diff --git a/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/server.go b/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/server.go
index 03a36117c4..ebea1b1dca 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/server.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/server.go
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ func (vs *Server) ValidatorIndex(ctx context.Context, req *ethpb.ValidatorIndexR
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, status.Errorf(codes.Internal, "Could not determine head state: %v", err)
 	}
+	if st == nil || st.IsNil() {
+		return nil, status.Errorf(codes.Internal, "head state is empty")
+	}
 	index, ok := st.ValidatorIndexByPubkey(bytesutil.ToBytes48(req.PublicKey))
 	if !ok {
 		return nil, status.Errorf(codes.NotFound, "Could not find validator index for public key %#x", req.PublicKey)
diff --git a/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/server_test.go b/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/server_test.go
index c93ec99019..0701918c7f 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/server_test.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/rpc/prysm/v1alpha1/validator/server_test.go
@@ -48,6 +48,18 @@ func TestValidatorIndex_OK(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err, "Could not get validator index")
 }
 
+func TestValidatorIndex_StateEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	Server := &Server{
+		HeadFetcher: &mockChain.ChainService{},
+	}
+	pubKey := pubKey(1)
+	req := &ethpb.ValidatorIndexRequest{
+		PublicKey: pubKey,
+	}
+	_, err := Server.ValidatorIndex(context.Background(), req)
+	assert.ErrorContains(t, "head state is empty", err)
+}
+
 func TestWaitForActivation_ContextClosed(t *testing.T) {
 	beaconState, err := v1.InitializeFromProto(&ethpb.BeaconState{
 		Slot:       0,