diff --git a/cmd/validate.go b/cmd/validate.go
index c91fb918..1fcd5a82 100644
--- a/cmd/validate.go
+++ b/cmd/validate.go
@@ -63,12 +63,12 @@ func validate() {
 		ExpiryDuration: time.Minute * time.Duration(CacheExpiryInMins),
 	})
 
-	validator := validator.NewValidator(nil, ethDB)
-	if err = validator.ValidateTrie(stateRoot); err != nil {
+	val := validator.NewValidator(nil, ethDB)
+	if err = val.ValidateTrie(stateRoot); err != nil {
 		log.Fatalln("Error validating state root")
 	}
 
-	stats := ethDB.GetCacheStats()
+	stats := ethDB.(*ipfsethdb.Database).GetCacheStats()
 	log.Debugf("groupcache stats %+v", stats)
 
 	log.Infoln("Successfully validated state root")
diff --git a/pkg/eth/backend.go b/pkg/eth/backend.go
index 1e1445f3..3d9485a4 100644
--- a/pkg/eth/backend.go
+++ b/pkg/eth/backend.go
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func NewEthBackend(db *postgres.DB, c *Config) (*Backend, error) {
 		ExpiryDuration: time.Minute * time.Duration(gcc.StateDB.CacheExpiryInMins),
 	})
 
-	logStateDBStatsOnTimer(ethDB, gcc)
+	logStateDBStatsOnTimer(ethDB.(*ipfsethdb.Database), gcc)
 
 	return &Backend{
 		DB:            db,
@@ -825,6 +825,7 @@ func (b *Backend) GetHeader(hash common.Hash, height uint64) *types.Header {
 	return header
 }
 
+// ValidateTrie validates the trie for the given stateRoot
 func (b *Backend) ValidateTrie(stateRoot common.Hash) error {
 	return validator.NewValidator(nil, b.EthDB).ValidateTrie(stateRoot)
 }