diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index 44363d13f4..a100ee1548 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -1712,7 +1712,6 @@ func SetEthConfig(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node, cfg *ethconfig.Config) {
 		}
 	}
 	if ctx.IsSet(VMEnableDebugFlag.Name) {
-		// TODO(fjl): force-enable this in --dev mode
 		cfg.EnablePreimageRecording = ctx.Bool(VMEnableDebugFlag.Name)
 	}
 
@@ -1761,6 +1760,7 @@ func SetEthConfig(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node, cfg *ethconfig.Config) {
 	case ctx.Bool(DeveloperFlag.Name):
 		cfg.NetworkId = 1337
 		cfg.SyncMode = ethconfig.FullSync
+		cfg.EnablePreimageRecording = true
 		// Create new developer account or reuse existing one
 		var (
 			developer  accounts.Account