diff --git a/core/vm/evm.go b/core/vm/evm.go
index a2ff1adfff..f5bdff8303 100644
--- a/core/vm/evm.go
+++ b/core/vm/evm.go
@@ -132,6 +132,9 @@ type EVM struct {
 // NewEVM returns a new EVM. The returned EVM is not thread safe and should
 // only ever be used *once*.
 func NewEVM(blockCtx BlockContext, txCtx TxContext, statedb StateDB, chainConfig *params.ChainConfig, config Config) *EVM {
+	if txCtx.Accesses == nil {
+		txCtx.Accesses = types.NewAccessWitness()
+	}
 	evm := &EVM{
 		Context:     blockCtx,
 		TxContext:   txCtx,