diff --git a/txpool/pool.go b/txpool/pool.go
index 86218495b..5932386eb 100644
--- a/txpool/pool.go
+++ b/txpool/pool.go
@@ -913,6 +913,13 @@ func (p *TxPool) OnNewTxs(ctx context.Context, coreDB kv.RoDB, newTxs TxSlots, s
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if ASSERT {
+		for i := range p.senders.senderIDs {
+			if bytes.Equal([]byte(i), EmptyAddr[:]) {
+				panic(8)
+			}
+		}
+	}
 	protocolBaseFee, pendingBaseFee := p.protocolBaseFee.Load(), p.pendingBaseFee.Load()
 	if protocolBaseFee == 0 || pendingBaseFee == 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("non-zero base fee: %d,%d", protocolBaseFee, pendingBaseFee)