diff --git a/core/rawdb/freezer.go b/core/rawdb/freezer.go
index c7d44ed39f..0622784e6b 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/freezer.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/freezer.go
@@ -144,8 +144,15 @@ func newFreezer(datadir string, namespace string, readonly bool, maxTableSize ui
 		freezer.tables[name] = table
 	}
 
-	// Truncate all tables to common length.
-	if err := freezer.repair(); err != nil {
+	if freezer.readonly {
+		// In readonly mode only validate, don't truncate.
+		// validate also sets `freezer.frozen`.
+		err = freezer.validate()
+	} else {
+		// Truncate all tables to common length.
+		err = freezer.repair()
+	}
+	if err != nil {
 		for _, table := range freezer.tables {
 			table.Close()
 		}
@@ -308,6 +315,32 @@ func (f *freezer) Sync() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// validate checks that every table has the same length.
+// Used instead of `repair` in readonly mode.
+func (f *freezer) validate() error {
+	if len(f.tables) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var length uint64
+	var name string
+	// Hack to get length of any table
+	for k, table := range f.tables {
+		length = atomic.LoadUint64(&table.items)
+		name = k
+		break
+	}
+	log.Info("validate", "name", name, "length", length)
+	// Now check every table against that length
+	for k, table := range f.tables {
+		items := atomic.LoadUint64(&table.items)
+		if length != items {
+			return fmt.Errorf("freezer tables %s and %s have differing lengths: %d != %d", k, name, items, length)
+		}
+	}
+	atomic.StoreUint64(&f.frozen, length)
+	return nil
+}
+
 // repair truncates all data tables to the same length.
 func (f *freezer) repair() error {
 	min := uint64(math.MaxUint64)
diff --git a/core/rawdb/freezer_test.go b/core/rawdb/freezer_test.go
index fa84f80306..d5c3749e5d 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/freezer_test.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/freezer_test.go
@@ -253,6 +253,44 @@ func TestFreezerConcurrentModifyTruncate(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestFreezerReadonlyValidate(t *testing.T) {
+	tables := map[string]bool{"a": true, "b": true}
+	dir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "freezer")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dir)
+	// Open non-readonly freezer and fill individual tables
+	// with different amount of data.
+	f, err := newFreezer(dir, "", false, 2049, tables)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal("can't open freezer", err)
+	}
+	var item = make([]byte, 1024)
+	aBatch := f.tables["a"].newBatch()
+	require.NoError(t, aBatch.AppendRaw(0, item))
+	require.NoError(t, aBatch.AppendRaw(1, item))
+	require.NoError(t, aBatch.AppendRaw(2, item))
+	require.NoError(t, aBatch.commit())
+	bBatch := f.tables["b"].newBatch()
+	require.NoError(t, bBatch.AppendRaw(0, item))
+	require.NoError(t, bBatch.commit())
+	if f.tables["a"].items != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected number of items in table")
+	}
+	if f.tables["b"].items != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected number of items in table")
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, f.Close())
+
+	// Re-openening as readonly should fail when validating
+	// table lengths.
+	f, err = newFreezer(dir, "", true, 2049, tables)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("readonly freezer should fail with differing table lengths")
+	}
+}
+
 func newFreezerForTesting(t *testing.T, tables map[string]bool) (*freezer, string) {
 	t.Helper()