diff --git a/cmd/geth/config.go b/cmd/geth/config.go
index 36d9b068fa..102b7e8c7c 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/config.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/config.go
@@ -256,14 +256,16 @@ func makeFullNode(ctx *cli.Context) *node.Node {
 	}
 
 	cfg.Eth.BlockingPrefetch = ctx.Bool(utils.BlockingPrefetchFlag.Name)
+
+	prefetchWorkers := ctx.Uint(utils.PrefetchWorkersFlag.Name)
 	if ctx.IsSet(utils.PrefetchWorkersFlag.Name) {
 		prefetchWorkers := ctx.Uint(utils.PrefetchWorkersFlag.Name)
 		if prefetchWorkers == 0 {
 			prefetchWorkers = uint(runtime.NumCPU())
 			log.Warn(fmt.Sprintf("invalid value for --bal.prefetchworkers. got 0.  sanitizing to %d", prefetchWorkers))
 		}
-		cfg.Eth.PrefetchWorkers = prefetchWorkers
 	}
+	cfg.Eth.PrefetchWorkers = prefetchWorkers
 
 	// Start metrics export if enabled
 	utils.SetupMetrics(&cfg.Metrics)