diff --git a/pkg/vm/vm.go b/pkg/vm/vm.go
index 1a62206a5..218824e1f 100644
--- a/pkg/vm/vm.go
+++ b/pkg/vm/vm.go
@@ -439,6 +439,9 @@ func (v *VM) execute(ctx *Context, op Instruction) {
 		}
 
 	case DROP:
+		if v.estack.Len() < 1 {
+			panic("stack is too small")
+		}
 		v.estack.Pop()
 
 	case EQUAL:
diff --git a/pkg/vm/vm_test.go b/pkg/vm/vm_test.go
index e402887eb..4f2b1b231 100644
--- a/pkg/vm/vm_test.go
+++ b/pkg/vm/vm_test.go
@@ -803,6 +803,22 @@ func TestOVERgood(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, 3, vm.estack.Len())
 }
 
+func TestDROPBadNoItem(t *testing.T) {
+	prog := makeProgram(DROP)
+	vm := load(prog)
+	vm.Run()
+	assert.Equal(t, true, vm.state.HasFlag(faultState))
+}
+
+func TestDROPGood(t *testing.T) {
+	prog := makeProgram(DROP)
+	vm := load(prog)
+	vm.estack.PushVal(1)
+	vm.Run()
+	assert.Equal(t, false, vm.state.HasFlag(faultState))
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, vm.estack.Len())
+}
+
 func TestXDROPbadNoitem(t *testing.T) {
 	prog := makeProgram(XDROP)
 	vm := load(prog)