diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api.go b/internal/ethapi/api.go
index 7df46b1f33..0c2f5ba2cb 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api.go
@@ -628,6 +628,10 @@ func (s *PublicBlockChainAPI) GetTransactionReceiptsByBlock(ctx context.Context,
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	if block == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("block not found")
+	}
+
 	receipts, err := s.b.GetReceipts(ctx, block.Hash())
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err