways_filtered().await;
+
+        (mixnodes, gateways)
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn try_parse_mix_bond(&self, mix: &MixNodeBond) -> Result<mix::Node, String> {
         let identity = mix.mix_node.identity_key.clone();
         mix.try_into().map_err(|_| identity)
@@ -208,7 +217,7 @@ impl PacketPreparer {
         n: usize,
         blacklist: &mut HashSet<String>,
     ) -> Option<Vec<TestRoute>> {
-        let (mixnodes, gateways) = self.all_mixnodes_and_gateways().await;
+        let (mixnodes, gateways) = self.filtered_mixnodes_and_gateways().await;
         // separate mixes into layers for easier selection
         let mut layered_mixes = HashMap::new();
         for mix in mixnodes {
diff --git a/nym-api/src/nym_contract_cache/cache/mod.rs b/nym-api/src/nym_contract_cache/cache/mod.rs
index f5ed467d37..cb366a38d3 100644
--- a/nym-api/src/nym_contract_cache/cache/mod.rs
+++ b/nym-api/src/nym_contract_cache/cache/mod.rs
@@ -182,19 +182,20 @@ impl NymContractCache {
         }
     }
 
-    pub async fn mixnodes_basic(&self) -> Vec<MixNodeBond> {
-        match time::timeout(Duration::from_millis(100), self.inner.read()).await {
-            Ok(cache) => cache
-                .mixnodes
-                .clone()
-                .into_iter()
-                .map(|bond| bond.bond_information)
-                .collect(),
-            Err(err) => {
-                error!("{err}");
-                Vec::new()
-            }
-        }
+    pub async fn mixnodes_filtered_basic(&self) -> Vec<MixNodeBond> {
+        self.mixnodes_filtered()
+            .await
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|bond| bond.bond_information)
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    pub async fn mixnodes_all_basic(&self) -> Vec<MixNodeBond> {
+        self.mixnodes_all()
+            .await
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|bond| bond.bond_information)
+            .collect()
     }
 
     pub async fn gateways_filtered(&self) -> Vec<GatewayBond> {
diff --git a/nym-api/src/support/storage/manager.rs b/nym-api/src/support/storage/manager.rs
index 4e3c23c1e9..298f0c04a2 100644
--- a/nym-api/src/support/storage/manager.rs
+++ b/nym-api/src/support/storage/manager.rs
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ impl StorageManager {
             r#"
             SELECT
                 d.identity as "identity: String",
-                AVG(reliability) as "value: f32"
+                CASE WHEN count(*) > 3 THEN AVG(reliability) ELSE 100 END as "value: f32"
             FROM
                 gateway_details d
             JOIN