diff --git a/ethclient/ethclient.go b/ethclient/ethclient.go
index 6f309030ba..c8353b25ae 100644
--- a/ethclient/ethclient.go
+++ b/ethclient/ethclient.go
@@ -113,15 +113,19 @@ func (ec *Client) getBlock(ctx context.Context, method string, args ...interface
 	err := ec.c.CallContext(ctx, &raw, method, args...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
-	} else if len(raw) == 0 {
-		return nil, ethereum.NotFound
 	}
+
 	// Decode header and transactions.
 	var head *types.Header
-	var body rpcBlock
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &head); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	// When the block is not found, the API returns JSON null.
+	if head == nil {
+		return nil, ethereum.NotFound
+	}
+
+	var body rpcBlock
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &body); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}