diff --git a/crates/storage/codecs/src/alloy/header.rs b/crates/storage/codecs/src/alloy/header.rs
index 526bc69b1369..3a17ed1fdcd2 100644
--- a/crates/storage/codecs/src/alloy/header.rs
+++ b/crates/storage/codecs/src/alloy/header.rs
@@ -181,4 +181,14 @@ mod tests {
         let len = header.to_compact(&mut encoded_header);
         assert_eq!(header, Header::from_compact(&encoded_header, len).0);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_extra_fields_missing() {
+        let mut header = HOLESKY_BLOCK;
+        header.extra_fields = None;
+
+        let mut encoded_header = vec![];
+        let len = header.to_compact(&mut encoded_header);
+        assert_eq!(header, Header::from_compact(&encoded_header, len).0);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/storage/provider/src/providers/database/provider.rs b/crates/storage/provider/src/providers/database/provider.rs
index 1afd4da3fa8c..767f92db98f2 100644
--- a/crates/storage/provider/src/providers/database/provider.rs
+++ b/crates/storage/provider/src/providers/database/provider.rs
@@ -2151,10 +2151,8 @@ impl<TX: DbTx, Spec: Send + Sync + EthereumHardforks> RequestsProvider
     ) -> ProviderResult<Option<Requests>> {
         if self.chain_spec.is_prague_active_at_timestamp(timestamp) {
             if let Some(number) = self.convert_hash_or_number(id)? {
-                // If we are past Prague, then all blocks should have a requests list, even if
-                // empty
-                let requests = self.tx.get::<tables::BlockRequests>(number)?.unwrap_or_default();
-                return Ok(Some(requests))
+                let requests = self.tx.get::<tables::BlockRequests>(number)?;
+                return Ok(requests)
             }
         }
         Ok(None)
@@ -3483,10 +3481,8 @@ impl<TX: DbTxMut + DbTx + 'static, Spec: Send + Sync + EthereumHardforks + 'stat
         }
 
         if let Some(requests) = block.block.body.requests {
-            if !requests.0.is_empty() {
-                self.tx.put::<tables::BlockRequests>(block_number, requests)?;
-                durations_recorder.record_relative(metrics::Action::InsertBlockRequests);
-            }
+            self.tx.put::<tables::BlockRequests>(block_number, requests)?;
+            durations_recorder.record_relative(metrics::Action::InsertBlockRequests);
         }
 
         let block_indices = StoredBlockBodyIndices { first_tx_num, tx_count };