diff --git a/evm/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/evm/worldstate/AbstractWorldUpdater.java b/evm/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/evm/worldstate/AbstractWorldUpdater.java
index 947f6f24270..9623eaf89ed 100644
--- a/evm/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/evm/worldstate/AbstractWorldUpdater.java
+++ b/evm/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/evm/worldstate/AbstractWorldUpdater.java
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public Account get(final Address address) {
     if (deletedAccounts.contains(address)) {
       return null;
     }
-    return world.get(address);
+    return getForMutation(address);
   }
 
   @Override