diff --git a/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py b/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py
index fa803bda7..3881f78d1 100644
--- a/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py
+++ b/freqtrade/freqtradebot.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class FreqtradeBot(object):
         self.rpc: RPCManager = RPCManager(self)
         self.persistence = None
         self.exchange = Exchange(self.config)
+        self.active_pair_whitelist: List[str] = self.config['exchange']['pair_whitelist']
         self._init_modules()
 
     def _init_modules(self) -> None:
@@ -179,11 +180,10 @@ class FreqtradeBot(object):
             )
 
             # Keep only the subsets of pairs wanted (up to nb_assets)
-            final_list = sanitized_list[:nb_assets] if nb_assets else sanitized_list
-            self.config['exchange']['pair_whitelist'] = final_list
+            self.active_pair_whitelist = sanitized_list[:nb_assets] if nb_assets else sanitized_list
 
             # Refreshing candles
-            self.exchange.refresh_tickers(final_list, self.strategy.ticker_interval)
+            self.exchange.refresh_tickers(self.active_pair_whitelist, self.strategy.ticker_interval)
 
             # Query trades from persistence layer
             trades = Trade.query.filter(Trade.is_open.is_(True)).all()
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ class FreqtradeBot(object):
             'Checking buy signals to create a new trade with stake_amount: %f ...',
             stake_amount
         )
-        whitelist = copy.deepcopy(self.config['exchange']['pair_whitelist'])
+        whitelist = copy.deepcopy(self.active_pair_whitelist)
 
         # Remove currently opened and latest pairs from whitelist
         for trade in Trade.query.filter(Trade.is_open.is_(True)).all():