diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index b08dcea61b..22be2ef961 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -224,7 +224,9 @@ func New(stack *node.Node, config *ethconfig.Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 		eth.blockchain.SetHead(compat.RewindTo)
 		rawdb.WriteChainConfig(chainDb, genesisHash, chainConfig)
 	}
-	eth.bloomIndexer.Start(eth.blockchain)
+	if !config.AncientPrune {
+		eth.bloomIndexer.Start(eth.blockchain)
+	}
 
 	if config.TxPool.Journal != "" {
 		config.TxPool.Journal = stack.ResolvePath(config.TxPool.Journal)