diff --git a/core/state/statedb.go b/core/state/statedb.go
index e805885079..4d6911948a 100644
--- a/core/state/statedb.go
+++ b/core/state/statedb.go
@@ -656,6 +656,9 @@ func (s *StateDB) CreateAccount(addr common.Address) {
 // correctly handle EIP-6780 'delete-in-same-transaction' logic.
 func (s *StateDB) CreateContract(addr common.Address) {
 	obj := s.getStateObject(addr)
+	if obj == nil {
+		return
+	}
 	if !obj.newContract {
 		obj.newContract = true
 		s.journal.createContract(addr)