diff --git a/lib/database.js b/lib/database.js
index 75372f0..fe366b9 100644
--- a/lib/database.js
+++ b/lib/database.js
@@ -671,6 +671,7 @@ module.exports = {
   // updates tx, address & richlist db's; called by sync.js
   update_tx_db: function(coin, start, end, timeout, cb) {
     var complete = false;
+	if (start < 1) start = 1;	// fix for invalid block height (skip genesis block as it should not have valid txs)
     lib.syncLoop((end - start) + 1, function (loop) {
       var x = loop.iteration();
       if (x % 5000 === 0) {
diff --git a/lib/markets/database.js b/lib/markets/database.js
index 75372f0..fe366b9 100644
--- a/lib/markets/database.js
+++ b/lib/markets/database.js
@@ -671,6 +671,7 @@ module.exports = {
   // updates tx, address & richlist db's; called by sync.js
   update_tx_db: function(coin, start, end, timeout, cb) {
     var complete = false;
+	if (start < 1) start = 1;	// fix for invalid block height (skip genesis block as it should not have valid txs)
     lib.syncLoop((end - start) + 1, function (loop) {
       var x = loop.iteration();
       if (x % 5000 === 0) {