diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index 92f375ada9..41c9eb27f7 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ func (n *Node) openDataDir() error {
 	// Try to open the instance directory as LevelDB storage. This creates a lock file
 	// which prevents concurrent use by another instance as well as accidental use of the
 	// instance directory as a database.
-	storage, err := storage.OpenFile(instdir)
+	storage, err := storage.OpenFile(instdir, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}