diff --git a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
index a0f9e5773f..6e19edeb46 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
@@ -191,9 +191,8 @@ func initGenesis(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	// Open and initialise both full and light databases
 	stack, _ := makeConfigNode(ctx)
 	defer stack.Close()
-
 	for _, name := range []string{"chaindata", "lightchaindata"} {
-		chaindb, err := stack.OpenDatabase(name, 0, 0, "", false)
+		chaindb, err := stack.OpenDatabaseWithFreezer(name, 0, 0, ctx.GlobalString(utils.AncientFlag.Name), "", false)
 		if err != nil {
 			utils.Fatalf("Failed to open database: %v", err)
 		}