diff --git a/cmd/evm/runner.go b/cmd/evm/runner.go
index 318aa222a3..3e8ecf6c3c 100644
--- a/cmd/evm/runner.go
+++ b/cmd/evm/runner.go
@@ -198,6 +198,8 @@ func runCmd(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 
 	if chainConfig != nil {
 		runtimeConfig.ChainConfig = chainConfig
+	} else {
+		runtimeConfig.ChainConfig = params.AllEthashProtocolChanges
 	}
 	tstart := time.Now()
 	var leftOverGas uint64