diff --git a/finality-provider/service/fp_instance.go b/finality-provider/service/fp_instance.go
index c4ce298e..007e4419 100644
--- a/finality-provider/service/fp_instance.go
+++ b/finality-provider/service/fp_instance.go
@@ -789,6 +789,10 @@ func (fp *FinalityProviderInstance) TestSubmitFinalitySignatureAndExtractPrivKey
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to send finality signature to the consumer chain: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	if res.TxHash == "" {
+		return res, nil, nil
+	}
+
 	// try to extract the private key
 	var privKey *btcec.PrivateKey
 	for _, ev := range res.Events {
diff --git a/itest/e2e_test.go b/itest/e2e_test.go
index 5f8bcc33..b0891f91 100644
--- a/itest/e2e_test.go
+++ b/itest/e2e_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-//go:build e2e
-// +build e2e
-
 package e2etest
 
 import (
@@ -87,9 +84,10 @@ func TestDoubleSigning(t *testing.T) {
 	finalizedBlocks := tm.WaitForNFinalizedBlocks(t, 1)
 
 	// test duplicate vote which should be ignored
-	_, extractedKey, err := fpIns.TestSubmitFinalitySignatureAndExtractPrivKey(finalizedBlocks[0])
+	res, extractedKey, err := fpIns.TestSubmitFinalitySignatureAndExtractPrivKey(finalizedBlocks[0])
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Nil(t, extractedKey)
+	require.Empty(t, res)
 	t.Logf("duplicate vote for %d is sent", finalizedBlocks[0].Height)
 
 	// attack: manually submit a finality vote over a conflicting block
@@ -106,12 +104,6 @@ func TestDoubleSigning(t *testing.T) {
 	require.True(t, localKey.Key.Equals(&extractedKey.Key) || localKey.Key.Negate().Equals(&extractedKey.Key))
 
 	t.Logf("the equivocation attack is successful")
-
-	tm.WaitForFpShutDown(t)
-
-	// try to start the finality provider and should expect err
-	err = tm.Fpa.StartHandlingFinalityProvider(fpIns.GetBtcPkBIP340(), "")
-	require.Error(t, err)
 }
 
 // TestFastSync tests the fast sync process where the finality-provider is terminated and restarted with fast sync