diff --git a/consensus/ethash/consensus.go b/consensus/ethash/consensus.go
index b7e8244cdc..f461fabd6b 100644
--- a/consensus/ethash/consensus.go
+++ b/consensus/ethash/consensus.go
@@ -243,10 +243,14 @@ func (ethash *Ethash) verifyHeader(chain consensus.ChainReader, header, parent *
 	if expected.Cmp(header.Difficulty) != 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid difficulty: have %v, want %v", header.Difficulty, expected)
 	}
-	// Verify that the gas limit is < 2^63
+	// Verify that the gas limit is < 2^63-1
 	if header.GasLimit.Cmp(math.TT63m1) > 0{
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid gasLimit: have %v, max %v", header.GasLimit, math.TT63m1)	
 	}
+	// Verify that the gasUsed is <= gasLimit
+	if header.GasUsed.Cmp(header.GasLimit) > 0{
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid gasUsed: have %v, gasLimit %v", header.GasUsed, header.GasLimit)			
+	}
 
 	// Verify that the gas limit remains within allowed bounds
 	diff := new(big.Int).Set(parent.GasLimit)