diff --git a/ethcore/src/client/client.rs b/ethcore/src/client/client.rs
index ced8c736c..b9348c997 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/client/client.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/client/client.rs
@@ -373,15 +373,18 @@ impl<V> Client<V> where V: Verifier {
 
 		let block_number = self.block_number(id.clone());
 
-		// check that the block is not too old -- blocks within `HISTORY` blocks of the best will
-		// always be available.
-		if self.state_db.does_pruning() && self.best_block_number() >= block_number + HISTORY {
-			return None;
-		}
+		self.block_header(id).and_then(|header| {
+			let root = HeaderView::new(&header).state_root();
+			// check that the block is not too old -- blocks within `HISTORY` blocks of the best will
+			// always be available. If the block could be too old, check if its state root is valid.
+			if self.state_db.does_pruning()
+			&& self.best_block_number() >= block_number + HISTORY
+			&& self.state_db.exists(root) {
+				return None;
+			}
 
-		self.block_header(id).map(|header| {
 			let db = self.state_db.lock().unwrap().boxed_clone();
-			State::from_existing(db, HeaderView::new(&header).state_root(), self.engine.account_start_nonce())
+			Some(State::from_existing(db, HeaderView::new(&header).state_root(), self.engine.account_start_nonce()))
 		})
 	}