diff --git a/cmd/evm/staterunner.go b/cmd/evm/staterunner.go
index 85931f0406..a29c4b18f6 100644
--- a/cmd/evm/staterunner.go
+++ b/cmd/evm/staterunner.go
@@ -107,13 +107,6 @@ func runStateTest(fname string, cfg vm.Config, jsonOut, dump bool) error {
 			// Run the test and aggregate the result
 			result := &StatetestResult{Name: key, Fork: st.Fork, Pass: true}
 			test.Run(st, cfg, false, rawdb.HashScheme, func(err error, snaps *snapshot.Tree, state *state.StateDB) {
-				if state != nil {
-					root := state.IntermediateRoot(false)
-					result.Root = &root
-					if jsonOut {
-						fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "{\"stateRoot\": \"%#x\"}\n", root)
-					}
-				}
 				if err != nil {
 					// Test failed, mark as so and dump any state to aid debugging
 					result.Pass, result.Error = false, err.Error()
@@ -121,6 +114,12 @@ func runStateTest(fname string, cfg vm.Config, jsonOut, dump bool) error {
 						dump := state.RawDump(nil)
 						result.State = &dump
 					}
+				} else {
+					root := state.IntermediateRoot(false)
+					result.Root = &root
+					if jsonOut {
+						fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "{\"stateRoot\": \"%#x\"}\n", root)
+					}
 				}
 			})
 			results = append(results, *result)