diff --git a/core/vm/runtime/runtime.go b/core/vm/runtime/runtime.go
index b40e99d047..af394aa054 100644
--- a/core/vm/runtime/runtime.go
+++ b/core/vm/runtime/runtime.go
@@ -109,7 +109,9 @@ func setDefaults(cfg *Config) {
 	if cfg.BlobBaseFee == nil {
 		cfg.BlobBaseFee = big.NewInt(params.BlobTxMinBlobGasprice)
 	}
-	cfg.Random = &(common.Hash{})
+	if cfg.Random == nil {
+		cfg.Random = new(common.Hash)
+	}
 }
 
 // Execute executes the code using the input as call data during the execution.
diff --git a/core/vm/runtime/runtime_test.go b/core/vm/runtime/runtime_test.go
index a001d81623..40fb770454 100644
--- a/core/vm/runtime/runtime_test.go
+++ b/core/vm/runtime/runtime_test.go
@@ -65,6 +65,21 @@ func TestDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 	if cfg.BlockNumber == nil {
 		t.Error("expected block number to be non nil")
 	}
+	if cfg.Random == nil {
+		t.Error("expected Random to be non nil")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDefaultsPreserveRandom(t *testing.T) {
+	h := common.HexToHash("0x01")
+	cfg := &Config{Random: &h}
+	setDefaults(cfg)
+	if cfg.Random == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected Random to remain non-nil")
+	}
+	if *cfg.Random != h {
+		t.Fatalf("expected Random to be preserved, got %x, want %x", *cfg.Random, h)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestEVM(t *testing.T) {