diff --git a/pkg/protocol/chains.go b/pkg/protocol/chains.go
index 9704fca55..97af7125f 100644
--- a/pkg/protocol/chains.go
+++ b/pkg/protocol/chains.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func newChains(protocol *Protocol) *Chains {
 
 	shutdown := lo.Batch(
 		c.initLogger(protocol.NewChildLogger("Chains")),
-		c.initChainSwitching(protocol.Options.ChainSwitchingThreshold),
+		c.initChainSwitching(),
 
 		protocol.Constructed.WithNonEmptyValue(func(_ bool) (shutdown func()) {
 			return c.deriveLatestSeenSlot(protocol)
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func (c *Chains) initLogger(logger log.Logger, shutdownLogger func()) (shutdown
 }
 
 // initChainSwitching initializes the chain switching logic.
-func (c *Chains) initChainSwitching(chainSwitchingThreshold iotago.SlotIndex) (shutdown func()) {
+func (c *Chains) initChainSwitching() (shutdown func()) {
 	mainChain := c.newChain()
 	mainChain.StartEngine.Set(true)
 
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ func (c *Chains) initChainSwitching(chainSwitchingThreshold iotago.SlotIndex) (s
 	forkingPointBelowChainSwitchingThreshold := func(chain *Chain) func(_ *Commitment, latestCommitment *Commitment) bool {
 		return func(_ *Commitment, latestCommitment *Commitment) bool {
 			forkingPoint := chain.ForkingPoint.Get()
+			chainSwitchingThreshold := iotago.SlotIndex(c.protocol.APIForSlot(latestCommitment.Slot()).ProtocolParameters().ChainSwitchingThreshold())
 
 			return forkingPoint != nil && latestCommitment != nil && (latestCommitment.ID().Slot()-forkingPoint.ID().Slot()) > chainSwitchingThreshold
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/protocol/options.go b/pkg/protocol/options.go
index ac9605bf8..c3b260923 100644
--- a/pkg/protocol/options.go
+++ b/pkg/protocol/options.go
@@ -51,10 +51,6 @@ type Options struct {
 	// SnapshotPath is the path to the snapshot file that should be used to initialize the protocol.
 	SnapshotPath string
 
-	// ChainSwitchingThreshold is the threshold that defines how far away a heavier chain needs to be from its forking
-	// point to be considered for switching.
-	ChainSwitchingThreshold iotago.SlotIndex
-
 	// EngineOptions contains the options for the Engines.
 	EngineOptions []options.Option[engine.Engine]
 
@@ -120,8 +116,7 @@ type Options struct {
 // NewDefaultOptions creates new default options instance for the Protocol.
 func NewDefaultOptions() *Options {
 	return &Options{
-		BaseDirectory:           "",
-		ChainSwitchingThreshold: 3,
+		BaseDirectory: "",
 
 		PreSolidFilterProvider:      presolidblockfilter.NewProvider(),
 		PostSolidFilterProvider:     postsolidblockfilter.NewProvider(),
@@ -157,13 +152,6 @@ func WithSnapshotPath(snapshot string) options.Option[Protocol] {
 	}
 }
 
-// WithChainSwitchingThreshold is an option for the Protocol that allows to set the chain switching threshold.
-func WithChainSwitchingThreshold(threshold iotago.SlotIndex) options.Option[Protocol] {
-	return func(p *Protocol) {
-		p.Options.ChainSwitchingThreshold = threshold
-	}
-}
-
 // WithPreSolidFilterProvider is an option for the Protocol that allows to set the PreSolidFilterProvider.
 func WithPreSolidFilterProvider(optsFilterProvider module.Provider[*engine.Engine, presolidfilter.PreSolidFilter]) options.Option[Protocol] {
 	return func(p *Protocol) {