diff --git a/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/proposer_execution_payload.go b/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/proposer_execution_payload.go
index 9474b337d..cc8bc4700 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/proposer_execution_payload.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/proposer_execution_payload.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package validator
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
@@ -98,14 +99,19 @@ func (vs *Server) getExecutionPayload(ctx context.Context, slot types.Slot, vIdx
 
 	feeRecipient := params.BeaconConfig().DefaultFeeRecipient
 	recipient, err := vs.BeaconDB.FeeRecipientByValidatorID(ctx, vIdx)
+	burnAddr := bytesutil.PadTo([]byte{}, fieldparams.FeeRecipientLength)
 	switch err == nil {
 	case true:
 		feeRecipient = recipient
-	case errors.As(err, kv.ErrNotFoundFeeRecipient): // If fee recipient is not found, use the default fee recipient.
-		logrus.WithFields(logrus.Fields{
-			"validatorIndex":      vIdx,
-			"defaultFeeRecipient": feeRecipient,
-		}).Error("Fee recipient not found. Using default fee recipient")
+	case errors.As(err, kv.ErrNotFoundFeeRecipient):
+		// If fee recipient is not found in DB and not set from beacon node CLI,
+		// use the burn address.
+		if bytes.Equal(feeRecipient.Bytes(), burnAddr) {
+			logrus.WithFields(logrus.Fields{
+				"validatorIndex": vIdx,
+				"burnAddress":    burnAddr,
+			}).Error("Fee recipient not set. Using burn address")
+		}
 	default:
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "could not get fee recipient in db")
 	}
diff --git a/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/proposer_test.go b/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/proposer_test.go
index cb4d8d6fd..45534278c 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/proposer_test.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/proposer_test.go
@@ -2349,10 +2349,6 @@ func TestProposer_GetBeaconBlock_BellatrixEpoch(t *testing.T) {
 		Graffiti:     graffiti[:],
 	}
 
-	proposerIndex := types.ValidatorIndex(40)
-	addr := common.Address{'a'}
-	require.NoError(t, proposerServer.BeaconDB.SaveFeeRecipientsByValidatorIDs(ctx, []types.ValidatorIndex{proposerIndex}, []common.Address{addr}))
-
 	block, err := proposerServer.GetBeaconBlock(ctx, req)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	bellatrixBlk, ok := block.GetBlock().(*ethpb.GenericBeaconBlock_Bellatrix)
@@ -2363,8 +2359,18 @@ func TestProposer_GetBeaconBlock_BellatrixEpoch(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.DeepEqual(t, randaoReveal, bellatrixBlk.Bellatrix.Body.RandaoReveal, "Expected block to have correct randao reveal")
 	assert.DeepEqual(t, req.Graffiti, bellatrixBlk.Bellatrix.Body.Graffiti, "Expected block to have correct Graffiti")
 
-	require.LogsDoNotContain(t, hook, "Fee recipient not found. Using default fee recipient.")
+	require.LogsContain(t, hook, "Fee recipient not set. Using burn address")
 	require.DeepEqual(t, payload, bellatrixBlk.Bellatrix.Body.ExecutionPayload) // Payload should equal.
+
+	// Operator sets default fee recipient to not be burned through beacon node cli.
+	newHook := logTest.NewGlobal()
+	params.SetupTestConfigCleanup(t)
+	cfg = params.MainnetConfig().Copy()
+	cfg.DefaultFeeRecipient = common.Address{'b'}
+	params.OverrideBeaconConfig(cfg)
+	_, err = proposerServer.GetBeaconBlock(ctx, req)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.LogsDoNotContain(t, newHook, "Fee recipient not set. Using burn address")
 }
 
 func TestProposer_GetBeaconBlock_Optimistic(t *testing.T) {