diff --git a/common/exchange/rates.go b/common/exchange/rates.go
index fac2b7df33..221ba480ef 100644
--- a/common/exchange/rates.go
+++ b/common/exchange/rates.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func getRate(exchangeRates common.ExchangeRates, feeCurrency *common.Address) (*
 // returns -1 0 or 1 depending if val1 < val2, val1 == val2, or val1 > val2 respectively.
 func CompareValue(exchangeRates common.ExchangeRates, val1 *big.Int, feeCurrency1 *common.Address, val2 *big.Int, feeCurrency2 *common.Address) (int, error) {
 	// Short circuit if the fee currency is the same.
-	if feeCurrency1 == feeCurrency2 {
+	if common.AreSameAddress(feeCurrency1, feeCurrency2) {
 		return val1.Cmp(val2), nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/core/txpool/legacypool/legacypool.go b/core/txpool/legacypool/legacypool.go
index 2bf29c44bd..a4589d35a7 100644
--- a/core/txpool/legacypool/legacypool.go
+++ b/core/txpool/legacypool/legacypool.go
@@ -689,7 +689,11 @@ func (pool *LegacyPool) validateTx(tx *types.Transaction, local bool) error {
 		},
 		ExistingExpenditure: func(addr common.Address) (*big.Int, *big.Int) {
 			if list := pool.pending[addr]; list != nil {
-				return list.TotalCostFor(tx.FeeCurrency()).ToBig(), list.TotalCostFor(nil).ToBig()
+				if tx.FeeCurrency() != nil {
+					return list.TotalCostFor(tx.FeeCurrency()).ToBig(), list.TotalCostFor(nil).ToBig()
+				} else {
+					return common.Big0, list.TotalCostFor(nil).ToBig()
+				}
 			}
 			return new(big.Int), new(big.Int)
 		},
@@ -703,7 +707,7 @@ func (pool *LegacyPool) validateTx(tx *types.Transaction, local bool) error {
 							nativeCost = nativeCost.Add(nativeCost, l1Cost)
 						}
 					}
-					if tx.FeeCurrency() != feeCurrency {
+					if !common.AreSameAddress(tx.FeeCurrency(), feeCurrency) {
 						// We are only interested in costs in the same currency
 						feeCurrencyCost = new(big.Int)
 					}