diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index 97fa9d69ee0d6..a3621c1d38097 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -2327,6 +2327,9 @@ Error: %v
 // of the header retrieval mechanisms already need to verify nonces, as well as
 // because nonces can be verified sparsely, not needing to check each.
 func (bc *BlockChain) InsertHeaderChain(chain []*types.Header, checkFreq int) (int, error) {
+	if len(chain) == 0 {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
 	start := time.Now()
 	if i, err := bc.hc.ValidateHeaderChain(chain, checkFreq); err != nil {
 		return i, err
diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader.go b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
index 6d6b52ebd2665..9543475339dca 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
@@ -1379,23 +1379,25 @@ func (d *Downloader) processHeaders(origin uint64, td, ttd *big.Int, beaconMode
 							}
 						}
 					}
-					if n, err := d.lightchain.InsertHeaderChain(chunkHeaders, frequency); err != nil {
-						rollbackErr = err
+					if len(chunkHeaders) > 0 {
+						if n, err := d.lightchain.InsertHeaderChain(chunkHeaders, frequency); err != nil {
+							rollbackErr = err
 
-						// If some headers were inserted, track them as uncertain
-						if (mode == SnapSync || frequency > 1) && n > 0 && rollback == 0 {
-							rollback = chunkHeaders[0].Number.Uint64()
+							// If some headers were inserted, track them as uncertain
+							if (mode == SnapSync || frequency > 1) && n > 0 && rollback == 0 {
+								rollback = chunkHeaders[0].Number.Uint64()
+							}
+							log.Warn("Invalid header encountered", "number", chunkHeaders[n].Number, "hash", chunkHashes[n], "parent", chunkHeaders[n].ParentHash, "err", err)
+							return fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", errInvalidChain, err)
 						}
-						log.Warn("Invalid header encountered", "number", chunkHeaders[n].Number, "hash", chunkHashes[n], "parent", chunkHeaders[n].ParentHash, "err", err)
-						return fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", errInvalidChain, err)
-					}
-					// All verifications passed, track all headers within the alloted limits
-					if mode == SnapSync {
-						head := chunkHeaders[len(chunkHeaders)-1].Number.Uint64()
-						if head-rollback > uint64(fsHeaderSafetyNet) {
-							rollback = head - uint64(fsHeaderSafetyNet)
-						} else {
-							rollback = 1
+						// All verifications passed, track all headers within the allowed limits
+						if mode == SnapSync {
+							head := chunkHeaders[len(chunkHeaders)-1].Number.Uint64()
+							if head-rollback > uint64(fsHeaderSafetyNet) {
+								rollback = head - uint64(fsHeaderSafetyNet)
+							} else {
+								rollback = 1
+							}
 						}
 					}
 					if len(rejected) != 0 {
diff --git a/light/lightchain.go b/light/lightchain.go
index 61309ce356012..0cc88b46e7e0f 100644
--- a/light/lightchain.go
+++ b/light/lightchain.go
@@ -419,6 +419,9 @@ func (lc *LightChain) SetChainHead(header *types.Header) error {
 // In the case of a light chain, InsertHeaderChain also creates and posts light
 // chain events when necessary.
 func (lc *LightChain) InsertHeaderChain(chain []*types.Header, checkFreq int) (int, error) {
+	if len(chain) == 0 {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
 	if atomic.LoadInt32(&lc.disableCheckFreq) == 1 {
 		checkFreq = 0
 	}