diff --git a/specs/sharding/beacon-chain.md b/specs/sharding/beacon-chain.md
index d7fd42f22..8512e15d9 100644
--- a/specs/sharding/beacon-chain.md
+++ b/specs/sharding/beacon-chain.md
@@ -459,7 +459,9 @@ def process_block(state: BeaconState, block: BeaconBlock) -> None:
     process_randao(state, block.body)
     process_eth1_data(state, block.body)
     process_operations(state, block.body)  # [Modified in Sharding]
-    process_execution_payload(state, block.body)  # [New in Merge]
+    # Pre-merge, skip execution payload processing
+    if is_execution_enabled(state, block):
+        process_execution_payload(state, block.body.execution_payload, EXECUTION_ENGINE)  # [New in Merge]
 ```
 
 #### Operations