diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp
index 3415d1d74..ee9c8bb4a 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ bool Blockchain::init(BlockchainDB* db, const network_type nettype, bool offline
   m_db->block_txn_stop();
 
   uint64_t num_popped_blocks = 0;
-  while (true)
+  while (!m_db->is_read_only())
   {
     const uint64_t top_height = m_db->height() - 1;
     const crypto::hash top_id = m_db->top_block_hash();