diff --git a/core/state/journal.go b/core/state/journal.go
index 8f2e888b38..4bb204a3dd 100644
--- a/core/state/journal.go
+++ b/core/state/journal.go
@@ -179,7 +179,8 @@ func (j *journal) stashBalance(addr common.Address, prev *uint256.Int) {
 	if s.balanceSet {
 		return
 	}
-	s.balance = prev.Clone()
+	// The balance is already deep-copied in the StateDB
+	s.balance = prev
 	s.balanceSet = true
 }
 
@@ -199,7 +200,8 @@ func (j *journal) stashCode(addr common.Address, prev []byte) {
 	if s.codeSet {
 		return
 	}
-	s.code = slices.Clone(prev)
+	// The code is already deep-copied in the StateDB
+	s.code = prev
 	s.codeSet = true
 }
 
diff --git a/core/state/state_object.go b/core/state/state_object.go
index 7c4ee9e427..df0740320c 100644
--- a/core/state/state_object.go
+++ b/core/state/state_object.go
@@ -184,8 +184,9 @@ func (s *stateObject) getState(key common.Hash) (common.Hash, common.Hash) {
 // without any mutations caused in the current execution.
 func (s *stateObject) GetCommittedState(key common.Hash) common.Hash {
 	// Record slot access regardless of whether the storage slot exists.
-	s.db.stateAccessList.StorageRead(s.address, key)
-
+	if s.db.stateAccessList != nil {
+		s.db.stateAccessList.StorageRead(s.address, key)
+	}
 	// If we have a pending write or clean cached, return that
 	if value, pending := s.pendingStorage[key]; pending {
 		return value
diff --git a/core/state/statedb.go b/core/state/statedb.go
index d9f3ad86f2..ea5900537f 100644
--- a/core/state/statedb.go
+++ b/core/state/statedb.go
@@ -590,8 +590,9 @@ func (s *StateDB) deleteStateObject(addr common.Address) {
 // the object is not found or was deleted in this execution context.
 func (s *StateDB) getStateObject(addr common.Address) *stateObject {
 	// Record state access regardless of whether the account exists.
-	s.stateAccessList.AccountRead(addr)
-
+	if s.stateAccessList != nil {
+		s.stateAccessList.AccountRead(addr)
+	}
 	// Prefer live objects if any is available
 	if obj := s.stateObjects[addr]; obj != nil {
 		return obj