diff --git a/trie/proof.go b/trie/proof.go
index 1f8f76b1b7..298f648c4b 100644
--- a/trie/proof.go
+++ b/trie/proof.go
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func VerifyProof(rootHash common.Hash, key []byte, proof []rlp.RawValue) (value
 }
 
 func get(tn node, key []byte) ([]byte, node) {
-	for len(key) > 0 {
+	for {
 		switch n := tn.(type) {
 		case *shortNode:
 			if len(key) < len(n.Key) || !bytes.Equal(n.Key, key[:len(n.Key)]) {
@@ -140,9 +140,10 @@ func get(tn node, key []byte) ([]byte, node) {
 			return key, n
 		case nil:
 			return key, nil
+		case valueNode:
+			return nil, n
 		default:
 			panic(fmt.Sprintf("%T: invalid node: %v", tn, tn))
 		}
 	}
-	return nil, tn.(valueNode)
 }