diff --git a/database/ldb/block.go b/database/ldb/block.go
index 8c5b5e105..b9d222388 100644
--- a/database/ldb/block.go
+++ b/database/ldb/block.go
@@ -202,14 +202,9 @@ func (db *LevelDb) ExistsSha(sha *btcwire.ShaHash) (bool, error) {
 // returns true if it is present in the database.
 // CALLED WITH LOCK HELD
 func (db *LevelDb) blkExistsSha(sha *btcwire.ShaHash) (bool, error) {
-	_, err := db.getBlkLoc(sha)
-	switch err {
-	case nil:
-		return true, nil
-	case leveldb.ErrNotFound, database.ErrBlockShaMissing:
-		return false, nil
-	}
-	return false, err
+	key := shaBlkToKey(sha)
+
+	return db.lDb.Has(key, db.ro)
 }
 
 // FetchBlockShaByHeight returns a block hash based on its height in the
diff --git a/database/ldb/tx.go b/database/ldb/tx.go
index 4157b814a..9d9b93e55 100644
--- a/database/ldb/tx.go
+++ b/database/ldb/tx.go
@@ -187,14 +187,9 @@ func (db *LevelDb) ExistsTxSha(txsha *btcwire.ShaHash) (bool, error) {
 // existsTxSha returns if the given tx sha exists in the database.o
 // Must be called with the db lock held.
 func (db *LevelDb) existsTxSha(txSha *btcwire.ShaHash) (bool, error) {
-	_, _, _, _, err := db.getTxData(txSha)
-	switch err {
-	case nil:
-		return true, nil
-	case leveldb.ErrNotFound:
-		return false, nil
-	}
-	return false, err
+	key := shaTxToKey(txSha)
+
+	return db.lDb.Has(key, db.ro)
 }
 
 // FetchTxByShaList returns the most recent tx of the name fully spent or not