diff --git a/crates/engine/tree/src/launch.rs b/crates/engine/tree/src/launch.rs
index ce7a7e39b2a..9ce317c409c 100644
--- a/crates/engine/tree/src/launch.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/tree/src/launch.rs
@@ -19,12 +19,8 @@ use reth_evm::ConfigureEvm;
 use reth_network_p2p::BlockClient;
 use reth_payload_builder::PayloadBuilderHandle;
 use reth_primitives_traits::NodePrimitives;
-use reth_provider::{
-    providers::{BlockchainProvider, ProviderNodeTypes},
-    ProviderFactory,
-};
-use reth_prune::PrunerWithFactory;
-use reth_stages_api::{MetricEventsSender, Pipeline};
+use reth_provider::providers::{BlockchainProvider, ProviderNodeTypes};
+use reth_stages_api::Pipeline;
 use reth_tasks::Runtime;
 use reth_trie_db::ChangesetCache;
 use std::sync::Arc;
@@ -34,8 +30,8 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 /// This spawns and wires together the following components:
 ///
 /// - **[`BasicBlockDownloader`]** — downloads blocks on demand from the network during live sync.
-/// - **[`PersistenceHandle`]** — spawns the persistence service on a background thread for writing
-///   blocks and performing pruning outside the critical consensus path.
+/// - **[`PersistenceHandle`]** — handle to the persistence service for writing blocks and
+///   performing pruning outside the critical consensus path.
 /// - **[`EngineApiTreeHandler`]** — spawns the tree handler that processes engine API requests
 ///   (`newPayload`, `forkchoiceUpdated`) and maintains the in-memory chain state.
 /// - **[`EngineApiRequestHandler`]** + **[`EngineHandler`]** — glue that routes incoming CL
@@ -55,13 +51,11 @@ pub fn build_engine_orchestrator<N, Client, S, V, C>(
     incoming_requests: S,
     pipeline: Pipeline<N>,
     pipeline_task_spawner: Runtime,
-    provider: ProviderFactory<N>,
     blockchain_db: BlockchainProvider<N>,
-    pruner: PrunerWithFactory<ProviderFactory<N>>,
+    persistence_handle: PersistenceHandle<N::Primitives>,
     payload_builder: PayloadBuilderHandle<N::Payload>,
     payload_validator: V,
     tree_config: TreeConfig,
-    sync_metrics_tx: MetricEventsSender,
     evm_config: C,
     changeset_cache: ChangesetCache,
     runtime: Runtime,
@@ -82,9 +76,6 @@ where
 {
     let downloader = BasicBlockDownloader::new(client, consensus.clone());
 
-    let persistence_handle =
-        PersistenceHandle::<N::Primitives>::spawn_service(provider, pruner, sync_metrics_tx);
-
     let canonical_in_memory_state = blockchain_db.canonical_in_memory_state();
 
     let (to_tree_tx, from_tree) = EngineApiTreeHandler::spawn_new(
diff --git a/crates/engine/tree/src/persistence.rs b/crates/engine/tree/src/persistence.rs
index da778e1a30f..1eb00686e12 100644
--- a/crates/engine/tree/src/persistence.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/tree/src/persistence.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use reth_stages_api::{MetricEvent, MetricEventsSender};
 use reth_tasks::spawn_os_thread;
 use std::{
     sync::{
+        atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering},
         mpsc::{Receiver, SendError, Sender},
         Arc,
     },
@@ -247,6 +248,8 @@ pub struct PersistenceHandle<N: NodePrimitives = EthPrimitives> {
     /// Guard that joins the service thread when all handles are dropped.
     /// Uses `Arc` so the handle remains `Clone`.
     _service_guard: Arc<ServiceGuard>,
+    /// External gate to suppress persistence.
+    persistence_gate: PersistenceGate,
 }
 
 impl<T: NodePrimitives> PersistenceHandle<T> {
@@ -255,7 +258,11 @@ impl<T: NodePrimitives> PersistenceHandle<T> {
     /// This is intended for testing purposes where you want to mock the persistence service.
     /// For production use, prefer [`spawn_service`](Self::spawn_service).
     pub fn new(sender: Sender<PersistenceAction<T>>) -> Self {
-        Self { sender, _service_guard: Arc::new(ServiceGuard(None)) }
+        Self {
+            sender,
+            _service_guard: Arc::new(ServiceGuard(None)),
+            persistence_gate: PersistenceGate::new(),
+        }
     }
 
     /// Create a new [`PersistenceHandle`], and spawn the persistence service.
@@ -286,6 +293,7 @@ impl<T: NodePrimitives> PersistenceHandle<T> {
         PersistenceHandle {
             sender: db_service_tx,
             _service_guard: Arc::new(ServiceGuard(Some(join_handle))),
+            persistence_gate: PersistenceGate::new(),
         }
     }
 
@@ -298,6 +306,11 @@ impl<T: NodePrimitives> PersistenceHandle<T> {
         self.sender.send(action)
     }
 
+    /// Returns a clone of the [`PersistenceGate`].
+    pub fn persistence_gate(&self) -> PersistenceGate {
+        self.persistence_gate.clone()
+    }
+
     /// Tells the persistence service to save a certain list of finalized blocks. The blocks are
     /// assumed to be ordered by block number.
     ///
@@ -371,6 +384,41 @@ impl Drop for ServiceGuard {
     }
 }
 
+/// Shared gate that controls whether the engine tree handler starts new persistence cycles.
+///
+/// When disabled,
+/// [`EngineApiTreeHandler::should_persist`](crate::tree::EngineApiTreeHandler::should_persist)
+/// returns `false`, preventing new persistence cycles from starting. An in-flight persistence
+/// task is unaffected.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct PersistenceGate(Arc<AtomicBool>);
+
+impl PersistenceGate {
+    /// Creates a new gate that is enabled by default.
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self(Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(true)))
+    }
+
+    /// Returns `true` if persistence cycles are enabled.
+    pub fn is_enabled(&self) -> bool {
+        self.0.load(Ordering::Relaxed)
+    }
+
+    /// Sets the persistence gate.
+    ///
+    /// When set to `false`, no new persistence cycles will be started by the tree handler.
+    /// An in-flight persistence task is unaffected. Set back to `true` to resume.
+    pub fn set_enabled(&self, enabled: bool) {
+        self.0.store(enabled, Ordering::Relaxed);
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for PersistenceGate {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new()
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
diff --git a/crates/engine/tree/src/tree/mod.rs b/crates/engine/tree/src/tree/mod.rs
index a254f85003d..d1d42e6777e 100644
--- a/crates/engine/tree/src/tree/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/tree/src/tree/mod.rs
@@ -2010,9 +2010,13 @@ where
     }
 
     /// Returns true if the canonical chain length minus the last persisted
-    /// block is greater than or equal to the persistence threshold and
-    /// backfill is not running.
-    pub const fn should_persist(&self) -> bool {
+    /// block is greater than or equal to the persistence threshold,
+    /// backfill is not running, and the external persistence gate is open.
+    pub fn should_persist(&self) -> bool {
+        if !self.persistence.persistence_gate().is_enabled() {
+            return false
+        }
+
         if !self.backfill_sync_state.is_idle() {
             // can't persist if backfill is running
             return false
diff --git a/crates/node/builder/src/launch/engine.rs b/crates/node/builder/src/launch/engine.rs
index 6a33f20abfe..0ca04d35518 100644
--- a/crates/node/builder/src/launch/engine.rs
+++ b/crates/node/builder/src/launch/engine.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use reth_engine_tree::{
     chain::{ChainEvent, FromOrchestrator},
     engine::{EngineApiKind, EngineApiRequest, EngineRequestHandler},
     launch::build_engine_orchestrator,
+    persistence::PersistenceHandle,
     tree::TreeConfig,
 };
 use reth_engine_util::EngineMessageStreamExt;
@@ -226,6 +227,14 @@ impl EngineNodeLauncher {
             EngineApiKind::Ethereum
         };
 
+        let persistence_handle =
+            PersistenceHandle::<<T::Types as NodeTypes>::Primitives>::spawn_service(
+                ctx.provider_factory().clone(),
+                pruner,
+                ctx.sync_metrics_tx(),
+            );
+        let persistence_gate = persistence_handle.persistence_gate();
+
         let mut orchestrator = build_engine_orchestrator(
             engine_kind,
             consensus.clone(),
@@ -233,13 +242,11 @@ impl EngineNodeLauncher {
             Box::pin(consensus_engine_stream),
             pipeline,
             ctx.task_executor().clone(),
-            ctx.provider_factory().clone(),
             ctx.blockchain_db().clone(),
-            pruner,
+            persistence_handle,
             ctx.components().payload_builder_handle().clone(),
             engine_validator,
             engine_tree_config,
-            ctx.sync_metrics_tx(),
             ctx.components().evm_config().clone(),
             changeset_cache,
             ctx.task_executor().clone(),
@@ -271,6 +278,7 @@ impl EngineNodeLauncher {
             engine_events,
             beacon_engine_handle,
             engine_shutdown: _,
+            persistence_gate: _,
         } = add_ons.launch_add_ons(add_ons_ctx).await?;
 
         // Create engine shutdown handle
@@ -409,6 +417,7 @@ impl EngineNodeLauncher {
                 engine_events,
                 beacon_engine_handle,
                 engine_shutdown,
+                persistence_gate,
             },
         };
         // Notify on node started
diff --git a/crates/node/builder/src/rpc.rs b/crates/node/builder/src/rpc.rs
index a10c40841f7..1c29661e92a 100644
--- a/crates/node/builder/src/rpc.rs
+++ b/crates/node/builder/src/rpc.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ pub use jsonrpsee::{
     core::middleware::layer::Either,
     server::middleware::rpc::{RpcService, RpcServiceBuilder},
 };
-use reth_engine_tree::tree::WaitForCaches;
 pub use reth_engine_tree::tree::{BasicEngineValidator, EngineValidator};
+use reth_engine_tree::{persistence::PersistenceGate, tree::WaitForCaches};
 pub use reth_rpc_builder::{
     middleware::{RethAuthHttpMiddleware, RethRpcMiddleware},
     Identity, Stack,
@@ -345,6 +345,8 @@ pub struct RpcHandle<Node: FullNodeComponents, EthApi: EthApiTypes> {
     pub beacon_engine_handle: ConsensusEngineHandle<<Node::Types as NodeTypes>::Payload>,
     /// Handle to trigger engine shutdown.
     pub engine_shutdown: EngineShutdown,
+    /// Gate to suppress engine persistence cycles.
+    pub persistence_gate: PersistenceGate,
 }
 
 impl<Node: FullNodeComponents, EthApi: EthApiTypes> Clone for RpcHandle<Node, EthApi> {
@@ -355,6 +357,7 @@ impl<Node: FullNodeComponents, EthApi: EthApiTypes> Clone for RpcHandle<Node, Et
             engine_events: self.engine_events.clone(),
             beacon_engine_handle: self.beacon_engine_handle.clone(),
             engine_shutdown: self.engine_shutdown.clone(),
+            persistence_gate: self.persistence_gate.clone(),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1084,6 +1087,7 @@ where
             engine_events,
             beacon_engine_handle: engine_handle,
             engine_shutdown: EngineShutdown::default(),
+            persistence_gate: PersistenceGate::default(),
         })
     }