Methods and systems for use in a dispersed storage network to prioritize data rebuilding operations. In various examples, a device receives data loss information from a set of storage units. Based on the data loss information, data slice errors are detected regarding data stored by the storage units, and corresponding rebuild requests are issued to the storage units. The device also determines a rebuild rate based on a rate of rebuilding associated with the rebuild requests. The device further receives storage error information regarding errors associated with storage requests to the storage units and, based on the data loss information and storage error information, determines a data loss rate. The rebuild rate and the data loss rate are provided to the storage units for use in prioritizing the rebuild requests, such that when the rebuild rate compares unfavorably to the data loss rate, rebuild requests are prioritized over storage requests.