diff --git a/core/state/statedb_utils.go b/core/state/statedb_utils.go
index 4a0c9d45e6..a9c210b569 100644
--- a/core/state/statedb_utils.go
+++ b/core/state/statedb_utils.go
@@ -93,16 +93,17 @@ func GetCandidates(statedb *StateDB) []common.Address {
 	slot := slotValidatorMapping["candidates"]
 	slotHash := common.BigToHash(new(big.Int).SetUint64(slot))
 	arrLength := statedb.GetState(common.HexToAddress(common.MasternodeVotingSMC), slotHash)
-	keys := []common.Hash{}
-	for i := uint64(0); i < arrLength.Big().Uint64(); i++ {
+	count := arrLength.Big().Uint64()
+	rets := make([]common.Address, 0, count)
+
+	for i := uint64(0); i < count; i++ {
 		key := GetLocDynamicArrAtElement(slotHash, i, 1)
-		keys = append(keys, key)
-	}
-	rets := []common.Address{}
-	for _, key := range keys {
 		ret := statedb.GetState(common.HexToAddress(common.MasternodeVotingSMC), key)
-		rets = append(rets, common.HexToAddress(ret.Hex()))
+		if !ret.IsZero() {
+			rets = append(rets, common.HexToAddress(ret.Hex()))
+		}
 	}
+
 	return rets
 }
 
diff --git a/eth/hooks/engine_v1_hooks.go b/eth/hooks/engine_v1_hooks.go
index 9d14e7a3a4..78ec7a1e19 100644
--- a/eth/hooks/engine_v1_hooks.go
+++ b/eth/hooks/engine_v1_hooks.go
@@ -238,9 +238,7 @@ func AttachConsensusV1Hooks(adaptor *XDPoS.XDPoS, bc *core.BlockChain, chainConf
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
-			if address.String() != "xdc0000000000000000000000000000000000000000" {
-				candidates = append(candidates, utils.Masternode{Address: address, Stake: v})
-			}
+			candidates = append(candidates, utils.Masternode{Address: address, Stake: v})
 		}
 		// sort candidates by stake descending
 		sort.Slice(candidates, func(i, j int) bool {
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api.go b/internal/ethapi/api.go
index 1a0ec61881..1ca90b7e40 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api.go
@@ -756,9 +756,7 @@ func (s *PublicBlockChainAPI) GetCandidateStatus(ctx context.Context, coinbaseAd
 		candidatesAddresses := state.GetCandidates(statedb)
 		for _, address := range candidatesAddresses {
 			v := state.GetCandidateCap(statedb, address)
-			if address.String() != "xdc0000000000000000000000000000000000000000" {
-				candidates = append(candidates, utils.Masternode{Address: address, Stake: v})
-			}
+			candidates = append(candidates, utils.Masternode{Address: address, Stake: v})
 		}
 	}
 	if err != nil || len(candidates) == 0 {
@@ -882,9 +880,7 @@ func (s *PublicBlockChainAPI) GetCandidates(ctx context.Context, epoch rpc.Epoch
 		candidatesAddresses := state.GetCandidates(statedb)
 		for _, address := range candidatesAddresses {
 			v := state.GetCandidateCap(statedb, address)
-			if address.String() != "xdc0000000000000000000000000000000000000000" {
-				candidates = append(candidates, utils.Masternode{Address: address, Stake: v})
-			}
+			candidates = append(candidates, utils.Masternode{Address: address, Stake: v})
 		}
 	}