diff --git a/silkworm/core/execution/processor.cpp b/silkworm/core/execution/processor.cpp
index 168c5c5445..e00a8ee8bd 100644
--- a/silkworm/core/execution/processor.cpp
+++ b/silkworm/core/execution/processor.cpp
@@ -263,7 +263,10 @@ CallResult ExecutionProcessor::call(const Transaction& txn, const std::vector<st
     SILKWORM_ASSERT(sender);
 
     SILKWORM_ASSERT(protocol::validate_call_precheck(txn, evm_) == ValidationResult::kOk);
-    SILKWORM_ASSERT(protocol::validate_call_funds(txn, evm_, state_.get_balance(*txn.sender()), bailout) == ValidationResult::kOk);
+
+    if (!bailout) {
+        SILKWORM_ASSERT(protocol::validate_call_funds(txn, evm_, state_.get_balance(*txn.sender())) == ValidationResult::kOk);
+    }
 
     const BlockHeader& header{evm_.block().header};
     const intx::uint256 base_fee_per_gas{header.base_fee_per_gas.value_or(0)};
diff --git a/silkworm/core/protocol/validation.cpp b/silkworm/core/protocol/validation.cpp
index 11b96141ef..20eeb145a1 100644
--- a/silkworm/core/protocol/validation.cpp
+++ b/silkworm/core/protocol/validation.cpp
@@ -222,20 +222,18 @@ ValidationResult pre_validate_common_forks(const Transaction& txn, const evmc_re
     return ValidationResult::kOk;
 }
 
-ValidationResult validate_call_funds(const Transaction& txn, const EVM& evm, const intx::uint256& owned_funds, bool bailout) noexcept {
-    if (!bailout) {
-        const intx::uint256 base_fee{evm.block().header.base_fee_per_gas.value_or(0)};
-        const intx::uint256 effective_gas_price{txn.max_fee_per_gas >= evm.block().header.base_fee_per_gas ? txn.effective_gas_price(base_fee)
-                                                                                                           : txn.max_priority_fee_per_gas};
-
-        const auto required_funds = compute_call_cost(txn, effective_gas_price, evm);
-        intx::uint512 maximum_cost = required_funds;
-        if (txn.type != TransactionType::kLegacy && txn.type != TransactionType::kAccessList) {
-            maximum_cost = txn.maximum_gas_cost();
-        }
-        if (owned_funds < maximum_cost + txn.value) {
-            return ValidationResult::kInsufficientFunds;
-        }
+ValidationResult validate_call_funds(const Transaction& txn, const EVM& evm, const intx::uint256& owned_funds) noexcept {
+    const intx::uint256 base_fee{evm.block().header.base_fee_per_gas.value_or(0)};
+    const intx::uint256 effective_gas_price{txn.max_fee_per_gas >= evm.block().header.base_fee_per_gas ? txn.effective_gas_price(base_fee)
+                                                                                                       : txn.max_priority_fee_per_gas};
+
+    const auto required_funds = compute_call_cost(txn, effective_gas_price, evm);
+    intx::uint512 maximum_cost = required_funds;
+    if (txn.type != TransactionType::kLegacy && txn.type != TransactionType::kAccessList) {
+        maximum_cost = txn.maximum_gas_cost();
+    }
+    if (owned_funds < maximum_cost + txn.value) {
+        return ValidationResult::kInsufficientFunds;
     }
     return ValidationResult::kOk;
 }
diff --git a/silkworm/core/protocol/validation.hpp b/silkworm/core/protocol/validation.hpp
index 4bc6405857..6cdde03597 100644
--- a/silkworm/core/protocol/validation.hpp
+++ b/silkworm/core/protocol/validation.hpp
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ namespace protocol {
 
     ValidationResult pre_validate_common_forks(const Transaction& txn, evmc_revision rev, const std::optional<intx::uint256>& blob_gas_price) noexcept;
 
-    ValidationResult validate_call_funds(const Transaction& txn, const EVM& evm, const intx::uint256& owned_funds, bool bailout) noexcept;
+    ValidationResult validate_call_funds(const Transaction& txn, const EVM& evm, const intx::uint256& owned_funds) noexcept;
 
     intx::uint256 compute_call_cost(const Transaction& txn, const intx::uint256& effective_gas_price, const EVM& evm);
 
diff --git a/silkworm/rpc/core/evm_executor.cpp b/silkworm/rpc/core/evm_executor.cpp
index d371905103..8c9a8989b1 100644
--- a/silkworm/rpc/core/evm_executor.cpp
+++ b/silkworm/rpc/core/evm_executor.cpp
@@ -240,8 +240,8 @@ ExecutionResult EVMExecutor::call(
 
     const auto owned_funds = execution_processor_.intra_block_state().get_balance(*txn.sender());
 
-    if (const auto result = protocol::validate_call_funds(txn, evm, owned_funds, bailout);
-        result != ValidationResult::kOk) {
+    if (const auto result = protocol::validate_call_funds(txn, evm, owned_funds);
+        !bailout && result != ValidationResult::kOk) {
         return convert_validated_funds(block, txn, evm, owned_funds);
     }