diff --git a/rpc/responses.go b/rpc/responses.go
index f1dc344db..3d1687cb6 100644
--- a/rpc/responses.go
+++ b/rpc/responses.go
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ func NewBlockRes(block *types.Block, fullTx bool) *BlockRes {
 	// TODO respect fullTx flag
 
 	if block == nil {
-		return &BlockRes{}
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	res := new(BlockRes)