diff --git a/crates/node/builder/src/launch/common.rs b/crates/node/builder/src/launch/common.rs
index 99e9b2936..3e8f92e70 100644
--- a/crates/node/builder/src/launch/common.rs
+++ b/crates/node/builder/src/launch/common.rs
@@ -806,6 +806,15 @@ where
         Ok(initial_target)
     }
 
+    /// Returns true if the node should terminate after the initial backfill run.
+    ///
+    /// This is the case if any of these configs are set:
+    ///  `--debug.max-block`
+    ///  `--debug.terminate`
+    pub const fn terminate_after_initial_backfill(&self) -> bool {
+        self.node_config().debug.terminate || self.node_config().debug.max_block.is_some()
+    }
+
     /// Check if the pipeline is consistent (all stages have the checkpoint block numbers no less
     /// than the checkpoint of the first stage).
     ///
diff --git a/crates/node/builder/src/launch/engine.rs b/crates/node/builder/src/launch/engine.rs
index 46ffacbf7..782cc7bbb 100644
--- a/crates/node/builder/src/launch/engine.rs
+++ b/crates/node/builder/src/launch/engine.rs
@@ -334,6 +334,8 @@ where
             .fuse();
         let chainspec = ctx.chain_spec();
         let (exit, rx) = oneshot::channel();
+        let terminate_after_backfill = ctx.terminate_after_initial_backfill();
+
         info!(target: "reth::cli", "Starting consensus engine");
         ctx.task_executor().spawn_critical("consensus engine", async move {
             if let Some(initial_target) = initial_target {
@@ -357,6 +359,11 @@ where
                         debug!(target: "reth::cli", "Event: {event}");
                         match event {
                             ChainEvent::BackfillSyncFinished => {
+                                if terminate_after_backfill {
+                                    debug!(target: "reth::cli", "Terminating after initial backfill");
+                                    break
+                                }
+
                                 network_handle.update_sync_state(SyncState::Idle);
                             }
                             ChainEvent::BackfillSyncStarted => {