diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_ancestry.cpp b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_ancestry.cpp
index 2a33efcb7..dafab1fe5 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_ancestry.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_ancestry.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ using namespace epee;
 using namespace cryptonote;
 
 static bool stop_requested = false;
+static uint64_t cached_txes = 0, cached_blocks = 0, cached_outputs = 0, total_txes = 0, total_blocks = 0, total_outputs = 0;
+static bool opt_cache_outputs = false, opt_cache_txes = false, opt_cache_blocks = false;
 
 struct ancestor
 {
@@ -137,6 +139,8 @@ struct ancestry_state_t
   std::unordered_map<crypto::hash, ::tx_data_t> tx_cache;
   std::vector<cryptonote::block> block_cache;
 
+  ancestry_state_t(): height(0) {}
+
   template <typename t_archive> void serialize(t_archive &a, const unsigned int ver)
   {
     a & height;
@@ -219,6 +223,113 @@ static std::unordered_set<ancestor> get_ancestry(const std::unordered_map<crypto
   return i->second;
 }
 
+static bool get_block_from_height(ancestry_state_t &state, BlockchainDB *db, uint64_t height, cryptonote::block &b)
+{
+  ++total_blocks;
+  if (state.block_cache.size() > height && !state.block_cache[height].miner_tx.vin.empty())
+  {
+    ++cached_blocks;
+    b = state.block_cache[height];
+    return true;
+  }
+  cryptonote::blobdata bd = db->get_block_blob_from_height(height);
+  if (!cryptonote::parse_and_validate_block_from_blob(bd, b))
+  {
+    LOG_PRINT_L0("Bad block from db");
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (opt_cache_blocks)
+  {
+    state.block_cache.resize(height + 1);
+    state.block_cache[height] = b;
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+static bool get_transaction(ancestry_state_t &state, BlockchainDB *db, const crypto::hash &txid, ::tx_data_t &tx_data)
+{
+  std::unordered_map<crypto::hash, ::tx_data_t>::const_iterator i = state.tx_cache.find(txid);
+  ++total_txes;
+  if (i != state.tx_cache.end())
+  {
+    ++cached_txes;
+    tx_data = i->second;
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  cryptonote::blobdata bd;
+  if (!db->get_pruned_tx_blob(txid, bd))
+  {
+    LOG_PRINT_L0("Failed to get txid " << txid << " from db");
+    return false;
+  }
+  cryptonote::transaction tx;
+  if (!cryptonote::parse_and_validate_tx_base_from_blob(bd, tx))
+  {
+    LOG_PRINT_L0("Bad tx: " << txid);
+    return false;
+  }
+  tx_data = ::tx_data_t(tx);
+  if (opt_cache_txes)
+    state.tx_cache.insert(std::make_pair(txid, tx_data));
+  return true;
+}
+
+static bool get_output_txid(ancestry_state_t &state, BlockchainDB *db, uint64_t amount, uint64_t offset, crypto::hash &txid)
+{
+  ++total_outputs;
+  std::unordered_map<ancestor, crypto::hash>::const_iterator i = state.output_cache.find({amount, offset});
+  if (i != state.output_cache.end())
+  {
+    ++cached_outputs;
+    txid = i->second;
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  const output_data_t od = db->get_output_key(amount, offset, false);
+  cryptonote::block b;
+  if (!get_block_from_height(state, db, od.height, b))
+    return false;
+
+  for (size_t out = 0; out < b.miner_tx.vout.size(); ++out)
+  {
+    if (b.miner_tx.vout[out].target.type() == typeid(cryptonote::txout_to_key))
+    {
+      const auto &txout = boost::get<cryptonote::txout_to_key>(b.miner_tx.vout[out].target);
+      if (txout.key == od.pubkey)
+      {
+        txid = cryptonote::get_transaction_hash(b.miner_tx);
+        if (opt_cache_outputs)
+          state.output_cache.insert(std::make_pair(ancestor{amount, offset}, txid));
+        return true;
+      }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      LOG_PRINT_L0("Bad vout type in txid " << cryptonote::get_transaction_hash(b.miner_tx));
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+  for (const crypto::hash &block_txid: b.tx_hashes)
+  {
+    ::tx_data_t tx_data3;
+    if (!get_transaction(state, db, block_txid, tx_data3))
+      return false;
+
+    for (size_t out = 0; out < tx_data3.vout.size(); ++out)
+    {
+      if (tx_data3.vout[out] == od.pubkey)
+      {
+        txid = block_txid;
+        if (opt_cache_outputs)
+          state.output_cache.insert(std::make_pair(ancestor{amount, offset}, txid));
+        return true;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
 int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
   TRY_ENTRY();
@@ -243,12 +354,13 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     "database", available_dbs.c_str(), default_db_type
   };
   const command_line::arg_descriptor<std::string> arg_txid  = {"txid", "Get ancestry for this txid", ""};
+  const command_line::arg_descriptor<std::string> arg_output  = {"output", "Get ancestry for this output (amount/offset format)", ""};
   const command_line::arg_descriptor<uint64_t> arg_height  = {"height", "Get ancestry for all txes at this height", 0};
-  const command_line::arg_descriptor<bool> arg_all  = {"all", "Include the whole chain", false};
+  const command_line::arg_descriptor<bool> arg_refresh  = {"refresh", "Refresh the whole chain first", false};
   const command_line::arg_descriptor<bool> arg_cache_outputs  = {"cache-outputs", "Cache outputs (memory hungry)", false};
   const command_line::arg_descriptor<bool> arg_cache_txes  = {"cache-txes", "Cache txes (memory hungry)", false};
   const command_line::arg_descriptor<bool> arg_cache_blocks  = {"cache-blocks", "Cache blocks (memory hungry)", false};
-  const command_line::arg_descriptor<bool> arg_include_coinbase  = {"include-coinbase", "Including coinbase tx", false};
+  const command_line::arg_descriptor<bool> arg_include_coinbase  = {"include-coinbase", "Including coinbase tx in per height average", false};
   const command_line::arg_descriptor<bool> arg_show_cache_stats  = {"show-cache-stats", "Show cache statistics", false};
 
   command_line::add_arg(desc_cmd_sett, cryptonote::arg_data_dir);
@@ -257,8 +369,9 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   command_line::add_arg(desc_cmd_sett, arg_log_level);
   command_line::add_arg(desc_cmd_sett, arg_database);
   command_line::add_arg(desc_cmd_sett, arg_txid);
+  command_line::add_arg(desc_cmd_sett, arg_output);
   command_line::add_arg(desc_cmd_sett, arg_height);
-  command_line::add_arg(desc_cmd_sett, arg_all);
+  command_line::add_arg(desc_cmd_sett, arg_refresh);
   command_line::add_arg(desc_cmd_sett, arg_cache_outputs);
   command_line::add_arg(desc_cmd_sett, arg_cache_txes);
   command_line::add_arg(desc_cmd_sett, arg_cache_blocks);
@@ -300,20 +413,22 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   bool opt_stagenet = command_line::get_arg(vm, cryptonote::arg_stagenet_on);
   network_type net_type = opt_testnet ? TESTNET : opt_stagenet ? STAGENET : MAINNET;
   std::string opt_txid_string = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_txid);
+  std::string opt_output_string = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_output);
   uint64_t opt_height = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_height);
-  bool opt_all = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_all);
-  bool opt_cache_outputs = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_cache_outputs);
-  bool opt_cache_txes = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_cache_txes);
-  bool opt_cache_blocks = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_cache_blocks);
+  bool opt_refresh = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_refresh);
+  opt_cache_outputs = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_cache_outputs);
+  opt_cache_txes = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_cache_txes);
+  opt_cache_blocks = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_cache_blocks);
   bool opt_include_coinbase = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_include_coinbase);
   bool opt_show_cache_stats = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_show_cache_stats);
 
-  if ((!opt_txid_string.empty()) + !!opt_height + !!opt_all > 1)
+  if ((!opt_txid_string.empty()) + !!opt_height + !opt_output_string.empty() > 1)
   {
-    std::cerr << "Only one of --txid, --height and --all can be given" << std::endl;
+    std::cerr << "Only one of --txid, --height, --output can be given" << std::endl;
     return 1;
   }
   crypto::hash opt_txid = crypto::null_hash;
+  uint64_t output_amount = 0, output_offset = 0;
   if (!opt_txid_string.empty())
   {
     if (!epee::string_tools::hex_to_pod(opt_txid_string, opt_txid))
@@ -322,6 +437,14 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
       return 1;
     }
   }
+  else if (!opt_output_string.empty())
+  {
+    if (sscanf(opt_output_string.c_str(), "%" SCNu64 "/%" SCNu64, &output_amount, &output_offset) != 2)
+    {
+      std::cerr << "Invalid output" << std::endl;
+      return 1;
+    }
+  }
 
   std::string db_type = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_database);
   if (!cryptonote::blockchain_valid_db_type(db_type))
@@ -372,37 +495,36 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 
   std::vector<crypto::hash> start_txids;
 
-  // forward method
-  if (opt_all)
-  {
-    uint64_t cached_txes = 0, cached_blocks = 0, cached_outputs = 0, total_txes = 0, total_blocks = 0, total_outputs = 0;
-    ancestry_state_t state;
+  ancestry_state_t state;
 
-    const std::string state_file_path = (boost::filesystem::path(opt_data_dir) / "ancestry-state.bin").string();
-    LOG_PRINT_L0("Loading state data from " << state_file_path);
-    std::ifstream state_data_in;
-    state_data_in.open(state_file_path, std::ios_base::binary | std::ios_base::in);
-    if (!state_data_in.fail())
+  const std::string state_file_path = (boost::filesystem::path(opt_data_dir) / "ancestry-state.bin").string();
+  LOG_PRINT_L0("Loading state data from " << state_file_path);
+  std::ifstream state_data_in;
+  state_data_in.open(state_file_path, std::ios_base::binary | std::ios_base::in);
+  if (!state_data_in.fail())
+  {
+    try
     {
-      try
-      {
-        boost::archive::portable_binary_iarchive a(state_data_in);
-        a >> state;
-      }
-      catch (const std::exception &e)
-      {
-        MERROR("Failed to load state data from " << state_file_path << ", restarting from scratch");
-        state = ancestry_state_t();
-      }
-      state_data_in.close();
+      boost::archive::portable_binary_iarchive a(state_data_in);
+      a >> state;
+    }
+    catch (const std::exception &e)
+    {
+      MERROR("Failed to load state data from " << state_file_path << ", restarting from scratch");
+      state = ancestry_state_t();
     }
+    state_data_in.close();
+  }
 
-    tools::signal_handler::install([](int type) {
-      stop_requested = true;
-    });
+  tools::signal_handler::install([](int type) {
+    stop_requested = true;
+  });
 
+  // forward method
+  const uint64_t db_height = db->height();
+  if (opt_refresh)
+  {
     MINFO("Starting from height " << state.height);
-    const uint64_t db_height = db->height();
     state.block_cache.reserve(db_height);
     for (uint64_t h = state.height; h < db_height; ++h)
     {
@@ -464,113 +586,20 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
         {
           for (size_t ring = 0; ring < tx_data.vin.size(); ++ring)
           {
-            if (1)
+            const uint64_t amount = tx_data.vin[ring].first;
+            const std::vector<uint64_t> &absolute_offsets = tx_data.vin[ring].second;
+            for (uint64_t offset: absolute_offsets)
             {
-              const uint64_t amount = tx_data.vin[ring].first;
-              const std::vector<uint64_t> &absolute_offsets = tx_data.vin[ring].second;
-              for (uint64_t offset: absolute_offsets)
+              add_ancestry(state.ancestry, txid, ancestor{amount, offset});
+              // find the tx which created this output
+              bool found = false;
+              crypto::hash output_txid;
+              if (!get_output_txid(state, db, amount, offset, output_txid))
               {
-                const output_data_t od = db->get_output_key(amount, offset);
-                add_ancestry(state.ancestry, txid, ancestor{amount, offset});
-                cryptonote::block b;
-                ++total_blocks;
-                if (state.block_cache.size() > od.height && !state.block_cache[od.height].miner_tx.vin.empty())
-                {
-                  ++cached_blocks;
-                  b = state.block_cache[od.height];
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                  cryptonote::blobdata bd = db->get_block_blob_from_height(od.height);
-                  if (!cryptonote::parse_and_validate_block_from_blob(bd, b))
-                  {
-                    LOG_PRINT_L0("Bad block from db");
-                    return 1;
-                  }
-                  if (opt_cache_blocks)
-                  {
-                    state.block_cache.resize(od.height + 1);
-                    state.block_cache[od.height] = b;
-                  }
-                }
-                // find the tx which created this output
-                bool found = false;
-                std::unordered_map<ancestor, crypto::hash>::const_iterator i = state.output_cache.find({amount, offset});
-                ++total_outputs;
-                if (i != state.output_cache.end())
-                {
-                  ++cached_outputs;
-                  add_ancestry(state.ancestry, txid, get_ancestry(state.ancestry, i->second));
-                  found = true;
-                }
-                else for (size_t out = 0; out < b.miner_tx.vout.size(); ++out)
-                {
-                  if (b.miner_tx.vout[out].target.type() == typeid(cryptonote::txout_to_key))
-                  {
-                    const auto &txout = boost::get<cryptonote::txout_to_key>(b.miner_tx.vout[out].target);
-                    if (txout.key == od.pubkey)
-                    {
-                      found = true;
-                      add_ancestry(state.ancestry, txid, get_ancestry(state.ancestry, cryptonote::get_transaction_hash(b.miner_tx)));
-                      if (opt_cache_outputs)
-                        state.output_cache.insert(std::make_pair(ancestor{amount, offset}, cryptonote::get_transaction_hash(b.miner_tx)));
-                      break;
-                    }
-                  }
-                  else
-                  {
-                    LOG_PRINT_L0("Bad vout type in txid " << cryptonote::get_transaction_hash(b.miner_tx));
-                    return 1;
-                  }
-                }
-                for (const crypto::hash &block_txid: b.tx_hashes)
-                {
-                  if (found)
-                    break;
-                  ::tx_data_t tx_data2;
-                  std::unordered_map<crypto::hash, ::tx_data_t>::const_iterator i = state.tx_cache.find(block_txid);
-                  ++total_txes;
-                  if (i != state.tx_cache.end())
-                  {
-                    ++cached_txes;
-                    tx_data2 = i->second;
-                  }
-                  else
-                  {
-                    cryptonote::blobdata bd;
-                    if (!db->get_pruned_tx_blob(block_txid, bd))
-                    {
-                      LOG_PRINT_L0("Failed to get txid " << block_txid << " from db");
-                      return 1;
-                    }
-                    cryptonote::transaction tx;
-                    if (!cryptonote::parse_and_validate_tx_base_from_blob(bd, tx))
-                    {
-                      LOG_PRINT_L0("Bad tx: " << block_txid);
-                      return 1;
-                    }
-                    tx_data2 = ::tx_data_t(tx);
-                    if (opt_cache_txes)
-                      state.tx_cache.insert(std::make_pair(block_txid, tx_data2));
-                  }
-                  for (size_t out = 0; out < tx_data2.vout.size(); ++out)
-                  {
-                    if (tx_data2.vout[out] == od.pubkey)
-                    {
-                      found = true;
-                      add_ancestry(state.ancestry, txid, get_ancestry(state.ancestry, block_txid));
-                      if (opt_cache_outputs)
-                        state.output_cache.insert(std::make_pair(ancestor{amount, offset}, block_txid));
-                      break;
-                    }
-                  }
-                }
-                if (!found)
-                {
-                  LOG_PRINT_L0("Output originating transaction not found");
-                  return 1;
-                }
+                LOG_PRINT_L0("Output originating transaction not found");
+                return 1;
               }
+              add_ancestry(state.ancestry, txid, get_ancestry(state.ancestry, output_txid));
             }
           }
         }
@@ -581,10 +610,6 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
       if (!txids.empty())
       {
         std::string stats_msg;
-        if (opt_show_cache_stats)
-          stats_msg = std::string(", cache: txes ") + std::to_string(cached_txes*100./total_txes)
-              + ", blocks " + std::to_string(cached_blocks*100./total_blocks) + ", outputs "
-              + std::to_string(cached_outputs*100./total_outputs);
         MINFO("Height " << h << ": " << (block_ancestry_size / txids.size()) << " average over " << txids.size() << stats_msg);
       }
       state.height = h;
@@ -608,14 +633,30 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
       }
       state_data_out.close();
     }
-
-    goto done;
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    if (state.height < db_height)
+    {
+      MWARNING("The state file is only built up to height " << state.height << ", but the blockchain reached height " << db_height);
+      MWARNING("You may want to run with --refresh if you want to get ancestry for newer data");
+    }
   }
 
   if (!opt_txid_string.empty())
   {
     start_txids.push_back(opt_txid);
   }
+  else if (!opt_output_string.empty())
+  {
+    crypto::hash txid;
+    if (!get_output_txid(state, db, output_amount, output_offset, txid))
+    {
+      LOG_PRINT_L0("Output not found in db");
+      return 1;
+    }
+    start_txids.push_back(txid);
+  }
   else
   {
     const cryptonote::blobdata bd = db->get_block_blob_from_height(opt_height);
@@ -648,108 +689,40 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
       const crypto::hash txid = txids.front();
       txids.pop_front();
 
-      cryptonote::blobdata bd;
-      if (!db->get_pruned_tx_blob(txid, bd))
-      {
-        LOG_PRINT_L0("Failed to get txid " << txid << " from db");
-        return 1;
-      }
-      cryptonote::transaction tx;
-      if (!cryptonote::parse_and_validate_tx_base_from_blob(bd, tx))
-      {
-        LOG_PRINT_L0("Bad tx: " << txid);
+      if (stop_requested)
+        goto done;
+
+      ::tx_data_t tx_data2;
+      if (!get_transaction(state, db, txid, tx_data2))
         return 1;
-      }
-      const bool coinbase = tx.vin.size() == 1 && tx.vin[0].type() == typeid(cryptonote::txin_gen);
+
+      const bool coinbase = tx_data2.coinbase;
       if (coinbase)
         continue;
 
-      for (size_t ring = 0; ring < tx.vin.size(); ++ring)
+      for (size_t ring = 0; ring < tx_data2.vin.size(); ++ring)
       {
-        if (tx.vin[ring].type() == typeid(cryptonote::txin_to_key))
         {
-          const cryptonote::txin_to_key &txin = boost::get<cryptonote::txin_to_key>(tx.vin[ring]);
-          const uint64_t amount = txin.amount;
-          auto absolute_offsets = cryptonote::relative_output_offsets_to_absolute(txin.key_offsets);
+          const uint64_t amount = tx_data2.vin[ring].first;
+          auto absolute_offsets = tx_data2.vin[ring].second;
           for (uint64_t offset: absolute_offsets)
           {
             add_ancestor(ancestry, amount, offset);
-            const output_data_t od = db->get_output_key(amount, offset);
-            bd = db->get_block_blob_from_height(od.height);
-            cryptonote::block b;
-            if (!cryptonote::parse_and_validate_block_from_blob(bd, b))
-            {
-              LOG_PRINT_L0("Bad block from db");
-              return 1;
-            }
+
             // find the tx which created this output
             bool found = false;
-            for (size_t out = 0; out < b.miner_tx.vout.size(); ++out)
-            {
-              if (b.miner_tx.vout[out].target.type() == typeid(cryptonote::txout_to_key))
-              {
-                const auto &txout = boost::get<cryptonote::txout_to_key>(b.miner_tx.vout[out].target);
-                if (txout.key == od.pubkey)
-                {
-                  found = true;
-                  txids.push_back(cryptonote::get_transaction_hash(b.miner_tx));
-                  MDEBUG("adding txid: " << cryptonote::get_transaction_hash(b.miner_tx));
-                  break;
-                }
-              }
-              else
-              {
-                LOG_PRINT_L0("Bad vout type in txid " << cryptonote::get_transaction_hash(b.miner_tx));
-                return 1;
-              }
-            }
-            for (const crypto::hash &block_txid: b.tx_hashes)
-            {
-              if (found)
-                break;
-              if (!db->get_pruned_tx_blob(block_txid, bd))
-              {
-                LOG_PRINT_L0("Failed to get txid " << block_txid << " from db");
-                return 1;
-              }
-              cryptonote::transaction tx2;
-              if (!cryptonote::parse_and_validate_tx_base_from_blob(bd, tx2))
-              {
-                LOG_PRINT_L0("Bad tx: " << block_txid);
-                return 1;
-              }
-              for (size_t out = 0; out < tx2.vout.size(); ++out)
-              {
-                if (tx2.vout[out].target.type() == typeid(cryptonote::txout_to_key))
-                {
-                  const auto &txout = boost::get<cryptonote::txout_to_key>(tx2.vout[out].target);
-                  if (txout.key == od.pubkey)
-                  {
-                    found = true;
-                    txids.push_back(block_txid);
-                    MDEBUG("adding txid: " << block_txid);
-                    break;
-                  }
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                  LOG_PRINT_L0("Bad vout type in txid " << block_txid);
-                  return 1;
-                }
-              }
-            }
-            if (!found)
+            crypto::hash output_txid;
+            if (!get_output_txid(state, db, amount, offset, output_txid))
             {
               LOG_PRINT_L0("Output originating transaction not found");
               return 1;
             }
+
+            add_ancestry(state.ancestry, txid, get_ancestry(state.ancestry, output_txid));
+            txids.push_back(output_txid);
+            MDEBUG("adding txid: " << output_txid);
           }
         }
-        else
-        {
-          LOG_PRINT_L0("Bad vin type in txid " << txid);
-          return 1;
-        }
       }
     }
 
@@ -762,6 +735,13 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 
 done:
   core_storage->deinit();
+
+  if (opt_show_cache_stats)
+  MINFO("cache: txes " << std::to_string(cached_txes*100./total_txes)
+        << "%, blocks " << std::to_string(cached_blocks*100./total_blocks)
+        << "%, outputs " << std::to_string(cached_outputs*100./total_outputs)
+        << "%");
+
   return 0;
 
   CATCH_ENTRY("Depth query error", 1);