diff --git a/blockdag/dag.go b/blockdag/dag.go
index 86d73a398..d8702f01b 100644
--- a/blockdag/dag.go
+++ b/blockdag/dag.go
@@ -1575,6 +1575,9 @@ func (dag *BlockDAG) SelectedParentHash(blockHash *daghash.Hash) (*daghash.Hash,
 
 	}
 
+	if node.selectedParent == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
 	return node.selectedParent.hash, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/rpcmodel/rpc_results.go b/rpcmodel/rpc_results.go
index cb6e4c105..c273ade50 100644
--- a/rpcmodel/rpc_results.go
+++ b/rpcmodel/rpc_results.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ type GetBlockVerboseResult struct {
 	Bits                 string        `json:"bits"`
 	Difficulty           float64       `json:"difficulty"`
 	ParentHashes         []string      `json:"parentHashes"`
-	SelectedParentHash   string        `json:"selectedParentHash"`
+	SelectedParentHash   string        `json:"selectedParentHash,omitempty"`
 	NextHashes           []string      `json:"nextHashes,omitempty"`
 }
 
diff --git a/server/rpc/common.go b/server/rpc/common.go
index 3b871c278..0c2f68749 100644
--- a/server/rpc/common.go
+++ b/server/rpc/common.go
@@ -245,6 +245,10 @@ func buildGetBlockVerboseResult(s *Server, block *util.Block, isVerboseTx bool)
 		context := "Could not get block selected parent"
 		return nil, internalRPCError(err.Error(), context)
 	}
+	selectedParentHashStr := ""
+	if selectedParentHash != nil {
+		selectedParentHashStr = selectedParentHash.String()
+	}
 
 	isChainBlock := s.cfg.DAG.IsInSelectedParentChain(hash)
 
@@ -256,7 +260,7 @@ func buildGetBlockVerboseResult(s *Server, block *util.Block, isVerboseTx bool)
 		AcceptedIDMerkleRoot: blockHeader.AcceptedIDMerkleRoot.String(),
 		UTXOCommitment:       blockHeader.UTXOCommitment.String(),
 		ParentHashes:         daghash.Strings(blockHeader.ParentHashes),
-		SelectedParentHash:   selectedParentHash.String(),
+		SelectedParentHash:   selectedParentHashStr,
 		Nonce:                blockHeader.Nonce,
 		Time:                 blockHeader.Timestamp.Unix(),
 		Confirmations:        blockConfirmations,