diff --git a/core/state/trie_prefetcher.go b/core/state/trie_prefetcher.go
index eacf1c0e2b..3d1b223bb0 100644
--- a/core/state/trie_prefetcher.go
+++ b/core/state/trie_prefetcher.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/gopool"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/metrics"
 )
@@ -257,9 +256,7 @@ func newSubfetcher(db Database, root common.Hash, accountHash common.Hash) *subf
 		seen:        make(map[string]struct{}),
 		accountHash: accountHash,
 	}
-	gopool.Submit(func() {
-		sf.loop()
-	})
+	go sf.loop()
 	return sf
 }
 
@@ -323,7 +320,6 @@ func (sf *subfetcher) loop() {
 	}
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Debug("Trie prefetcher failed opening trie", "root", sf.root, "err", err)
-		return
 	}
 	sf.trie = trie
 
@@ -332,6 +328,18 @@ func (sf *subfetcher) loop() {
 		select {
 		case <-sf.wake:
 			// Subfetcher was woken up, retrieve any tasks to avoid spinning the lock
+			if sf.trie == nil {
+				if sf.accountHash == emptyAddr {
+					sf.trie, err = sf.db.OpenTrie(sf.root)
+				} else {
+					// address is useless
+					sf.trie, err = sf.db.OpenStorageTrie(sf.accountHash, sf.root)
+				}
+				if err != nil {
+					continue
+				}
+			}
+
 			sf.lock.Lock()
 			tasks := sf.tasks
 			sf.tasks = nil