diff --git a/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
index 04037bc40..d5caf7070 100644
--- a/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
+++ b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
@@ -147,7 +147,9 @@ class Backtesting:
 
         if self.config.get('freqai', {}).get('enabled', False):
             # For FreqAI, increase the required_startup to includes the training data
-            self.required_startup = self.dataprovider.get_required_startup(self.timeframe)
+            self.freqai_startup_candles = self.dataprovider.get_required_startup(
+                                                self.timeframe
+                                           )
 
         # Add maximum startup candle count to configuration for informative pairs support
         self.config['startup_candle_count'] = self.required_startup
@@ -234,12 +236,17 @@ class Backtesting:
         """
         self.progress.init_step(BacktestState.DATALOAD, 1)
 
+        if self.config.get('freqai', {}).get('enabled', False):
+            startup_candle_count = self.freqai_startup_candles
+        else:
+            startup_candle_count = self.config['startup_candle_count']
+
         data = history.load_data(
             datadir=self.config['datadir'],
             pairs=self.pairlists.whitelist,
             timeframe=self.timeframe,
             timerange=self.timerange,
-            startup_candles=self.config['startup_candle_count'],
+            startup_candles=startup_candle_count,
             fail_without_data=True,
             data_format=self.config['dataformat_ohlcv'],
             candle_type=self.config.get('candle_type_def', CandleType.SPOT)