diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/beacon_chain.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/beacon_chain.rs
index 51aed941f..dc0b6e717 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/beacon_chain.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/beacon_chain.rs
@@ -4191,6 +4191,8 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> BeaconChain<T> {
                 .await,
             #[cfg(feature = "withdrawals")]
             withdrawals,
+            #[cfg(not(feature = "withdrawals"))]
+            withdrawals: None,
         });
 
         debug!(
diff --git a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api.rs b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api.rs
index b1a3cfa41..65d3b656b 100644
--- a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api.rs
@@ -7,11 +7,9 @@ use reqwest::StatusCode;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use strum::IntoStaticStr;
 use superstruct::superstruct;
-#[cfg(feature = "withdrawals")]
-use types::Withdrawal;
 pub use types::{
     Address, EthSpec, ExecutionBlockHash, ExecutionPayload, ExecutionPayloadHeader, FixedVector,
-    ForkName, Hash256, Uint256, VariableList,
+    ForkName, Hash256, Uint256, VariableList, Withdrawal,
 };
 
 pub mod auth;
@@ -257,7 +255,6 @@ pub struct PayloadAttributes {
     pub prev_randao: Hash256,
     #[superstruct(getter(copy))]
     pub suggested_fee_recipient: Address,
-    #[cfg(feature = "withdrawals")]
     #[superstruct(only(V2))]
     pub withdrawals: Option<Vec<Withdrawal>>,
 }
diff --git a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api/json_structures.rs b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api/json_structures.rs
index 0e53a3b06..1b125cde4 100644
--- a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api/json_structures.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api/json_structures.rs
@@ -375,8 +375,9 @@ pub struct JsonPayloadAttributes {
     pub timestamp: u64,
     pub prev_randao: Hash256,
     pub suggested_fee_recipient: Address,
-    #[cfg(feature = "withdrawals")]
     #[superstruct(only(V2))]
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub withdrawals: Option<Vec<JsonWithdrawal>>,
 }
 
@@ -392,7 +393,6 @@ impl From<PayloadAttributes> for JsonPayloadAttributes {
                 timestamp: pa.timestamp,
                 prev_randao: pa.prev_randao,
                 suggested_fee_recipient: pa.suggested_fee_recipient,
-                #[cfg(feature = "withdrawals")]
                 withdrawals: pa
                     .withdrawals
                     .map(|w| w.into_iter().map(Into::into).collect()),
@@ -413,7 +413,6 @@ impl From<JsonPayloadAttributes> for PayloadAttributes {
                 timestamp: jpa.timestamp,
                 prev_randao: jpa.prev_randao,
                 suggested_fee_recipient: jpa.suggested_fee_recipient,
-                #[cfg(feature = "withdrawals")]
                 withdrawals: jpa
                     .withdrawals
                     .map(|jw| jw.into_iter().map(Into::into).collect()),
diff --git a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/lib.rs
index c90ed291d..96c1e0906 100644
--- a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/lib.rs
@@ -933,6 +933,8 @@ impl<T: EthSpec> ExecutionLayer<T> {
                         suggested_fee_recipient,
                         #[cfg(feature = "withdrawals")]
                         withdrawals: withdrawals_ref.clone(),
+                        #[cfg(not(feature = "withdrawals"))]
+                        withdrawals: None,
                     });
 
                     let response = engine
diff --git a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/mock_execution_layer.rs b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/mock_execution_layer.rs
index cadeec1b3..6a9070ca4 100644
--- a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/mock_execution_layer.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/mock_execution_layer.rs
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ impl<T: EthSpec> MockExecutionLayer<T> {
                         // FIXME: think about adding withdrawals here..
                         #[cfg(feature = "withdrawals")]
                         withdrawals: Some(vec![]),
+                        #[cfg(not(feature = "withdrawals"))]
+                        withdrawals: None,
                     })
                 }
             },