diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index 025107cc52..e352b9cc6d 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -764,21 +764,10 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) initializeHistoryPruning(latest uint64) error {
 		log.Error("Database pruned beyond configured history mode", "tail", freezerTail, "target", target, "mode", policy.Mode)
 		return fmt.Errorf("database pruned beyond requested history (tail=%d, target=%d)", freezerTail, target)
 	}
-	// Need to prune (freezerTail < target).
-	switch policy.Mode {
-	case history.KeepPostMerge, history.KeepPostPrague:
-		// Static modes require the user to run 'geth prune-history' offline
-		// rather than blocking startup for hours (tx index pruning is slow).
-		return fmt.Errorf("history not pruned to target block %d (current tail %d), run 'geth prune-history --history.chain=%s' first", target, freezerTail, policy.Mode)
-
-	case history.KeepRecent:
-		// The rolling pruner will gradually catch up in the background.
-		if freezerTail > 0 {
-			bc.updateHistoryPrunePoint(freezerTail)
-		}
-		log.Warn("Chain history is behind pruning target, rolling pruner will catch up", "tail", freezerTail, "target", target)
-	}
-	return nil
+	// Need to prune (freezerTail < target). Large-scale pruning is not
+	// performed at startup to avoid blocking the node for hours (tx index
+	// pruning is particularly slow). Use 'geth prune-history' instead.
+	return fmt.Errorf("history not pruned to target block %d (current tail %d), run 'geth prune-history' first", target, freezerTail)
 }
 
 // SetHead rewinds the local chain to a new head. Depending on whether the node
diff --git a/core/history_pruner_test.go b/core/history_pruner_test.go
index c9bfd3bbd7..7aacecd8bc 100644
--- a/core/history_pruner_test.go
+++ b/core/history_pruner_test.go
@@ -182,19 +182,20 @@ func TestInitHistoryPruningStaticModeRequiresPruneHistory(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestInitHistoryPruningKeepRecentAllowsStartup(t *testing.T) {
-	db, gspec, _ := newTestChain(t, 200)
+func TestInitHistoryPruningKeepRecentRequiresPruneHistory(t *testing.T) {
+	db, gspec, blocks := newTestChain(t, 200)
 	defer db.Close()
 
-	// Reopen with KeepRecent and a small window. The tail (0) is behind the
-	// target but KeepRecent should still allow startup — the rolling pruner
-	// handles catch-up in the background.
+	// Set the head block so CurrentBlock() returns block 200 on reopen.
+	rawdb.WriteHeadBlockHash(db, blocks[len(blocks)-1].Hash())
+
+	// Reopen with KeepRecent and a small window. The tail (0) is behind
+	// the target (200-50=150), so startup should fail.
 	policy := history.HistoryPolicy{Mode: history.KeepRecent, Window: 50}
-	chain, err := reopenChain(db, gspec, policy)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	_, err := reopenChain(db, gspec, policy)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error when history not pruned to target, got nil")
 	}
-	defer chain.Stop()
 }
 
 func TestInitHistoryPruningStaticModeBeyondTarget(t *testing.T) {