diff --git a/ethdb/memorydb/memorydb.go b/ethdb/memorydb/memorydb.go
index 4d932bb631..a797275e92 100644
--- a/ethdb/memorydb/memorydb.go
+++ b/ethdb/memorydb/memorydb.go
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@ func (db *Database) Delete(key []byte) error {
 func (db *Database) DeleteRange(start, end []byte) error {
 	db.lock.Lock()
 	defer db.lock.Unlock()
+	if db.db == nil {
+		return errMemorydbClosed
+	}
 
 	for key := range db.db {
 		if key >= string(start) && key < string(end) {