diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d37282fd18..1fcd748491 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 ### Features
 
+ - [1611](https://github.com/poanetwork/blockscout/pull/1611) - allow setting the first indexing block
+
 ### Fixes
 
  - [#1621](https://github.com/poanetwork/blockscout/pull/1621) - Modify query to fetch failed contract creations
diff --git a/apps/indexer/config/config.exs b/apps/indexer/config/config.exs
index 10dfd691a0..9f9a34c18e 100644
--- a/apps/indexer/config/config.exs
+++ b/apps/indexer/config/config.exs
@@ -33,10 +33,11 @@ config :indexer,
   ecto_repos: [Explorer.Repo],
   metadata_updater_days_interval: 7,
   # bytes
-  memory_limit: 1 <<< 30
+  memory_limit: 1 <<< 30,
+  first_block: System.get_env("FIRST_BLOCK") || 0
 
 # config :indexer, Indexer.ReplacedTransaction.Supervisor, disabled?: true
-# config :indexer, Indexer.Block.Reward.Supervisor, disabled?: true 
+# config :indexer, Indexer.Block.Reward.Supervisor, disabled?: true
 
 config :indexer, Indexer.Tracer,
   service: :indexer,
diff --git a/apps/indexer/lib/indexer/block/catchup/fetcher.ex b/apps/indexer/lib/indexer/block/catchup/fetcher.ex
index bf9327f126..23836d8cbe 100644
--- a/apps/indexer/lib/indexer/block/catchup/fetcher.ex
+++ b/apps/indexer/lib/indexer/block/catchup/fetcher.ex
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ defmodule Indexer.Block.Catchup.Fetcher do
       _ ->
         # realtime indexer gets the current latest block
         first = latest_block_number - 1
-        last = 0
+        last = Application.get_env(:indexer, :first_block)
 
         Logger.metadata(first_block_number: first, last_block_number: last)