diff --git a/trie/committer.go b/trie/committer.go
index b241b34eecfa..90191cf9b1dd 100644
--- a/trie/committer.go
+++ b/trie/committer.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func (c *committer) Commit(n node) (hashNode, *NodeSet, error) {
 		// embedded in the parent and now deleted from the trie. In this case
 		// it's noop from database's perspective.
 		val := c.tracer.getPrev(path)
-		if val == nil {
+		if len(val) == 0 {
 			continue
 		}
 		c.nodes.markDeleted(path, val)
diff --git a/trie/trie_reader.go b/trie/trie_reader.go
index 0f883270bb56..c235da2ea9fd 100644
--- a/trie/trie_reader.go
+++ b/trie/trie_reader.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ type Reader interface {
 	NodeBlob(owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash) ([]byte, error)
 }
 
-// NodeReader warps all the necessary functions for accessing trie node.
+// NodeReader wraps all the necessary functions for accessing trie node.
 type NodeReader interface {
 	// GetReader returns a reader for accessing all trie nodes with provided
 	// state root. Nil is returned in case the state is not available.