diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index 27dbb73135..7e28dff79a 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -1202,11 +1202,11 @@ func setDataDir(ctx *cli.Context, cfg *node.Config) {
 		cfg.DataDir = ctx.GlobalString(DataDirFlag.Name)
 	case ctx.GlobalBool(DeveloperFlag.Name):
 		cfg.DataDir = "" // unless explicitly requested, use memory databases
-	case ctx.GlobalBool(TestnetFlag.Name):
+	case ctx.GlobalBool(TestnetFlag.Name) && cfg.DataDir == node.DefaultDataDir():
 		cfg.DataDir = filepath.Join(node.DefaultDataDir(), "testnet")
-	case ctx.GlobalBool(RinkebyFlag.Name):
+	case ctx.GlobalBool(RinkebyFlag.Name) && cfg.DataDir == node.DefaultDataDir():
 		cfg.DataDir = filepath.Join(node.DefaultDataDir(), "rinkeby")
-	case ctx.GlobalBool(GoerliFlag.Name):
+	case ctx.GlobalBool(GoerliFlag.Name) && cfg.DataDir == node.DefaultDataDir():
 		cfg.DataDir = filepath.Join(node.DefaultDataDir(), "goerli")
 	}
 }