diff --git a/scripts/maint/practracker/exceptions.txt b/scripts/maint/practracker/exceptions.txt
index 642ae467f1..d437726fe8 100644
--- a/scripts/maint/practracker/exceptions.txt
+++ b/scripts/maint/practracker/exceptions.txt
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ problem function-size /src/core/or/circuitlist.c:circuit_about_to_free() 120
 problem function-size /src/core/or/circuitlist.c:circuits_handle_oom() 117
 problem function-size /src/core/or/circuitmux.c:circuitmux_set_policy() 109
 problem function-size /src/core/or/circuitmux.c:circuitmux_attach_circuit() 113
-problem file-size /src/core/or/circuitpadding.c 3006
+problem file-size /src/core/or/circuitpadding.c 3043
 problem function-size /src/core/or/circuitpadding.c:circpad_machine_schedule_padding() 107
 problem function-size /src/core/or/circuitpadding_machines.c:circpad_machine_relay_hide_intro_circuits() 103
 problem function-size /src/core/or/circuitpadding_machines.c:circpad_machine_client_hide_rend_circuits() 112
@@ -117,12 +117,12 @@ problem function-size /src/core/or/connection_or.c:connection_or_compute_authent
 problem file-size /src/core/or/policies.c 3249
 problem function-size /src/core/or/policies.c:policy_summarize() 107
 problem function-size /src/core/or/protover.c:protover_all_supported() 117
-problem file-size /src/core/or/relay.c 3244
+problem file-size /src/core/or/relay.c 3263
 problem function-size /src/core/or/relay.c:circuit_receive_relay_cell() 126
 problem function-size /src/core/or/relay.c:relay_send_command_from_edge_() 109
 problem function-size /src/core/or/relay.c:connection_ap_process_end_not_open() 192
 problem function-size /src/core/or/relay.c:connection_edge_process_relay_cell_not_open() 137
-problem function-size /src/core/or/relay.c:connection_edge_process_relay_cell() 428
+problem function-size /src/core/or/relay.c:handle_relay_cell_command() 369
 problem function-size /src/core/or/relay.c:connection_edge_package_raw_inbuf() 128
 problem function-size /src/core/or/relay.c:circuit_resume_edge_reading_helper() 146
 problem function-size /src/core/or/scheduler_kist.c:kist_scheduler_run() 171
diff --git a/src/core/or/circuitpadding.c b/src/core/or/circuitpadding.c
index 460f72c17e..9ccad87449 100644
--- a/src/core/or/circuitpadding.c
+++ b/src/core/or/circuitpadding.c
@@ -1791,6 +1791,43 @@ circpad_cell_event_nonpadding_sent(circuit_t *on_circ)
   } FOR_EACH_ACTIVE_CIRCUIT_MACHINE_END;
 }
 
+/** Check if this cell or circuit are related to circuit padding and handle
+ *  them if so.  Return 0 if the cell was handled in this subsystem and does
+ *  not need any other consideration, otherwise return 1.
+ */
+int
+circpad_check_received_cell(cell_t *cell, circuit_t *circ,
+                            crypt_path_t *layer_hint,
+                            const relay_header_t *rh)
+{
+  unsigned domain = layer_hint?LD_APP:LD_EXIT;
+
+  /* First handle the padding commands, since we want to ignore any other
+   * commands if this circuit is padding-specific. */
+  switch (rh->command) {
+    case RELAY_COMMAND_DROP:
+      /* Already examined in circpad_deliver_recognized_relay_cell_events */
+      return 0;
+    case RELAY_COMMAND_PADDING_NEGOTIATE:
+      circpad_handle_padding_negotiate(circ, cell);
+      return 0;
+    case RELAY_COMMAND_PADDING_NEGOTIATED:
+      if (circpad_handle_padding_negotiated(circ, cell, layer_hint) == 0)
+        circuit_read_valid_data(TO_ORIGIN_CIRCUIT(circ), rh->length);
+      return 0;
+  }
+
+  /* If this is a padding circuit we don't need to parse any other commands
+   * than the padding ones. Just drop them to the floor. */
+  if (circ->purpose == CIRCUIT_PURPOSE_C_CIRCUIT_PADDING) {
+    log_info(domain, "Ignored cell (%d) that arrived in padding circuit.",
+             rh->command);
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  return 1;
+}
+
 /**
  * A "non-padding" cell has been received by this endpoint. React
  * according to any padding state machines on the circuit.
diff --git a/src/core/or/circuitpadding.h b/src/core/or/circuitpadding.h
index fc2e595c0a..e9eb32c618 100644
--- a/src/core/or/circuitpadding.h
+++ b/src/core/or/circuitpadding.h
@@ -734,6 +734,10 @@ bool circpad_padding_negotiated(struct circuit_t *circ,
 
 circpad_purpose_mask_t circpad_circ_purpose_to_mask(uint8_t circ_purpose);
 
+int circpad_check_received_cell(cell_t *cell, circuit_t *circ,
+                                crypt_path_t *layer_hint,
+                                const relay_header_t *rh);
+
 MOCK_DECL(circpad_decision_t,
 circpad_machine_schedule_padding,(circpad_machine_runtime_t *));
 
diff --git a/src/core/or/relay.c b/src/core/or/relay.c
index 84fc587871..3b5aa2b665 100644
--- a/src/core/or/relay.c
+++ b/src/core/or/relay.c
@@ -1596,28 +1596,15 @@ handle_relay_command(cell_t *cell, circuit_t *circ,
 
   tor_assert(rh);
 
-  switch (rh->command) {
-    case RELAY_COMMAND_DROP:
-      /* Already examined in circpad_deliver_recognized_relay_cell_events */
-      return 0;
-    case RELAY_COMMAND_PADDING_NEGOTIATE:
-      circpad_handle_padding_negotiate(circ, cell);
-      return 0;
-    case RELAY_COMMAND_PADDING_NEGOTIATED:
-      if (circpad_handle_padding_negotiated(circ, cell, layer_hint) == 0)
-        circuit_read_valid_data(TO_ORIGIN_CIRCUIT(circ), rh->length);
-      return 0;
-  }
-
-  /* If this is a padding circuit we don't need to parse any other commands
-   * than the padding ones. Just drop them to the floor. */
-  if (circ->purpose == CIRCUIT_PURPOSE_C_CIRCUIT_PADDING) {
-    log_info(domain, "Ignored cell (%d) that arrived in padding circuit.",
-             rh.command);
+  /* First pass the cell to the circuit padding subsystem, in case it's a
+   * padding cell or circuit that should be handled there. */
+  if (circpad_check_received_cell(cell, circ, layer_hint, rh) == 0) {
+    log_debug(domain, "Cell handled as circuit padding");
     return 0;
   }
 
-  switch (rh.command) {
+  /* Now handle all the other commands */
+  switch (rh->command) {
     case RELAY_COMMAND_BEGIN:
     case RELAY_COMMAND_BEGIN_DIR:
       if (layer_hint &&