diff --git a/src/ape/types/__init__.py b/src/ape/types/__init__.py
index 260ae348ba..e4656c22e0 100644
--- a/src/ape/types/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ape/types/__init__.py
@@ -68,11 +68,10 @@
 cases.
 """
 
-
 HexInt = Annotated[
     int,
     BeforeValidator(
-        lambda v, info: v if v is None else ManagerAccessMixin.conversion_manager.convert(v, int)
+        lambda v, info: None if v is None else ManagerAccessMixin.conversion_manager.convert(v, int)
     ),
 ]
 """
diff --git a/src/ape_ethereum/ecosystem.py b/src/ape_ethereum/ecosystem.py
index 65d06fc406..5371441c29 100644
--- a/src/ape_ethereum/ecosystem.py
+++ b/src/ape_ethereum/ecosystem.py
@@ -599,7 +599,9 @@ def decode_block(self, data: dict) -> BlockAPI:
         if "transaction_ids" in data:
             data["transactions"] = data.pop("transaction_ids")
         if "total_difficulty" in data:
-            data["totalDifficulty"] = data.pop("total_difficulty")
+            data["totalDifficulty"] = data.pop("total_difficulty") or 0
+        elif "totalDifficulty" in data:
+            data["totalDifficulty"] = data.pop("totalDifficulty") or 0
         if "base_fee" in data:
             data["baseFeePerGas"] = data.pop("base_fee")
         elif "baseFee" in data: