diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api.go b/internal/ethapi/api.go
index c0b37c516b09..92249f78290f 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api.go
@@ -1675,7 +1675,7 @@ func (api *DebugAPI) GetRawHeader(ctx context.Context, blockNrOrHash rpc.BlockNu
 		hash = h
 	} else {
 		block, err := api.b.BlockByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHash)
-		if err != nil {
+		if block == nil || err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		hash = block.Hash()
@@ -1694,7 +1694,7 @@ func (api *DebugAPI) GetRawBlock(ctx context.Context, blockNrOrHash rpc.BlockNum
 		hash = h
 	} else {
 		block, err := api.b.BlockByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHash)
-		if err != nil {
+		if block == nil || err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		hash = block.Hash()
@@ -1713,7 +1713,7 @@ func (api *DebugAPI) GetRawReceipts(ctx context.Context, blockNrOrHash rpc.Block
 		hash = h
 	} else {
 		block, err := api.b.BlockByNumberOrHash(ctx, blockNrOrHash)
-		if err != nil {
+		if block == nil || err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		hash = block.Hash()