diff --git a/eth/api_backend.go b/eth/api_backend.go
index 97c22c8fbb..ccc0966f00 100644
--- a/eth/api_backend.go
+++ b/eth/api_backend.go
@@ -214,13 +214,12 @@ func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetTd(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) *big.Int {
 }
 
 func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetEVM(ctx context.Context, msg core.Message, state *state.StateDB, header *types.Header, vmConfig *vm.Config) (*vm.EVM, func() error, error) {
-	vmError := func() error { return nil }
 	if vmConfig == nil {
 		vmConfig = b.eth.blockchain.GetVMConfig()
 	}
 	txContext := core.NewEVMTxContext(msg)
 	context := core.NewEVMBlockContext(header, b.eth.BlockChain(), nil)
-	return vm.NewEVM(context, txContext, state, b.eth.blockchain.Config(), *vmConfig), vmError, nil
+	return vm.NewEVM(context, txContext, state, b.eth.blockchain.Config(), *vmConfig), state.Error, nil
 }
 
 func (b *EthAPIBackend) SubscribeRemovedLogsEvent(ch chan<- core.RemovedLogsEvent) event.Subscription {