diff --git a/freqtrade/commands/data_commands.py b/freqtrade/commands/data_commands.py
index c529e8dc7..d4354e058 100644
--- a/freqtrade/commands/data_commands.py
+++ b/freqtrade/commands/data_commands.py
@@ -32,13 +32,16 @@ def start_download_data(args: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     """
     from freqtrade.configuration import setup_utils_configuration
     from freqtrade.data.history import download_data_main
+    from freqtrade.resolvers.exchange_resolver import ExchangeResolver
 
     config = setup_utils_configuration(args, RunMode.UTIL_EXCHANGE)
 
     _check_data_config_download_sanity(config)
 
+    exchange = ExchangeResolver.load_exchange(config, validate=False)
+
     try:
-        download_data_main(config)
+        download_data_main(config, exchange)
 
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         sys.exit("SIGINT received, aborting ...")
diff --git a/freqtrade/data/history/history_utils.py b/freqtrade/data/history/history_utils.py
index 66b4d82bd..fb63e58d7 100644
--- a/freqtrade/data/history/history_utils.py
+++ b/freqtrade/data/history/history_utils.py
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ def validate_backtest_data(
     return found_missing
 
 
-def download_data_main(config: Config) -> None:
+def download_data_main(config: Config, exchange: Exchange) -> None:
     timerange = TimeRange()
     if "days" in config:
         time_since = (datetime.now() - timedelta(days=config["days"])).strftime("%Y%m%d")
@@ -593,10 +593,6 @@ def download_data_main(config: Config) -> None:
 
     pairs_not_available: list[str] = []
 
-    # Init exchange
-    from freqtrade.resolvers.exchange_resolver import ExchangeResolver
-
-    exchange = ExchangeResolver.load_exchange(config, validate=False)
     available_pairs = [
         p
         for p in exchange.get_markets(