diff --git a/beacon_node/network/Cargo.toml b/beacon_node/network/Cargo.toml
index a5cc12bbc55..c37b0fa45d7 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/Cargo.toml
+++ b/beacon_node/network/Cargo.toml
@@ -48,4 +48,8 @@ operation_pool =  { path = "../operation_pool" }
 execution_layer =  { path = "../execution_layer" }
 beacon_processor =  { path = "../beacon_processor" }
 parking_lot = "0.12.0"
-environment = { path = "../../lighthouse/environment" }
\ No newline at end of file
+environment = { path = "../../lighthouse/environment" }
+
+[features]
+# NOTE: This can be run via cargo build --bin lighthouse --features network/disable-backfill
+disable-backfill = []
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs
index c2719477f1f..b517d57df3b 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/service.rs
@@ -232,6 +232,12 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> NetworkService<T> {
         // build the channels for external comms
         let (network_senders, network_recievers) = NetworkSenders::new();
 
+        #[cfg(feature = "disable-backfill")]
+        warn!(
+            network_log,
+            "Backfill is disabled. DO NOT RUN IN PRODUCTION"
+        );
+
         // try and construct UPnP port mappings if required.
         if let Some(upnp_config) = crate::nat::UPnPConfig::from_config(config) {
             let upnp_log = network_log.new(o!("service" => "UPnP"));
diff --git a/beacon_node/network/src/sync/manager.rs b/beacon_node/network/src/sync/manager.rs
index 72542752c51..670e88eac5e 100644
--- a/beacon_node/network/src/sync/manager.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/network/src/sync/manager.rs
@@ -395,6 +395,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> SyncManager<T> {
 
                     // If we would otherwise be synced, first check if we need to perform or
                     // complete a backfill sync.
+                    #[cfg(not(feature = "disable_backfill"))]
                     if matches!(sync_state, SyncState::Synced) {
                         // Determine if we need to start/resume/restart a backfill sync.
                         match self.backfill_sync.start(&mut self.network) {
@@ -419,6 +420,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> SyncManager<T> {
                 }
                 Some((RangeSyncType::Finalized, start_slot, target_slot)) => {
                     // If there is a backfill sync in progress pause it.
+                    #[cfg(not(feature = "disable_backfill"))]
                     self.backfill_sync.pause();
 
                     SyncState::SyncingFinalized {
@@ -428,6 +430,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> SyncManager<T> {
                 }
                 Some((RangeSyncType::Head, start_slot, target_slot)) => {
                     // If there is a backfill sync in progress pause it.
+                    #[cfg(not(feature = "disable_backfill"))]
                     self.backfill_sync.pause();
 
                     SyncState::SyncingHead {