diff --git a/trie/database.go b/trie/database.go
index f9c108907c..eafa9f60c0 100644
--- a/trie/database.go
+++ b/trie/database.go
@@ -323,15 +323,16 @@ func (db *Database) insert(hash common.Hash, size int, node node) {
 	db.dirtiesSize += common.StorageSize(common.HashLength + entry.size)
 }
 
-// InsertPreimage writes a new trie Node pre-image to the memory database if it's
-// yet unknown. The method will make a copy of the slice.
+// insertPreimage writes a new trie node pre-image to the memory database if it's
+// yet unknown. The method will NOT make a copy of the slice,
+// only use if the preimage will NOT be changed later on.
 //
 // Note, this method assumes that the database's Lock is held!
 func (db *Database) InsertPreimage(hash common.Hash, preimage []byte) {
 	if _, ok := db.preimages[hash]; ok {
 		return
 	}
-	db.preimages[hash] = common.CopyBytes(preimage)
+	db.preimages[hash] = preimage
 	db.preimagesSize += common.StorageSize(common.HashLength + len(preimage))
 }