diff --git a/pkg/core/stateroot/module.go b/pkg/core/stateroot/module.go
index 61b1d54db..a20198744 100644
--- a/pkg/core/stateroot/module.go
+++ b/pkg/core/stateroot/module.go
@@ -203,8 +203,9 @@ func (s *Module) Init(height uint32) error {
 // outdated MPT data before state sync process can be started.
 // Note: this method is aimed to be called for genesis block only, an error is returned otherwise.
 func (s *Module) CleanStorage() error {
-	if s.localHeight.Load() != 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("can't clean MPT data for non-genesis block: expected local stateroot height 0, got %d", s.localHeight.Load())
+	lH := s.localHeight.Load()
+	if lH != 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("can't clean MPT data for non-genesis block: expected local stateroot height 0, got %d", lH)
 	}
 	b := storage.NewMemCachedStore(s.Store)
 	s.Store.Seek(storage.SeekRange{Prefix: []byte{byte(storage.DataMPT)}}, func(k, _ []byte) bool {