diff --git a/cmd/geth/dbcmd.go b/cmd/geth/dbcmd.go
index 3e73ca65da300..5477c25fd8f4b 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/dbcmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/dbcmd.go
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ Remove blockchain and state databases`,
 		ArgsUsage: "<prefix> <start>",
 		Flags: []cli.Flag{
 			utils.DataDirFlag,
+			utils.AncientFlag,
 			utils.SyncModeFlag,
 			utils.MainnetFlag,
 			utils.RopstenFlag,