diff --git a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
index ff9581fd8881..de4ccfeceb37 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
@@ -324,6 +324,9 @@ func exportChain(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	stack, _ := makeConfigNode(ctx)
 	defer stack.Close()
 
+	// Disable snapshotter by default
+	ctx.GlobalSet(utils.SnapshotFlag.Name, "false")
+
 	chain, _ := utils.MakeChain(ctx, stack, true)
 	start := time.Now()