diff --git a/core/genesis.go b/core/genesis.go
index 1b9ec20ed9..1120be015f 100644
--- a/core/genesis.go
+++ b/core/genesis.go
@@ -465,10 +465,12 @@ func (g *Genesis) ToBlock() *types.Block {
 			head.BaseFee = new(big.Int).SetUint64(params.InitialBaseFee)
 		}
 	}
+	var withdrawals []*types.Withdrawal
 	if g.Config != nil && g.Config.IsShanghai(g.Timestamp) {
 		head.WithdrawalsHash = &types.EmptyRootHash
+		withdrawals = make([]*types.Withdrawal, 0)
 	}
-	return types.NewBlock(head, nil, nil, nil, trie.NewStackTrie(nil))
+	return types.NewBlock(head, nil, nil, nil, trie.NewStackTrie(nil)).WithWithdrawals(withdrawals)
 }
 
 // Commit writes the block and state of a genesis specification to the database.
diff --git a/eth/downloader/queue.go b/eth/downloader/queue.go
index 13b3021b24..b90f417ea4 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/queue.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/queue.go
@@ -783,6 +783,10 @@ func (q *queue) DeliverBodies(id string, txLists [][]*types.Transaction, txListH
 		if header.WithdrawalsHash == nil {
 			// discard any withdrawals if we don't have a withdrawal hash set
 			withdrawalLists[index] = nil
+		} else if *header.WithdrawalsHash == types.EmptyRootHash && withdrawalLists[index] == nil {
+			// if the withdrawal hash is the emptyRootHash,
+			// we expect withdrawals to be [] instead of nil
+			withdrawalLists[index] = make([]*types.Withdrawal, 0)
 		} else if withdrawalListHashes[index] != *header.WithdrawalsHash {
 			return errInvalidBody
 		}
diff --git a/eth/protocols/eth/handler_test.go b/eth/protocols/eth/handler_test.go
index 51850c60ea..76505ab8d3 100644
--- a/eth/protocols/eth/handler_test.go
+++ b/eth/protocols/eth/handler_test.go
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ func testGetBlockBodies(t *testing.T, protocol uint) {
 			RequestId:         123,
 			BlockBodiesPacket: bodies,
 		}); err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("test %d: bodies mismatch: %v", i, err)
+			t.Fatalf("test %d: bodies mismatch: %v", i, err)
 		}
 	}
 }