diff --git a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
index a3016c4b091..c89f736169e 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
@@ -61,9 +61,10 @@ It expects the genesis file as argument.`,
 		Name:      "dumpgenesis",
 		Usage:     "Dumps genesis block JSON configuration to stdout",
 		ArgsUsage: "",
-		Flags:     utils.NetworkFlags,
+		Flags:     append([]cli.Flag{utils.DataDirFlag}, utils.NetworkFlags...),
 		Description: `
-The dumpgenesis command dumps the genesis block configuration in JSON format to stdout.`,
+The dumpgenesis command prints the genesis configuration of the network preset
+if one is set.  Otherwise it prints the genesis from the datadir.`,
 	}
 	importCommand = &cli.Command{
 		Action:    importChain,
@@ -203,14 +204,39 @@ func initGenesis(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 }
 
 func dumpGenesis(ctx *cli.Context) error {
-	// TODO(rjl493456442) support loading from the custom datadir
-	genesis := utils.MakeGenesis(ctx)
-	if genesis == nil {
-		genesis = core.DefaultGenesisBlock()
+	// if there is a testnet preset enabled, dump that
+	if utils.IsNetworkPreset(ctx) {
+		genesis := utils.MakeGenesis(ctx)
+		if err := json.NewEncoder(os.Stdout).Encode(genesis); err != nil {
+			utils.Fatalf("could not encode genesis: %s", err)
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	// dump whatever already exists in the datadir
+	stack, _ := makeConfigNode(ctx)
+	for _, name := range []string{"chaindata", "lightchaindata"} {
+		db, err := stack.OpenDatabase(name, 0, 0, "", true)
+		if err != nil {
+			if !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+				return err
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		genesis, err := core.ReadGenesis(db)
+		if err != nil {
+			utils.Fatalf("failed to read genesis: %s", err)
+		}
+		db.Close()
+
+		if err := json.NewEncoder(os.Stdout).Encode(*genesis); err != nil {
+			utils.Fatalf("could not encode stored genesis: %s", err)
+		}
+		return nil
 	}
-	if err := json.NewEncoder(os.Stdout).Encode(genesis); err != nil {
-		utils.Fatalf("could not encode genesis")
+	if ctx.IsSet(utils.DataDirFlag.Name) {
+		utils.Fatalf("no existing datadir at %s", stack.Config().DataDir)
 	}
+	utils.Fatalf("no network preset provided.  no exisiting genesis in the default datadir")
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index 595fe3360fe..745b9f088eb 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -988,9 +988,7 @@ var (
 		KilnFlag,
 	}
 	// NetworkFlags is the flag group of all built-in supported networks.
-	NetworkFlags = append([]cli.Flag{
-		MainnetFlag,
-	}, TestnetFlags...)
+	NetworkFlags = append([]cli.Flag{MainnetFlag}, TestnetFlags...)
 
 	// DatabasePathFlags is the flag group of all database path flags.
 	DatabasePathFlags = []cli.Flag{
@@ -2140,6 +2138,16 @@ func MakeChainDatabase(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node, readonly bool) ethdb.
 	return chainDb
 }
 
+func IsNetworkPreset(ctx *cli.Context) bool {
+	for _, flag := range NetworkFlags {
+		bFlag, _ := flag.(*cli.BoolFlag)
+		if ctx.IsSet(bFlag.Name) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 func MakeGenesis(ctx *cli.Context) *core.Genesis {
 	var genesis *core.Genesis
 	switch {
diff --git a/core/genesis.go b/core/genesis.go
index 1c62bb1a137..8b855147972 100644
--- a/core/genesis.go
+++ b/core/genesis.go
@@ -65,6 +65,41 @@ type Genesis struct {
 	BaseFee    *big.Int    `json:"baseFeePerGas"`
 }
 
+func ReadGenesis(db ethdb.Database) (*Genesis, error) {
+	var genesis Genesis
+	stored := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, 0)
+	if (stored == common.Hash{}) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid genesis hash in database: %x", stored)
+	}
+	blob := rawdb.ReadGenesisStateSpec(db, stored)
+	if blob == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("genesis state missing from db")
+	}
+	if len(blob) != 0 {
+		if err := genesis.Alloc.UnmarshalJSON(blob); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not unmarshal genesis state json: %s", err)
+		}
+	}
+	genesis.Config = rawdb.ReadChainConfig(db, stored)
+	if genesis.Config == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("genesis config missing from db")
+	}
+	genesisBlock := rawdb.ReadBlock(db, stored, 0)
+	if genesisBlock == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("genesis block missing from db")
+	}
+	genesisHeader := genesisBlock.Header()
+	genesis.Nonce = genesisHeader.Nonce.Uint64()
+	genesis.Timestamp = genesisHeader.Time
+	genesis.ExtraData = genesisHeader.Extra
+	genesis.GasLimit = genesisHeader.GasLimit
+	genesis.Difficulty = genesisHeader.Difficulty
+	genesis.Mixhash = genesisHeader.MixDigest
+	genesis.Coinbase = genesisHeader.Coinbase
+
+	return &genesis, nil
+}
+
 // GenesisAlloc specifies the initial state that is part of the genesis block.
 type GenesisAlloc map[common.Address]GenesisAccount