diff --git a/miner/worker.go b/miner/worker.go
index 4a9528c395..e700afeef3 100644
--- a/miner/worker.go
+++ b/miner/worker.go
@@ -299,8 +299,9 @@ func (w *worker) newWorkLoop(recommit time.Duration) {
 	commit := func(noempty bool, s int32) {
 		if interrupt != nil {
 			atomic.StoreInt32(interrupt, s)
+		} else {
+			interrupt = new(int32)
 		}
-		interrupt = new(int32)
 		w.newWorkCh <- &newWorkReq{interrupt: interrupt, noempty: noempty, timestamp: timestamp}
 		timer.Reset(recommit)
 		atomic.StoreInt32(&w.newTxs, 0)