diff --git a/bin/start.sh b/bin/start.sh
index 1fd7c88691eb2e73cc0b36c0436d67ebff5d914e..dc7d901674dca8e5c4f9738961de2ba2ca3e9820 100755
--- a/bin/start.sh
+++ b/bin/start.sh
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ function accountlist
 # you can use attach.sh and issue the command:
 #   miner.start()
 
-function miner
+function getminer
 {
     if [ -e "${BFANODEDIR}/miner" ]
     then
@@ -39,6 +39,12 @@ function miner
     fi
 }
 
+function getsyncmode
+{
+    local syncmode=$( cat "${BFANODEDIR}/syncmode" 2>/dev/null )
+    syncmode=${syncmode:-fast}
+    echo -- "--syncmode ${syncmode}"
+}
 
 
 # Start the miner.
@@ -54,7 +60,7 @@ function miner
         echo
         echo '***'
         echo
-	flexargs="$( accountlist) $( miner )"
+	flexargs="$( accountlist) $( getminer ) $( getsyncmode )"
         set -x
         geth			            \
 	    --datadir ${BFANODEDIR}	    \
@@ -65,7 +71,6 @@ function miner
 	    --rpcport $rpcport	            \
 	    --rpcapi "eth,net,web3,admin,clique,miner"	\
 	    --port $netport		    \
-	    --syncmode full		    \
 	    --nousb			    \
             --txpool.nolocals               \
             --txpool.accountslots 128       \