diff --git a/specs/merge/validator.md b/specs/merge/validator.md
index 6b8fa2a01..0d1344bfc 100644
--- a/specs/merge/validator.md
+++ b/specs/merge/validator.md
@@ -45,19 +45,15 @@ def get_pow_block_at_terminal_total_difficulty(pow_chain: Dict[Hash32, PowBlock]
     # `pow_chain` abstractly represents all blocks in the PoW chain
     for block in pow_chain.values():
         block_reached_ttd = block.total_difficulty >= TERMINAL_TOTAL_DIFFICULTY
-        # Genesis block
-        if block.parent_hash == Hash32():
-            # No parent exists, so reaching TTD alone qualifies as valid terminal block
-            if block_reached_ttd:
+        if block_reached_ttd:
+            # If genesis block, no parent exists so reaching TTD alone qualifies as valid terminal block
+            if block.parent_hash == Hash32():
                 return block
-            # Continue to iterate the next block
-            if block.parent_hash not in pow_chain:
-                continue
-
-        parent = pow_chain[block.parent_hash]
-        parent_reached_ttd = parent.total_difficulty >= TERMINAL_TOTAL_DIFFICULTY
-        if block_reached_ttd and not parent_reached_ttd:
-            return block
+            else:
+                parent = pow_chain[block.parent_hash]
+                parent_reached_ttd = parent.total_difficulty >= TERMINAL_TOTAL_DIFFICULTY
+                if not parent_reached_ttd:
+                    return block
 
     return None
 ```