diff --git a/rpc/beaconapi.go b/rpc/beaconapi.go
index 4517e534..e582fa38 100644
--- a/rpc/beaconapi.go
+++ b/rpc/beaconapi.go
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ func (bc *BeaconClient) Initialize() error {
 	}
 
 	// set extra endpoint headers
-	if bc.headers != nil && len(bc.headers) > 0 {
+	if len(bc.headers) > 0 {
 		cliParams = append(cliParams, http.WithExtraHeaders(bc.headers))
 	}
 
diff --git a/utils/config.go b/utils/config.go
index 1fe229de..9dbcf140 100644
--- a/utils/config.go
+++ b/utils/config.go
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ func ReadConfig(cfg *types.Config, path string) error {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if cfg.BeaconApi.Endpoints == nil || len(cfg.BeaconApi.Endpoints) == 0 {
+	if len(cfg.BeaconApi.Endpoints) == 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("missing beacon node endpoints (need at least 1 endpoint to run the explorer)")
 	}