diff --git a/src/net.cpp b/src/net.cpp
index c6448e47984..1062516aa11 100644
--- a/src/net.cpp
+++ b/src/net.cpp
@@ -1030,9 +1030,9 @@ void CConnman::CreateNodeFromAcceptedSocket(std::unique_ptr<Sock>&& sock,
                              inbound_onion,
                              CNodeOptions{
                                .permission_flags = permissionFlags,
+                               .prefer_evict = discouraged,
                              });
     pnode->AddRef();
-    pnode->m_prefer_evict = discouraged;
     m_msgproc->InitializeNode(*pnode, nodeServices);
 
     LogPrint(BCLog::NET, "connection from %s accepted\n", addr.ToString());
@@ -2734,6 +2734,7 @@ CNode::CNode(NodeId idIn,
       addrBind{addrBindIn},
       m_addr_name{addrNameIn.empty() ? addr.ToStringIPPort() : addrNameIn},
       m_inbound_onion{inbound_onion},
+      m_prefer_evict{node_opts.prefer_evict},
       nKeyedNetGroup{nKeyedNetGroupIn},
       id{idIn},
       nLocalHostNonce{nLocalHostNonceIn},
diff --git a/src/net.h b/src/net.h
index 2cf334f8a91..c4a24c6bdfb 100644
--- a/src/net.h
+++ b/src/net.h
@@ -338,6 +338,7 @@ struct CNodeOptions
 {
     NetPermissionFlags permission_flags = NetPermissionFlags::None;
     std::unique_ptr<i2p::sam::Session> i2p_sam_session = nullptr;
+    bool prefer_evict = false;
 };
 
 /** Information about a peer */
@@ -399,7 +400,7 @@ public:
      * from the wire. This cleaned string can safely be logged or displayed.
      */
     std::string cleanSubVer GUARDED_BY(m_subver_mutex){};
-    bool m_prefer_evict{false}; // This peer is preferred for eviction. (treated as const)
+    const bool m_prefer_evict{false}; // This peer is preferred for eviction.
     bool HasPermission(NetPermissionFlags permission) const {
         return NetPermissions::HasFlag(m_permissionFlags, permission);
     }