diff --git a/crates/engine/tree/src/tree/mod.rs b/crates/engine/tree/src/tree/mod.rs
index 113a9c1822..6fc4ef6f27 100644
--- a/crates/engine/tree/src/tree/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/tree/src/tree/mod.rs
@@ -713,6 +713,14 @@ where
                 BackfillSyncState::Idle,
                 "backfill action should only be emitted when backfill is idle"
             );
+
+            if self.persistence_state.in_progress() {
+                // backfill sync and persisting data are mutually exclusive, so we can't start
+                // backfill while we're still persisting
+                debug!(target: "engine", "skipping backfill file while persistence task is active");
+                return
+            }
+
             self.backfill_sync_state = BackfillSyncState::Pending;
             debug!(target: "engine", "emitting backfill action event");
         }
@@ -724,8 +732,14 @@ where
     }
 
     /// Returns true if the canonical chain length minus the last persisted
-    /// block is greater than or equal to the persistence threshold.
+    /// block is greater than or equal to the persistence threshold and
+    /// backfill is not running.
     fn should_persist(&self) -> bool {
+        if !self.backfill_sync_state.is_idle() {
+            // can't persist if backfill is running
+            return false
+        }
+
         let min_block = self.persistence_state.last_persisted_block_number;
         self.state.tree_state.max_block_number().saturating_sub(min_block) >=
             self.config.persistence_threshold()