diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index 54cdcfe103..f10d99c3a7 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 package eth
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
 	"runtime"
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/gasprice"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/protocols/eth"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/protocols/snap"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/tracers"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/internal/ethapi"
@@ -194,6 +196,17 @@ func New(stack *node.Node, config *ethconfig.Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 			StateScheme:         scheme,
 		}
 	)
+	if config.VMTrace != "" {
+		var traceConfig json.RawMessage
+		if config.VMTraceJsonConfig != "" {
+			traceConfig = json.RawMessage(config.VMTraceJsonConfig)
+		}
+		t, err := tracers.LiveDirectory.New(config.VMTrace, traceConfig)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create tracer %s: %v", config.VMTrace, err)
+		}
+		vmConfig.Tracer = t
+	}
 	// Override the chain config with provided settings.
 	var overrides core.ChainOverrides
 	if config.OverrideCancun != nil {