diff --git a/backend/src/api/blocks.ts b/backend/src/api/blocks.ts
index 3e4d3466e..7f9581ea9 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/blocks.ts
+++ b/backend/src/api/blocks.ts
@@ -70,13 +70,16 @@ class Blocks {
         if (mempool[txIds[i]]) {
           transactions.push(mempool[txIds[i]]);
           transactionsFound++;
-        } else if (config.MEMPOOL.BACKEND === 'esplora' || memPool.isInSync()) {
+        } else if (config.MEMPOOL.BACKEND === 'esplora' || memPool.isInSync() || i === 0) {
           logger.debug(`Fetching block tx ${i} of ${txIds.length}`);
           try {
             const tx = await transactionUtils.$getTransactionExtended(txIds[i]);
             transactions.push(tx);
           } catch (e) {
             logger.debug('Error fetching block tx: ' + e.message || e);
+            if (i === 0) {
+              throw new Error('Failed to fetch Coinbase transaction: ' + txIds[i]);
+            }
           }
         }
       }