diff --git a/consensus/proto_array/src/fork_choice_test_definition/gloas_payload.rs b/consensus/proto_array/src/fork_choice_test_definition/gloas_payload.rs
index 9a7acbde09..5b82e1de8c 100644
--- a/consensus/proto_array/src/fork_choice_test_definition/gloas_payload.rs
+++ b/consensus/proto_array/src/fork_choice_test_definition/gloas_payload.rs
@@ -757,40 +757,31 @@ mod tests {
         // First Gloas block (V29 node).
         let gloas_slot = if skip_first_gloas_slot { 33 } else { 32 };
 
-        // For Full: execution_payload_parent_hash must match the V17 parent's EL hash.
-        // The V17 parent's EL hash = ExecutionBlockHash::from_root(get_root(1)) = get_hash(1).
-        // For Empty: use a non-matching hash.
-        let parent_hash = if first_gloas_block_full {
-            get_hash(1)
-        } else {
-            get_hash(99)
-        };
-
+        // The first Gloas block should always have the pre-Gloas block as its execution parent,
+        // although this is currently not checked anywhere (the spec doesn't mention this).
         ops.push(Operation::ProcessBlock {
             slot: Slot::new(gloas_slot),
             root: get_root(2),
             parent_root: get_root(1),
             justified_checkpoint: get_checkpoint(0),
             finalized_checkpoint: get_checkpoint(0),
-            execution_payload_parent_hash: Some(parent_hash),
+            execution_payload_parent_hash: Some(get_hash(1)),
             execution_payload_block_hash: Some(get_hash(2)),
         });
 
-        // Verify the parent_payload_status is correctly set.
-        let expected_parent_status = if first_gloas_block_full {
-            PayloadStatus::Full
-        } else {
-            PayloadStatus::Empty
-        };
+        // Parent payload status of fork boundary block should always be Empty.
+        let expected_parent_status = PayloadStatus::Empty;
         ops.push(Operation::AssertParentPayloadStatus {
             block_root: get_root(2),
             expected_status: expected_parent_status,
         });
 
         // Mark root 2's execution payload as received so the Full virtual child exists.
-        ops.push(Operation::ProcessExecutionPayload {
-            block_root: get_root(2),
-        });
+        if first_gloas_block_full {
+            ops.push(Operation::ProcessExecutionPayload {
+                block_root: get_root(2),
+            });
+        }
 
         // Extend the chain with another V29 block (Full child of root 2).
         ops.push(Operation::ProcessBlock {
@@ -799,7 +790,11 @@ mod tests {
             parent_root: get_root(2),
             justified_checkpoint: get_checkpoint(0),
             finalized_checkpoint: get_checkpoint(0),
-            execution_payload_parent_hash: Some(get_hash(2)),
+            execution_payload_parent_hash: if first_gloas_block_full {
+                Some(get_hash(2))
+            } else {
+                Some(get_hash(1))
+            },
             execution_payload_block_hash: Some(get_hash(3)),
         });
 
@@ -813,6 +808,15 @@ mod tests {
             expected_payload_status: None,
         });
 
+        ops.push(Operation::AssertParentPayloadStatus {
+            block_root: get_root(3),
+            expected_status: if first_gloas_block_full {
+                PayloadStatus::Full
+            } else {
+                PayloadStatus::Empty
+            },
+        });
+
         ForkChoiceTestDefinition {
             finalized_block_slot: Slot::new(0),
             justified_checkpoint: get_checkpoint(0),
diff --git a/consensus/proto_array/src/proto_array.rs b/consensus/proto_array/src/proto_array.rs
index 452679d7a3..ffe60d3a50 100644
--- a/consensus/proto_array/src/proto_array.rs
+++ b/consensus/proto_array/src/proto_array.rs
@@ -570,31 +570,31 @@ impl ProtoArray {
                         block_root: block.root,
                     })?;
 
-            let parent_payload_status: PayloadStatus = if let Some(parent_node) =
-                parent_index.and_then(|idx| self.nodes.get(idx))
-            {
-                // Get the parent's execution block hash, handling both V17 and V29 nodes.
-                // V17 parents occur during the Gloas fork transition.
-                // TODO(gloas): the spec's `get_parent_payload_status` assumes all blocks are
-                // post-Gloas with bids. Revisit once the spec clarifies fork-transition behavior.
-                let parent_el_block_hash = match parent_node {
-                    ProtoNode::V29(v29) => Some(v29.execution_payload_block_hash),
-                    ProtoNode::V17(v17) => v17.execution_status.block_hash(),
-                };
-                // Per spec's `is_parent_node_full`: if the child's EL parent hash
-                // matches the parent's EL block hash, the child extends the parent's
-                // payload chain, meaning the parent was Full.
-                if parent_el_block_hash.is_some_and(|hash| execution_payload_parent_hash == hash) {
-                    PayloadStatus::Full
+            let parent_payload_status: PayloadStatus =
+                if let Some(parent_node) = parent_index.and_then(|idx| self.nodes.get(idx)) {
+                    match parent_node {
+                        ProtoNode::V29(v29) => {
+                            // Both parent and child are Gloas blocks. The parent is full if the
+                            // block hash in the parent node matches the parent block hash in the
+                            // child bid.
+                            if execution_payload_parent_hash == v29.execution_payload_block_hash {
+                                PayloadStatus::Full
+                            } else {
+                                PayloadStatus::Empty
+                            }
+                        }
+                        ProtoNode::V17(_) => {
+                            // Parent is pre-Gloas, pre-Gloas blocks are treated as having Empty
+                            // payload status. This case is reached during the fork transition.
+                            PayloadStatus::Empty
+                        }
+                    }
                 } else {
-                    PayloadStatus::Empty
-                }
-            } else {
-                // Parent is missing (genesis or pruned due to finalization). Default to Full
-                // since this path should only be hit at Gloas genesis, and extending the payload
-                // chain is the safe default.
-                PayloadStatus::Full
-            };
+                    // TODO(gloas): re-assess this assumption
+                    // Parent is missing (genesis or pruned due to finalization). Default to Full
+                    // since this path should only be hit at Gloas genesis.
+                    PayloadStatus::Full
+                };
 
             // Per spec `get_forkchoice_store`: the anchor (genesis) block has
             // its payload state initialized (`payload_states = {anchor_root: ...}`).