diff --git a/src/Nethermind/Nethermind.Taiko/TaikoPlugin.cs b/src/Nethermind/Nethermind.Taiko/TaikoPlugin.cs
index 88e1535e9e4..ebe735a80c9 100644
--- a/src/Nethermind/Nethermind.Taiko/TaikoPlugin.cs
+++ b/src/Nethermind/Nethermind.Taiko/TaikoPlugin.cs
@@ -312,6 +312,9 @@ public Task InitSynchronization(IContainer container)
 
     public void ConfigureSynchronizationBuilder(ContainerBuilder builder)
     {
+        if (_api is null || !ShouldRunSteps(_api))
+            return;
+
         builder
             .RegisterModule(new MergeNetworkModule(_blockCacheService!, _api!.InvalidChainTracker!));
     }