diff --git a/core/api/src/services/ledger/admin-legacy.ts b/core/api/src/services/ledger/admin-legacy.ts
index cb49008fb0..0b8cb55706 100644
--- a/core/api/src/services/ledger/admin-legacy.ts
+++ b/core/api/src/services/ledger/admin-legacy.ts
@@ -29,9 +29,7 @@ const getWalletBalance = async (account: string, query = {}) => {
 
   const balancePromise = (async () => {
     try {
-      const { balance } = await MainBookAdmin.balance(params, {
-        readPreference: "secondaryPreferred",
-      })
+      const { balance } = await MainBookAdmin.balance(params)
       return balance
     } finally {
       inProgressQueries.delete(inProgressKey)