diff --git a/genesis/process/shardGenesisBlockCreator.go b/genesis/process/shardGenesisBlockCreator.go
index 3c7e47070c7..b984e3aa86f 100644
--- a/genesis/process/shardGenesisBlockCreator.go
+++ b/genesis/process/shardGenesisBlockCreator.go
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ func createGenesisConfig(providedEnableEpochs config.EnableEpochs) config.Enable
 			NodesToShufflePerShard: 0,
 		},
 	}
+	clonedConfig.StakeEnableEpoch = unreachableEpoch // we need to specifically disable this, we have exceptions in the staking system SC
 	clonedConfig.DoubleKeyProtectionEnableEpoch = 0
 
 	return clonedConfig