diff --git a/nimbus/p2p/executor.nim b/nimbus/p2p/executor.nim
index e3296d476..bdba9e29c 100644
--- a/nimbus/p2p/executor.nim
+++ b/nimbus/p2p/executor.nim
@@ -43,6 +43,13 @@ proc contractCall(t: Transaction, vmState: BaseVMState, sender: EthAddress, fork
     vmState.clearLogs()
     return t.gasLimit.u256 * t.gasPrice.u256
 
+# this proc should not be here, we need to refactor
+# processTransaction
+proc isPrecompiles*(address: EthAddress): bool {.inline.} =
+  for i in 0..18:
+    if address[i] != 0: return
+  result = address[19] >= 1.byte and address[19] <= 8.byte
+
 proc processTransaction*(t: Transaction, sender: EthAddress, vmState: BaseVMState): UInt256 =
   ## Process the transaction, write the results to db.
   ## Returns amount of ETH to be rewarded to miner
@@ -86,7 +93,7 @@ proc processTransaction*(t: Transaction, sender: EthAddress, vmState: BaseVMStat
 
     else:
       let code = db.getCode(t.to)
-      if code.len == 0:
+      if code.len == 0 and not isPrecompiles(t.to):
         # Value transfer
         trace "Transfer", value = t.value, sender, to = t.to
 
diff --git a/nimbus/vm/computation.nim b/nimbus/vm/computation.nim
index f1fed1408..7689004a5 100644
--- a/nimbus/vm/computation.nim
+++ b/nimbus/vm/computation.nim
@@ -196,7 +196,12 @@ proc applyMessage(computation: var BaseComputation, opCode: static[Op]) =
     snapshot.commit()
   except VMError:
     snapshot.revert(true)
-    debug "applyMessage failed",
+    debug "VMError applyMessage failed",
+      msg = computation.error.info,
+      depth = computation.msg.depth
+  except EVMError:
+    snapshot.revert() # TODO: true or false?
+    debug "EVMError applyMessage failed",
       msg = computation.error.info,
       depth = computation.msg.depth
 
diff --git a/nimbus/vm/interpreter_dispatch.nim b/nimbus/vm/interpreter_dispatch.nim
index fb4ae3c26..81ba5df9a 100644
--- a/nimbus/vm/interpreter_dispatch.nim
+++ b/nimbus/vm/interpreter_dispatch.nim
@@ -255,5 +255,6 @@ proc executeOpcodes*(computation: var BaseComputation) =
     computation.updateOpcodeExec(fork)
   except VMError:
     computation.error = Error(info: getCurrentExceptionMsg())
-    debug "executeOpcodes() failed", error = getCurrentExceptionMsg()
-
+    debug "VM Error executeOpcodes() failed", error = getCurrentExceptionMsg()
+  except EVMError:
+    debug "EVM Error executeOpcodes() failed", error = getCurrentExceptionMsg()
diff --git a/nimbus/vm/precompiles.nim b/nimbus/vm/precompiles.nim
index 723a4a1b9..97a83e20d 100644
--- a/nimbus/vm/precompiles.nim
+++ b/nimbus/vm/precompiles.nim
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ proc getSignature*(computation: BaseComputation): (array[32, byte], Signature) =
       # Note that we need to rearrange to R, S, V
       bytes[0..63] = data[64..127]
       let v = data[63]  # TODO: Endian
-      assert v.int in 27..28
+      if v.int notin 27..28:
+        raise newException(ValidationError, "Invalid V in getSignature")
       bytes[64] = v - 27
 
   if recoverSignature(bytes, result[1]) != EthKeysStatus.Success: