diff --git a/linera-client/src/benchmark.rs b/linera-client/src/benchmark.rs
index 27dc27d930b5..a1f7283a1da4 100644
--- a/linera-client/src/benchmark.rs
+++ b/linera-client/src/benchmark.rs
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ where
         blocks_infos: Vec<(ChainId, Vec<Operation>, AccountSecretKey)>,
         committee: Committee,
         local_node: LocalNodeClient<S>,
+        keep_chains_open: bool,
     ) -> Result<(), Error> {
         let shutdown_notifier = CancellationToken::new();
         tokio::spawn(listen_for_shutdown_signals(shutdown_notifier.clone()));
@@ -143,6 +144,7 @@ where
                             sender,
                             committee,
                             local_node,
+                            keep_chains_open,
                         )
                         .await?;
 
@@ -179,6 +181,7 @@ where
         sender: crossbeam_channel::Sender<()>,
         committee: Committee,
         local_node: LocalNodeClient<S>,
+        keep_chains_open: bool,
     ) -> Result<(), Error> {
         let chain_id = chain_client.chain_id();
         info!(
@@ -237,7 +240,9 @@ where
             }
         }
 
-        Self::close_benchmark_chain(chain_client).await?;
+        if !keep_chains_open {
+            Self::close_benchmark_chain(chain_client).await?;
+        }
         info!("Exiting task...");
         Ok(())
     }
diff --git a/linera-client/src/client_options.rs b/linera-client/src/client_options.rs
index 389d71bf1f35..ad73b2f71bb2 100644
--- a/linera-client/src/client_options.rs
+++ b/linera-client/src/client_options.rs
@@ -612,6 +612,11 @@ pub enum ClientCommand {
         /// provided fixed BPS rate.
         #[arg(long)]
         bps: Option<usize>,
+
+        /// If provided, will not close the chains after the benchmark is finished. This is useful
+        /// when running with many chains, as closing them all might take a while.
+        #[arg(long)]
+        keep_chains_open: bool,
     },
 
     /// Create genesis configuration for a Linera deployment.
diff --git a/linera-service/src/linera/main.rs b/linera-service/src/linera/main.rs
index e1aac32e3487..cc2e08b6575c 100644
--- a/linera-service/src/linera/main.rs
+++ b/linera-service/src/linera/main.rs
@@ -737,6 +737,7 @@ impl Runnable for Job {
                 transactions_per_block,
                 fungible_application_id,
                 bps,
+                keep_chains_open,
             } => {
                 assert!(num_chains > 0, "Number of chains must be greater than 0");
                 assert!(
@@ -769,6 +770,7 @@ impl Runnable for Job {
                     blocks_infos,
                     committee,
                     context.client.local_node().clone(),
+                    keep_chains_open,
                 )
                 .await?;
             }