diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/blockchain_process/gethClient.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/blockchain_process/gethClient.js
index 3010b4695..af3c21d36 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/blockchain_process/gethClient.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/blockchain_process/gethClient.js
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@ class GethClient {
       cmd.push("--syncmode=" + config.syncMode);
     }
 
+    if(this.runAsArchival(config)) {
+      cmd.push("--gcmode=archive");
+    }
+
     if (config.account && config.account.password) {
       const resolvedPath = path.resolve(fs.dappPath(), config.account.password);
       cmd.push(`--password=${resolvedPath}`);
@@ -135,6 +139,10 @@ class GethClient {
     return cmd;
   }
 
+  runAsArchival(config) {
+    return config.networkId === 1337 || config.archivalMode;
+  }
+
   initGenesisCommmand() {
     let config = this.config;
     let cmd = this.bin + " " + this.commonOptions().join(' ');
diff --git a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/blockchain_process/parityClient.js b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/blockchain_process/parityClient.js
index 04560f828..2d54c5ecd 100644
--- a/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/blockchain_process/parityClient.js
+++ b/packages/embark/src/lib/modules/blockchain_process/parityClient.js
@@ -102,6 +102,10 @@ class ParityClient {
       }
     }
 
+    if(this.runAsArchival(config)) {
+      cmd.push("--pruning=archive");
+    }
+
     return cmd;
   }
 
@@ -127,6 +131,10 @@ class ParityClient {
     return parsed;
   }
 
+  runAsArchival(config) {
+    return config.networkId === 1337 || config.archivalMode;
+  }
+
   isSupportedVersion(parsedVersion) {
     let test;
     try {