diff --git a/node/repo/fsrepo_ds.go b/node/repo/fsrepo_ds.go
index e62fe17e4..f4afe0dee 100644
--- a/node/repo/fsrepo_ds.go
+++ b/node/repo/fsrepo_ds.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import (
 type dsCtor func(path string) (datastore.Batching, error)
 
 var fsDatastores = map[string]dsCtor{
-	"chain":    badgerDs,
+	"chain":    chainBadgerDs,
 	"metadata": levelDs,
 
 	// Those need to be fast for large writes... but also need a really good GC :c
@@ -26,6 +26,16 @@ var fsDatastores = map[string]dsCtor{
 	"client": badgerDs, // client specific
 }
 
+func chainBadgerDs(path string) (datastore.Batching, error) {
+	opts := badger.DefaultOptions
+	opts.GcInterval = 0 // disable GC for chain datastore
+
+	opts.Options = dgbadger.DefaultOptions("").WithTruncate(true).
+		WithValueThreshold(1 << 10)
+
+	return badger.NewDatastore(path, &opts)
+}
+
 func badgerDs(path string) (datastore.Batching, error) {
 	opts := badger.DefaultOptions
 	opts.Options = dgbadger.DefaultOptions("").WithTruncate(true).