diff --git a/eth/catalyst/api.go b/eth/catalyst/api.go
index 12013485e5c..0386bac5561 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/api.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/api.go
@@ -466,11 +466,13 @@ func (api *ConsensusAPI) GetPayloadV5(payloadID engine.PayloadID) (*engine.Execu
 		})
 }
 
-// getPayload will retreive the specified payload and verify it conforms to the
+// getPayload will retrieve the specified payload and verify it conforms to the
 // endpoint's allowed payload versions and forks.
+//
+// Note passing nil `forks`, `versions` disables the respective check.
 func (api *ConsensusAPI) getPayload(payloadID engine.PayloadID, full bool, versions []engine.PayloadVersion, forks []forks.Fork) (*engine.ExecutionPayloadEnvelope, error) {
 	log.Trace("Engine API request received", "method", "GetPayload", "id", payloadID)
-	if !payloadID.Is(versions...) {
+	if versions != nil && !payloadID.Is(versions...) {
 		return nil, engine.UnsupportedFork
 	}
 	data := api.localBlocks.get(payloadID, full)
diff --git a/eth/catalyst/api_test.go b/eth/catalyst/api_test.go
index a29fee1a06c..2284a33453a 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/api_test.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/api_test.go
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ func TestEth2PrepareAndGetPayload(t *testing.T) {
 		BeaconRoot:   blockParams.BeaconRoot,
 		Version:      engine.PayloadV1,
 	}).Id()
-	execData, err := api.getPayload(payloadID, true)
+	execData, err := api.getPayload(payloadID, true, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error getting payload, err=%v", err)
 	}
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ func TestNewPayloadOnInvalidChain(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Fatalf("error preparing payload, invalid status: %v", resp.PayloadStatus.Status)
 			}
 			// give the payload some time to be built
-			if payload, err = api.getPayload(*resp.PayloadID, true); err != nil {
+			if payload, err = api.getPayload(*resp.PayloadID, true, nil, nil); err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("can't get payload: %v", err)
 			}
 			if len(payload.ExecutionPayload.Transactions) > 0 {
@@ -1219,7 +1219,7 @@ func TestNilWithdrawals(t *testing.T) {
 			Random:       test.blockParams.Random,
 			Version:      payloadVersion,
 		}).Id()
-		execData, err := api.GetPayloadV2(payloadID)
+		execData, err := api.getPayload(payloadID, false, nil, nil)
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("error getting payload, err=%v", err)
 		}
@@ -1674,7 +1674,7 @@ func TestWitnessCreationAndConsumption(t *testing.T) {
 		BeaconRoot:   blockParams.BeaconRoot,
 		Version:      engine.PayloadV3,
 	}).Id()
-	envelope, err := api.getPayload(payloadID, true)
+	envelope, err := api.getPayload(payloadID, true, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error getting payload, err=%v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/eth/catalyst/simulated_beacon.go b/eth/catalyst/simulated_beacon.go
index d9f01240a7a..92f9798e717 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/simulated_beacon.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/simulated_beacon.go
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ func (c *SimulatedBeacon) sealBlock(withdrawals []*types.Withdrawal, timestamp u
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	envelope, err := c.engineAPI.getPayload(*fcResponse.PayloadID, true)
+	envelope, err := c.engineAPI.getPayload(*fcResponse.PayloadID, true, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}