diff --git a/dot/network/messages/block.go b/dot/network/messages/block.go
index b4d4c1453c..ec8d2aad0c 100644
--- a/dot/network/messages/block.go
+++ b/dot/network/messages/block.go
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ var (
 
 var (
 	errBlockRequestFromNumberInvalid = errors.New("block request message From number is not valid")
-	errInvalidStartingBlockType      = errors.New("invalid StartingBlock in messsage")
 	ErrNilBlockInResponse            = errors.New("nil block in response")
 )
 
diff --git a/dot/sync/message.go b/dot/sync/message.go
index ba8dcb2958..50dda39249 100644
--- a/dot/sync/message.go
+++ b/dot/sync/message.go
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ func (s *Service) handleDescendingRequest(req *messages.BlockRequestMessage) (*m
 		if bestBlockNumber < startBlock {
 			startNumber = bestBlockNumber
 		} else {
-			startNumber = uint(startBlock)
+			startNumber = startBlock
 		}
 	case common.Hash:
 		startHash = &startBlock