diff --git a/domains/service/src/config.rs b/domains/service/src/config.rs
index 3f00477d4e4..b32b173d802 100644
--- a/domains/service/src/config.rs
+++ b/domains/service/src/config.rs
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ impl From<SubstrateConfiguration> for Configuration {
                 max_blocks_per_request: 64,
                 // Substrate's default, full mode
                 sync_mode: SyncMode::Full,
-                pause_sync: Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false)),
+                pause_sync: Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(true)),
                 // Substrate's default
                 enable_dht_random_walk: true,
                 // Substrate's default