diff --git a/crates/node/builder/src/launch/engine.rs b/crates/node/builder/src/launch/engine.rs
index 9faf9fcfa95..ffe07aaac88 100644
--- a/crates/node/builder/src/launch/engine.rs
+++ b/crates/node/builder/src/launch/engine.rs
@@ -261,12 +261,16 @@ impl EngineNodeLauncher {
         let provider = ctx.blockchain_db().clone();
         let (exit, rx) = oneshot::channel();
         let terminate_after_backfill = ctx.terminate_after_initial_backfill();
+        let startup_sync_state_idle = ctx.node_config().debug.startup_sync_state_idle;
 
         info!(target: "reth::cli", "Starting consensus engine");
         ctx.task_executor().spawn_critical("consensus engine", Box::pin(async move {
             if let Some(initial_target) = initial_target {
                 debug!(target: "reth::cli", %initial_target,  "start backfill sync");
+                // network_handle's sync state is already initialized at Syncing
                 engine_service.orchestrator_mut().start_backfill_sync(initial_target);
+            } else if startup_sync_state_idle {
+                network_handle.update_sync_state(SyncState::Idle);
             }
 
             let mut res = Ok(());
@@ -289,6 +293,9 @@ impl EngineNodeLauncher {
                                     debug!(target: "reth::cli", "Terminating after initial backfill");
                                     break
                                 }
+                                if startup_sync_state_idle {
+                                    network_handle.update_sync_state(SyncState::Idle);
+                                }
                             }
                             ChainEvent::BackfillSyncStarted => {
                                 network_handle.update_sync_state(SyncState::Syncing);
diff --git a/crates/node/core/src/args/debug.rs b/crates/node/core/src/args/debug.rs
index 13d7685b055..b5d1fb3f7d8 100644
--- a/crates/node/core/src/args/debug.rs
+++ b/crates/node/core/src/args/debug.rs
@@ -101,6 +101,13 @@ pub struct DebugArgs {
     /// Example: `nodename:secret@host:port`
     #[arg(long = "ethstats", help_heading = "Debug")]
     pub ethstats: Option<String>,
+
+    /// Set the node to idle state when the backfill is not running.
+    ///
+    /// This makes the `eth_syncing` RPC return "Idle" when the node has just started or finished
+    /// the backfill, but did not yet receive any new blocks.
+    #[arg(long = "debug.startup-sync-state-idle", help_heading = "Debug")]
+    pub startup_sync_state_idle: bool,
 }
 
 impl Default for DebugArgs {
@@ -119,6 +126,7 @@ impl Default for DebugArgs {
             invalid_block_hook: Some(InvalidBlockSelection::default()),
             healthy_node_rpc_url: None,
             ethstats: None,
+            startup_sync_state_idle: false,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/docs/vocs/docs/pages/cli/reth/node.mdx b/docs/vocs/docs/pages/cli/reth/node.mdx
index b53dda3fb1a..2326b40d7fc 100644
--- a/docs/vocs/docs/pages/cli/reth/node.mdx
+++ b/docs/vocs/docs/pages/cli/reth/node.mdx
@@ -701,6 +701,11 @@ Debug:
       --ethstats <ETHSTATS>
           The URL of the ethstats server to connect to. Example: `nodename:secret@host:port`
 
+      --debug.startup-sync-state-idle
+          Set the node to idle state when the backfill is not running.
+
+          This makes the `eth_syncing` RPC return "Idle" when the node has just started or finished the backfill, but did not yet receive any new blocks.
+
 Database:
       --db.log-level <LOG_LEVEL>
           Database logging level. Levels higher than "notice" require a debug build