diff --git a/eth/handler.go b/eth/handler.go
index f0021e5644..a327af6113 100644
--- a/eth/handler.go
+++ b/eth/handler.go
@@ -178,6 +178,10 @@ func newHandler(config *handlerConfig) (*handler, error) {
 			log.Info("Enabled snap sync", "head", head.Number, "hash", head.Hash())
 		}
 	}
+	// If snap sync is requested but snapshots are disabled, fail loudly
+	if h.snapSync.Load() && config.Chain.Snapshots() == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("snap sync not supported with snapshots disabled")
+	}
 	// Construct the downloader (long sync)
 	h.downloader = downloader.New(config.Database, h.eventMux, h.chain, nil, h.removePeer, h.enableSyncedFeatures)
 	if ttd := h.chain.Config().TerminalTotalDifficulty; ttd != nil {