diff --git a/trie/secure_trie.go b/trie/secure_trie.go
index 9d391d8ec6..ac20f961e5 100644
--- a/trie/secure_trie.go
+++ b/trie/secure_trie.go
@@ -240,12 +240,12 @@ func (t *StateTrie) DeleteAccount(address common.Address) error {
 // GetKey returns the sha3 preimage of a hashed key that was
 // previously used to store a value.
 func (t *StateTrie) GetKey(shaKey []byte) []byte {
-	if key, ok := t.getSecKeyCache()[common.BytesToHash(shaKey)]; ok {
-		return key
-	}
 	if t.preimages == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
+	if key, ok := t.getSecKeyCache()[common.BytesToHash(shaKey)]; ok {
+		return key
+	}
 	return t.preimages.Preimage(common.BytesToHash(shaKey))
 }