diff --git a/beacon-chain/sync/initial-sync/service.go b/beacon-chain/sync/initial-sync/service.go
index b82d288234..8c6aea4a08 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/sync/initial-sync/service.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/sync/initial-sync/service.go
@@ -217,10 +217,17 @@ func (s *Service) fetchOriginSidecars(peers []peer.ID) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(err, "error fetching origin checkpoint blockroot")
+	}
+
 	block, err := s.cfg.DB.Block(s.ctx, blockRoot)
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "block")
 	}
+	if block.IsNil() {
+		return errors.Errorf("origin block for root %#x not found in database", blockRoot)
+	}
 
 	currentSlot, blockSlot := s.clock.CurrentSlot(), block.Block().Slot()
 	currentEpoch, blockEpoch := slots.ToEpoch(currentSlot), slots.ToEpoch(blockSlot)
diff --git a/changelog/satushh-fetchoriginsidecars-bug.md b/changelog/satushh-fetchoriginsidecars-bug.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a2f61e7d2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/satushh-fetchoriginsidecars-bug.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+### Fixed
+
+- Nil check for block if it doesn't exist in the DB in fetchOriginSidecars
\ No newline at end of file