diff --git a/consensus/beacon/consensus.go b/consensus/beacon/consensus.go
index 5200289a5c..35f6e0cd9a 100644
--- a/consensus/beacon/consensus.go
+++ b/consensus/beacon/consensus.go
@@ -410,7 +410,10 @@ func (beacon *Beacon) FinalizeAndAssemble(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, hea
 		// State-root has just been computed, we can get an accurate storage-root now.
 		h := state.GetStorageRoot(params.OptimismL2ToL1MessagePasser)
 		header.WithdrawalsHash = &h
-		state.AccessEvents().AddAccount(params.OptimismL2ToL1MessagePasser, false) // include in execution witness
+		sa := state.AccessEvents()
+		if sa != nil {
+			sa.AddAccount(params.OptimismL2ToL1MessagePasser, false) // include in execution witness
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Assemble the final block.