diff --git a/specs/bellatrix/beacon-chain.md b/specs/bellatrix/beacon-chain.md
index 6f67be96a..51d570fe2 100644
--- a/specs/bellatrix/beacon-chain.md
+++ b/specs/bellatrix/beacon-chain.md
@@ -355,10 +355,17 @@ def verify_and_notify_new_payload(self: ExecutionEngine,
     """
     Return ``True`` if and only if ``new_payload_request`` is valid with respect to ``self.execution_state``.
     """
-    if not self.is_valid_block_hash(new_payload_request.execution_payload):
+    execution_payload = new_payload_request.execution_payload
+
+    if b'' in execution_payload.transactions:
         return False
-    if not self.notify_new_payload(new_payload_request.execution_payload):
+
+    if not self.is_valid_block_hash(execution_payload):
         return False
+
+    if not self.notify_new_payload(execution_payload):
+        return False
+
     return True
 ```
 
diff --git a/specs/deneb/beacon-chain.md b/specs/deneb/beacon-chain.md
index 0f6a8fc07..1b7a322c2 100644
--- a/specs/deneb/beacon-chain.md
+++ b/specs/deneb/beacon-chain.md
@@ -293,9 +293,13 @@ def verify_and_notify_new_payload(self: ExecutionEngine,
     """
     Return ``True`` if and only if ``new_payload_request`` is valid with respect to ``self.execution_state``.
     """
+    # [Modified in Deneb:EIP4788]
     execution_payload = new_payload_request.execution_payload
     parent_beacon_block_root = new_payload_request.parent_beacon_block_root
 
+    if b'' in execution_payload.transactions:
+        return False
+
     # [Modified in Deneb:EIP4788]
     if not self.is_valid_block_hash(execution_payload, parent_beacon_block_root):
         return False