diff --git a/p2p/node/p2p_services.go b/p2p/node/p2p_services.go
index ed443604bd..a54c58fdb8 100644
--- a/p2p/node/p2p_services.go
+++ b/p2p/node/p2p_services.go
@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ func (p *P2PNode) requestFromPeer(peerID peer.ID, location common.Location, data
 	// Remove request ID from the map of pending requests
 	p.requestManager.CloseRequest(id)
 
+	if recvdType == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
 	// Check the received data type & hash matches the request
 	switch datatype.(type) {
 	case *types.Block: