diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/builder.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/builder.rs
index a578629b6..45375ec01 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/builder.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/builder.rs
@@ -266,6 +266,13 @@ where
 
         self.genesis_time = Some(genesis_state.genesis_time());
 
+        // Prune finalized execution payloads.
+        if store.get_config().prune_payloads_on_init {
+            store
+                .try_prune_execution_payloads(false)
+                .map_err(|e| format!("Error pruning execution payloads: {e:?}"))?;
+        }
+
         self.op_pool = Some(
             store
                 .get_item::<PersistedOperationPool<TEthSpec>>(&OP_POOL_DB_KEY)
diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/tests/block_verification.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/tests/block_verification.rs
index c2283321c..17c84bd69 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/tests/block_verification.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/tests/block_verification.rs
@@ -41,28 +41,27 @@ async fn get_chain_segment() -> Vec<BeaconSnapshot<E>> {
         )
         .await;
 
-    harness
+    let mut segment = Vec::with_capacity(CHAIN_SEGMENT_LENGTH);
+    for snapshot in harness
         .chain
         .chain_dump()
         .expect("should dump chain")
         .into_iter()
-        .map(|snapshot| {
-            let full_block = harness
-                .chain
-                .store
-                .make_full_block(
-                    &snapshot.beacon_block_root,
-                    snapshot.beacon_block.as_ref().clone(),
-                )
-                .unwrap();
-            BeaconSnapshot {
-                beacon_block_root: snapshot.beacon_block_root,
-                beacon_block: Arc::new(full_block),
-                beacon_state: snapshot.beacon_state,
-            }
-        })
         .skip(1)
-        .collect()
+    {
+        let full_block = harness
+            .chain
+            .get_block(&snapshot.beacon_block_root)
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+            .unwrap();
+        segment.push(BeaconSnapshot {
+            beacon_block_root: snapshot.beacon_block_root,
+            beacon_block: Arc::new(full_block),
+            beacon_state: snapshot.beacon_state,
+        });
+    }
+    segment
 }
 
 fn get_harness(validator_count: usize) -> BeaconChainHarness<EphemeralHarnessType<E>> {
diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/tests/store_tests.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/tests/store_tests.rs
index afd97750a..b85ff50ef 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/tests/store_tests.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/tests/store_tests.rs
@@ -2114,14 +2114,16 @@ async fn weak_subjectivity_sync() {
     assert_eq!(new_blocks[0].beacon_block.slot(), wss_slot + 1);
 
     for snapshot in new_blocks {
-        let block = &snapshot.beacon_block;
         let full_block = harness
             .chain
-            .store
-            .make_full_block(&snapshot.beacon_block_root, block.as_ref().clone())
+            .get_block(&snapshot.beacon_block_root)
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
             .unwrap();
+        let slot = full_block.slot();
+        let state_root = full_block.state_root();
 
-        beacon_chain.slot_clock.set_slot(block.slot().as_u64());
+        beacon_chain.slot_clock.set_slot(slot.as_u64());
         beacon_chain
             .process_block(Arc::new(full_block), CountUnrealized::True)
             .await
@@ -2129,10 +2131,9 @@ async fn weak_subjectivity_sync() {
         beacon_chain.recompute_head_at_current_slot().await;
 
         // Check that the new block's state can be loaded correctly.
-        let state_root = block.state_root();
         let mut state = beacon_chain
             .store
-            .get_state(&state_root, Some(block.slot()))
+            .get_state(&state_root, Some(slot))
             .unwrap()
             .unwrap();
         assert_eq!(state.update_tree_hash_cache().unwrap(), state_root);
@@ -2583,6 +2584,7 @@ fn check_split_slot(harness: &TestHarness, store: Arc<HotColdDB<E, LevelDB<E>, L
 /// Check that all the states in a chain dump have the correct tree hash.
 fn check_chain_dump(harness: &TestHarness, expected_len: u64) {
     let chain_dump = harness.chain.chain_dump().unwrap();
+    let split_slot = harness.chain.store.get_split_slot();
 
     assert_eq!(chain_dump.len() as u64, expected_len);
 
@@ -2606,6 +2608,21 @@ fn check_chain_dump(harness: &TestHarness, expected_len: u64) {
                 .slot(),
             checkpoint.beacon_state.slot()
         );
+
+        // Check presence of execution payload on disk.
+        if harness.chain.spec.bellatrix_fork_epoch.is_some() {
+            assert_eq!(
+                harness
+                    .chain
+                    .store
+                    .execution_payload_exists(&checkpoint.beacon_block_root)
+                    .unwrap(),
+                checkpoint.beacon_block.slot() >= split_slot,
+                "incorrect payload storage for block at slot {}: {:?}",
+                checkpoint.beacon_block.slot(),
+                checkpoint.beacon_block_root,
+            );
+        }
     }
 
     // Check the forwards block roots iterator against the chain dump
diff --git a/beacon_node/src/cli.rs b/beacon_node/src/cli.rs
index 3c421a1a3..d9d5c715b 100644
--- a/beacon_node/src/cli.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/src/cli.rs
@@ -515,6 +515,13 @@ pub fn cli_app<'a, 'b>() -> App<'a, 'b> {
                 .takes_value(true)
                 .default_value("true")
         )
+        .arg(
+            Arg::with_name("prune-payloads-on-startup")
+                .long("prune-payloads-on-startup")
+                .help("Check for execution payloads to prune on start-up.")
+                .takes_value(true)
+                .default_value("true")
+        )
 
         /*
          * Misc.
diff --git a/beacon_node/src/config.rs b/beacon_node/src/config.rs
index b57ba0268..368fce573 100644
--- a/beacon_node/src/config.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/src/config.rs
@@ -358,6 +358,12 @@ pub fn get_config<E: EthSpec>(
             .map_err(|_| "auto-compact-db takes a boolean".to_string())?;
     }
 
+    if let Some(prune_payloads_on_init) =
+        clap_utils::parse_optional(cli_args, "prune-payloads-on-startup")?
+    {
+        client_config.store.prune_payloads_on_init = prune_payloads_on_init;
+    }
+
     /*
      * Zero-ports
      *
diff --git a/beacon_node/store/src/config.rs b/beacon_node/store/src/config.rs
index 4268ec2e9..9bc9ee8a4 100644
--- a/beacon_node/store/src/config.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/store/src/config.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ pub struct StoreConfig {
     pub compact_on_init: bool,
     /// Whether to compact the database during database pruning.
     pub compact_on_prune: bool,
+    /// Whether to try pruning execution payloads on initialization.
+    pub prune_payloads_on_init: bool,
 }
 
 /// Variant of `StoreConfig` that gets written to disk. Contains immutable configuration params.
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ impl Default for StoreConfig {
             block_cache_size: DEFAULT_BLOCK_CACHE_SIZE,
             compact_on_init: false,
             compact_on_prune: true,
+            prune_payloads_on_init: true,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/beacon_node/store/src/hot_cold_store.rs b/beacon_node/store/src/hot_cold_store.rs
index c4b4a64a0..80de674e9 100644
--- a/beacon_node/store/src/hot_cold_store.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/store/src/hot_cold_store.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use crate::config::{
 };
 use crate::forwards_iter::{HybridForwardsBlockRootsIterator, HybridForwardsStateRootsIterator};
 use crate::impls::beacon_state::{get_full_state, store_full_state};
-use crate::iter::{ParentRootBlockIterator, StateRootsIterator};
+use crate::iter::{BlockRootsIterator, ParentRootBlockIterator, RootsIterator};
 use crate::leveldb_store::BytesKey;
 use crate::leveldb_store::LevelDB;
 use crate::memory_store::MemoryStore;
@@ -438,6 +438,12 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
             .ok_or_else(|| HotColdDBError::MissingExecutionPayload(*block_root).into())
     }
 
+    /// Check if the execution payload for a block exists on disk.
+    pub fn execution_payload_exists(&self, block_root: &Hash256) -> Result<bool, Error> {
+        self.get_item::<ExecutionPayload<E>>(block_root)
+            .map(|payload| payload.is_some())
+    }
+
     /// Determine whether a block exists in the database.
     pub fn block_exists(&self, block_root: &Hash256) -> Result<bool, Error> {
         self.hot_db
@@ -1418,6 +1424,93 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
             &CompactionTimestamp(compaction_timestamp.as_secs()),
         )
     }
+
+    /// Try to prune all execution payloads, returning early if there is no need to prune.
+    pub fn try_prune_execution_payloads(&self, force: bool) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        let split = self.get_split_info();
+
+        if split.slot == 0 {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+
+        let bellatrix_fork_slot = if let Some(epoch) = self.spec.bellatrix_fork_epoch {
+            epoch.start_slot(E::slots_per_epoch())
+        } else {
+            return Ok(());
+        };
+
+        // Load the split state so we can backtrack to find execution payloads.
+        let split_state = self.get_state(&split.state_root, Some(split.slot))?.ok_or(
+            HotColdDBError::MissingSplitState(split.state_root, split.slot),
+        )?;
+
+        // The finalized block may or may not have its execution payload stored, depending on
+        // whether it was at a skipped slot. However for a fully pruned database its parent
+        // should *always* have been pruned.
+        let split_parent_block_root = split_state.get_block_root(split.slot - 1)?;
+        if !self.execution_payload_exists(split_parent_block_root)? && !force {
+            info!(self.log, "Execution payloads are pruned");
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+
+        // Iterate block roots backwards to the Bellatrix fork or the anchor slot, whichever comes
+        // first.
+        let split_block_root = split_state.get_latest_block_root(split.state_root);
+        let anchor_slot = self.get_anchor_info().map(|info| info.anchor_slot);
+
+        let mut ops = vec![];
+
+        for res in std::iter::once(Ok((split_block_root, split.slot)))
+            .chain(BlockRootsIterator::new(self, &split_state))
+        {
+            let (block_root, slot) = match res {
+                Ok(tuple) => tuple,
+                Err(e) => {
+                    warn!(
+                        self.log,
+                        "Stopping backtrack early";
+                        "error" => ?e,
+                    );
+                    break;
+                }
+            };
+
+            if slot < bellatrix_fork_slot {
+                info!(
+                    self.log,
+                    "Finished backtrack to Bellatrix fork";
+                );
+                break;
+            }
+
+            if self.execution_payload_exists(&block_root)? {
+                debug!(
+                    self.log,
+                    "Pruning execution payload";
+                    "slot" => slot,
+                    "block_root" => ?block_root,
+                );
+                ops.push(StoreOp::DeleteExecutionPayload(block_root));
+            }
+
+            if Some(slot) == anchor_slot {
+                info!(
+                    self.log,
+                    "Finished backtrack to anchor state";
+                    "slot" => slot
+                );
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        let payloads_pruned = ops.len();
+        self.do_atomically(ops)?;
+        info!(
+            self.log,
+            "Execution payload pruning complete";
+            "payloads_pruned" => payloads_pruned,
+        );
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
 
 /// Advance the split point of the store, moving new finalized states to the freezer.
@@ -1457,16 +1550,16 @@ pub fn migrate_database<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>>(
     let mut hot_db_ops: Vec<StoreOp<E>> = Vec::new();
 
     // 1. Copy all of the states between the head and the split slot, from the hot DB
-    // to the cold DB.
-    let state_root_iter = StateRootsIterator::new(&store, frozen_head);
-    for maybe_pair in state_root_iter.take_while(|result| match result {
-        Ok((_, slot)) => {
+    // to the cold DB. Delete the execution payloads of these now-finalized blocks.
+    let state_root_iter = RootsIterator::new(&store, frozen_head);
+    for maybe_tuple in state_root_iter.take_while(|result| match result {
+        Ok((_, _, slot)) => {
             slot >= &current_split_slot
                 && anchor_slot.map_or(true, |anchor_slot| slot >= &anchor_slot)
         }
         Err(_) => true,
     }) {
-        let (state_root, slot) = maybe_pair?;
+        let (block_root, state_root, slot) = maybe_tuple?;
 
         let mut cold_db_ops: Vec<KeyValueStoreOp> = Vec::new();
 
@@ -1489,6 +1582,11 @@ pub fn migrate_database<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>>(
 
         // Delete the old summary, and the full state if we lie on an epoch boundary.
         hot_db_ops.push(StoreOp::DeleteState(state_root, Some(slot)));
+
+        // Delete the execution payload. Even if this execution payload is the payload of the
+        // new finalized block it is OK to delete it, as `try_get_full_block` looks at the split
+        // slot when determining whether to reconstruct payloads.
+        hot_db_ops.push(StoreOp::DeleteExecutionPayload(block_root));
     }
 
     // Warning: Critical section.  We have to take care not to put any of the two databases in an
diff --git a/database_manager/src/lib.rs b/database_manager/src/lib.rs
index 50295df4b..20147adb9 100644
--- a/database_manager/src/lib.rs
+++ b/database_manager/src/lib.rs
@@ -59,6 +59,12 @@ pub fn inspect_cli_app<'a, 'b>() -> App<'a, 'b> {
         )
 }
 
+pub fn prune_payloads_app<'a, 'b>() -> App<'a, 'b> {
+    App::new("prune_payloads")
+        .setting(clap::AppSettings::ColoredHelp)
+        .about("Prune finalized execution payloads")
+}
+
 pub fn cli_app<'a, 'b>() -> App<'a, 'b> {
     App::new(CMD)
         .visible_aliases(&["db"])
@@ -85,6 +91,7 @@ pub fn cli_app<'a, 'b>() -> App<'a, 'b> {
         .subcommand(migrate_cli_app())
         .subcommand(version_cli_app())
         .subcommand(inspect_cli_app())
+        .subcommand(prune_payloads_app())
 }
 
 fn parse_client_config<E: EthSpec>(
@@ -257,6 +264,30 @@ pub fn migrate_db<E: EthSpec>(
     )
 }
 
+pub fn prune_payloads<E: EthSpec>(
+    client_config: ClientConfig,
+    runtime_context: &RuntimeContext<E>,
+    log: Logger,
+) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    let spec = &runtime_context.eth2_config.spec;
+    let hot_path = client_config.get_db_path();
+    let cold_path = client_config.get_freezer_db_path();
+
+    let db = HotColdDB::<E, LevelDB<E>, LevelDB<E>>::open(
+        &hot_path,
+        &cold_path,
+        |_, _, _| Ok(()),
+        client_config.store,
+        spec.clone(),
+        log,
+    )?;
+
+    // If we're trigging a prune manually then ignore the check on the split's parent that bails
+    // out early.
+    let force = true;
+    db.try_prune_execution_payloads(force)
+}
+
 /// Run the database manager, returning an error string if the operation did not succeed.
 pub fn run<T: EthSpec>(cli_args: &ArgMatches<'_>, mut env: Environment<T>) -> Result<(), String> {
     let client_config = parse_client_config(cli_args, &env)?;
@@ -273,6 +304,7 @@ pub fn run<T: EthSpec>(cli_args: &ArgMatches<'_>, mut env: Environment<T>) -> Re
             let inspect_config = parse_inspect_config(cli_args)?;
             inspect_db(inspect_config, client_config, &context, log)
         }
+        ("prune_payloads", Some(_)) => prune_payloads(client_config, &context, log),
         _ => {
             return Err("Unknown subcommand, for help `lighthouse database_manager --help`".into())
         }
diff --git a/lighthouse/tests/beacon_node.rs b/lighthouse/tests/beacon_node.rs
index b28c1a0c3..aed8ebf39 100644
--- a/lighthouse/tests/beacon_node.rs
+++ b/lighthouse/tests/beacon_node.rs
@@ -1227,6 +1227,19 @@ fn compact_db_flag() {
         .with_config(|config| assert!(config.store.compact_on_init));
 }
 #[test]
+fn prune_payloads_on_startup_default() {
+    CommandLineTest::new()
+        .run_with_zero_port()
+        .with_config(|config| assert!(config.store.prune_payloads_on_init));
+}
+#[test]
+fn prune_payloads_on_startup_false() {
+    CommandLineTest::new()
+        .flag("prune-payloads-on-startup", Some("false"))
+        .run_with_zero_port()
+        .with_config(|config| assert!(!config.store.prune_payloads_on_init));
+}
+#[test]
 fn reconstruct_historic_states_flag() {
     CommandLineTest::new()
         .flag("reconstruct-historic-states", None)