diff --git a/eth/catalyst/api.go b/eth/catalyst/api.go
index 71442a3a7604..9b4e23ca2818 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/api.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/api.go
@@ -709,9 +709,6 @@ func (api *ConsensusAPI) NewPayloadV5(params engine.ExecutableData, versionedHas
 	if executionRequests == nil {
 		return engine.PayloadStatusV1{Status: engine.INVALID}, engine.InvalidParams.With(errors.New("nil executionRequests post-prague"))
 	}
-	if inclusionList == nil {
-		return engine.PayloadStatusV1{Status: engine.INVALID}, engine.InvalidParams.With(errors.New("nil inclusionList post-prague"))
-	}
 
 	if api.eth.BlockChain().Config().LatestFork(params.Timestamp) != forks.Prague {
 		return engine.PayloadStatusV1{Status: engine.INVALID}, engine.UnsupportedFork.With(errors.New("newPayloadV5 must only be called for prague payloads"))