diff --git a/beacon-chain/blockchain/service.go b/beacon-chain/blockchain/service.go
index be21081626..11732cb55b 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/blockchain/service.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/blockchain/service.go
@@ -188,10 +188,16 @@ func (s *Service) StartFromSavedState(saved state.BeaconState) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "could not get justified checkpoint")
 	}
+	if justified == nil {
+		return errNilJustifiedCheckpoint
+	}
 	finalized, err := s.cfg.BeaconDB.FinalizedCheckpoint(s.ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "could not get finalized checkpoint")
 	}
+	if finalized == nil {
+		return errNilFinalizedCheckpoint
+	}
 	s.store = store.New(justified, finalized)
 
 	var forkChoicer f.ForkChoicer