diff --git a/freqtrade/exchange/exchange.py b/freqtrade/exchange/exchange.py
index 65b9fb628..348f9c395 100644
--- a/freqtrade/exchange/exchange.py
+++ b/freqtrade/exchange/exchange.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class Exchange:
         # TradingMode.SPOT always supported and not required in this list
     ]
 
-    def __init__(self, config: Dict[str, Any], validate: bool = True) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, config: Dict[str, Any], validate: bool = True, freqai: bool = False) -> None:
         """
         Initializes this module with the given config,
         it does basic validation whether the specified exchange and pairs are valid.
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ class Exchange:
         self.markets_refresh_interval: int = exchange_config.get(
             "markets_refresh_interval", 60) * 60
 
-        if self.trading_mode != TradingMode.SPOT:
+        if self.trading_mode != TradingMode.SPOT and freqai is False:
             self.fill_leverage_tiers()
         self.additional_exchange_init()
 
diff --git a/freqtrade/freqai/data_kitchen.py b/freqtrade/freqai/data_kitchen.py
index 9866ee33a..93e7b74ad 100644
--- a/freqtrade/freqai/data_kitchen.py
+++ b/freqtrade/freqai/data_kitchen.py
@@ -714,7 +714,7 @@ class FreqaiDataKitchen:
     def download_new_data_for_retraining(self, timerange: TimeRange, metadata: dict) -> None:
 
         exchange = ExchangeResolver.load_exchange(self.config['exchange']['name'],
-                                                  self.config, validate=False)
+                                                  self.config, validate=False, freqai=True)
         pairs = copy.deepcopy(self.freqai_config.get('corr_pairlist', []))
         if str(metadata['pair']) not in pairs:
             pairs.append(str(metadata['pair']))
diff --git a/freqtrade/resolvers/exchange_resolver.py b/freqtrade/resolvers/exchange_resolver.py
index 4dfbf445b..c1ec8b69c 100644
--- a/freqtrade/resolvers/exchange_resolver.py
+++ b/freqtrade/resolvers/exchange_resolver.py
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ class ExchangeResolver(IResolver):
     object_type = Exchange
 
     @staticmethod
-    def load_exchange(exchange_name: str, config: dict, validate: bool = True) -> Exchange:
+    def load_exchange(exchange_name: str, config: dict, validate: bool = True,
+                      freqai: bool = False) -> Exchange:
         """
         Load the custom class from config parameter
         :param exchange_name: name of the Exchange to load
@@ -31,7 +32,8 @@ class ExchangeResolver(IResolver):
         try:
             exchange = ExchangeResolver._load_exchange(exchange_name,
                                                        kwargs={'config': config,
-                                                               'validate': validate})
+                                                               'validate': validate,
+                                                               'freqai': freqai})
         except ImportError:
             logger.info(
                 f"No {exchange_name} specific subclass found. Using the generic class instead.")