diff --git a/bin/reth/src/node/mod.rs b/bin/reth/src/node/mod.rs
index 39aa20f7f9..94888d82f8 100644
--- a/bin/reth/src/node/mod.rs
+++ b/bin/reth/src/node/mod.rs
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ impl Command {
             message_rx,
             forkchoice_state_tx,
         );
-        task_executor.spawn(engine_api);
+        task_executor.spawn_critical("engine API task", engine_api);
         message_tx
     }