diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp
index bc14bae90b..fa5759280b 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp
@@ -3308,10 +3308,6 @@ hf Blockchain::get_network_version(std::optional<uint64_t> height) const {
     return cryptonote::get_network_version(m_nettype, *height);
 }
 
-cryptonote::BlockchainSQLite& Blockchain::sqlite_db() {
-    return *m_sqlite_db;
-}
-
 //------------------------------------------------------------------
 void Blockchain::flush_invalid_blocks() {
     log::trace(logcat, "Blockchain::{}", __func__);
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.h b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.h
index e9ca92b1b8..757654687f 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.h
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.h
@@ -1146,7 +1146,10 @@ class Blockchain {
 
     const ons::name_system_db& name_system_db() const { return m_ons_db; }
 
-    cryptonote::BlockchainSQLite& sqlite_db();
+    cryptonote::BlockchainSQLite& sqlite_db() { return *m_sqlite_db; }
+
+    /// SQLite DB can be nullptr in some unit tests
+    cryptonote::BlockchainSQLite* maybe_sqlite_db() { return m_sqlite_db.get(); }
 
     /// NOTE: unchecked access; should only be called in service node more where this is guaranteed
     /// to be set.
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/service_node_list.cpp b/src/cryptonote_core/service_node_list.cpp
index 38b93c707f..2f88bd2108 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/service_node_list.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/service_node_list.cpp
@@ -2727,7 +2727,8 @@ void service_node_list::block_add(
     }
 
     // NOTE: Add block to SQL in lock-step with SNL
-    blockchain.sqlite_db().add_block(block, m_state);
+    if (auto* sql_db = blockchain.maybe_sqlite_db())
+        sql_db->add_block(block, m_state);
 }
 
 static std::mt19937_64 quorum_rng(hf hf_version, crypto::hash const& hash, quorum_type type) {