diff --git a/background/background.go b/background/background.go
index 2c55a0c..c1f36a3 100644
--- a/background/background.go
+++ b/background/background.go
@@ -245,6 +245,11 @@ func blockConnected() {
 			continue
 		}
 
+		// If the database has no votable tickets, there is nothing more to do
+		if len(dbTickets) == 0 {
+			break
+		}
+
 		// Find the oldest block height from confirmed tickets.
 		oldestHeight := findOldestHeight(dbTickets)
 
@@ -416,6 +421,11 @@ func checkWalletConsistency() {
 		return
 	}
 
+	// If the database has no votable tickets, there is nothing more to do
+	if len(votableTickets) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+
 	// Find the oldest block height from confirmed tickets.
 	oldestHeight := findOldestHeight(votableTickets)