diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/io/emeraldpay/dshackle/upstream/ethereum/EthereumBlockValidator.kt b/src/main/kotlin/io/emeraldpay/dshackle/upstream/ethereum/EthereumBlockValidator.kt
index 54a9413b..eb5113b7 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/io/emeraldpay/dshackle/upstream/ethereum/EthereumBlockValidator.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/io/emeraldpay/dshackle/upstream/ethereum/EthereumBlockValidator.kt
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class EthereumBlockValidator : BlockValidator {
 
     private fun validateDifficulty(node: JsonNode, rlpEncoded: Map<String, ByteArray>): Boolean {
         val difficulty = fromHexStringI(node["difficulty"].asText())
-        if (difficulty.signum() <= 0) {
+        if (difficulty.compareTo(BigInteger.ZERO) == 0 || difficulty.signum() < 0) {
             return false
         }
         val nonce = fromHexStringI(node["nonce"].asText())