diff --git a/cmd/lotus/daemon.go b/cmd/lotus/daemon.go
index 0fc96775d..704d9b470 100644
--- a/cmd/lotus/daemon.go
+++ b/cmd/lotus/daemon.go
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/lib/ulimit"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/metrics"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/node"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/node/config"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/node/modules"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/node/modules/dtypes"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/node/modules/testing"
@@ -559,11 +560,23 @@ func ImportChain(ctx context.Context, r repo.Repo, fname string, snapshot bool)
 		return err
 	}
 
-	log.Info("populating message index...")
-	if err := index.PopulateAfterSnapshot(ctx, path.Join(lr.Path(), "sqlite"), cst); err != nil {
+	// populate the message index if user has EnableMsgIndex enabled
+	//
+	c, err := lr.Config()
+	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	log.Info("populating message index done")
+	cfg, ok := c.(*config.FullNode)
+	if !ok {
+		return xerrors.Errorf("invalid config for repo, got: %T", c)
+	}
+	if cfg.Index.EnableMsgIndex {
+		log.Info("populating message index...")
+		if err := index.PopulateAfterSnapshot(ctx, path.Join(lr.Path(), "sqlite"), cst); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		log.Info("populating message index done")
+	}
 
 	return nil
 }