diff --git a/core/tx_pool.go b/core/tx_pool.go
index 9f6016bc38..493d8115d2 100644
--- a/core/tx_pool.go
+++ b/core/tx_pool.go
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) validateTx(tx *types.Transaction, local bool) error {
 	if pool.currentState.GetBalance(from).Cmp(tx.Cost()) < 0 {
 		return ErrInsufficientFunds
 	}
-	if tx.To().String() != common.BlockSigners {
+	if tx.To() != nil && tx.To().String() != common.BlockSigners {
 		intrGas, err := IntrinsicGas(tx.Data(), tx.To() == nil, pool.homestead)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err