diff --git a/src/addrdb.cpp b/src/addrdb.cpp
index ca2d66570b..27f22826a9 100644
--- a/src/addrdb.cpp
+++ b/src/addrdb.cpp
@@ -163,3 +163,16 @@ void DumpAnchors(const fs::path& anchors_db_path, const std::vector<CAddress>& a
     LOG_TIME_SECONDS(strprintf("Flush %d outbound block-relay-only peer addresses to anchors.dat", anchors.size()));
     SerializeFileDB("anchors", anchors_db_path, anchors);
 }
+
+std::vector<CAddress> ReadAnchors(const fs::path& anchors_db_path)
+{
+    std::vector<CAddress> anchors;
+    if (DeserializeFileDB(anchors_db_path, anchors)) {
+        LogPrintf("Loaded %i addresses from %s\n", anchors.size(), anchors_db_path.filename());
+    } else {
+        anchors.clear();
+    }
+
+    fs::remove(anchors_db_path);
+    return anchors;
+}
diff --git a/src/addrdb.h b/src/addrdb.h
index 614a0c20e3..4ac0e3e1b5 100644
--- a/src/addrdb.h
+++ b/src/addrdb.h
@@ -81,4 +81,12 @@ public:
  */
 void DumpAnchors(const fs::path& anchors_db_path, const std::vector<CAddress>& anchors);
 
+/**
+ * Read the anchor IP address database (anchors.dat)
+ *
+ * Deleting anchors.dat is intentional as it avoids renewed peering to anchors after
+ * an unclean shutdown and thus potential exploitation of the anchor peer policy.
+ */
+std::vector<CAddress> ReadAnchors(const fs::path& anchors_db_path);
+
 #endif // BITCOIN_ADDRDB_H