diff --git a/staker/l1_validator.go b/staker/l1_validator.go
index 09bcc64468..4e7aa22cbe 100644
--- a/staker/l1_validator.go
+++ b/staker/l1_validator.go
@@ -315,6 +315,9 @@ func (v *L1Validator) generateNodeAction(
 		}
 		if !wasmRootValid {
 			if !stakerConfig.Dangerous.IgnoreRollupWasmModuleRoot {
+				if len(valInfo.WasmRoots) == 0 {
+					return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("block validation is still pending")
+				}
 				return nil, false, fmt.Errorf(
 					"wasmroot doesn't match rollup : %v, valid: %v",
 					v.lastWasmModuleRoot, valInfo.WasmRoots,
diff --git a/staker/staker.go b/staker/staker.go
index ac05abf51c..4f35c1bc9a 100644
--- a/staker/staker.go
+++ b/staker/staker.go
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ func (s *Staker) Start(ctxIn context.Context) {
 			backoff = time.Minute
 			log.Error("error acting as staker", "err", err)
 		} else {
-			log.Warn("block validation is still pending")
+			log.Warn("error acting as staker", "err", err)
 		}
 		return backoff
 	})