diff --git a/eth/tracers/api_blocktrace.go b/eth/tracers/api_blocktrace.go
index e26f6e0c01..0eed2d0d13 100644
--- a/eth/tracers/api_blocktrace.go
+++ b/eth/tracers/api_blocktrace.go
@@ -94,9 +94,14 @@ func (api *API) createTraceEnv(ctx context.Context, config *TraceConfig, block *
 	}
 
 	// get coinbase
-	coinbase, err := api.backend.Engine().Author(block.Header())
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+	var coinbase common.Address
+	if api.backend.ChainConfig().FeeVaultAddress != nil {
+		coinbase = *api.backend.ChainConfig().FeeVaultAddress
+	} else {
+		coinbase, err = api.backend.Engine().Author(block.Header())
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 	}
 
 	env := &traceEnv{
@@ -127,6 +132,7 @@ func (api *API) createTraceEnv(ctx context.Context, config *TraceConfig, block *
 		}
 		env.Proofs[key] = wrappedProof
 	}
+
 	return env, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/eth/tracers/api_blocktrace_test.go b/eth/tracers/api_blocktrace_test.go
index 85532b6076..beb0e6435b 100644
--- a/eth/tracers/api_blocktrace_test.go
+++ b/eth/tracers/api_blocktrace_test.go
@@ -180,10 +180,15 @@ func checkStructLogs(t *testing.T, expect []*txTraceResult, actual []*types.Exec
 }
 
 func checkCoinbase(t *testing.T, b *testBackend, wrapper *types.AccountWrapper) {
-	header, err := b.HeaderByNumber(context.Background(), 1)
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	coinbase, err := b.engine.Author(header)
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	var coinbase common.Address
+	if b.chainConfig.FeeVaultAddress != nil {
+		coinbase = *b.chainConfig.FeeVaultAddress
+	} else {
+		header, err := b.HeaderByNumber(context.Background(), 1)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		coinbase, err = b.engine.Author(header)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+	}
 	assert.Equal(t, true, coinbase.String() == wrapper.Address.String())
 }