diff --git a/bittensor/core/extrinsics/asyncex/staking.py b/bittensor/core/extrinsics/asyncex/staking.py
index 69d6236199..8ceaa4f98c 100644
--- a/bittensor/core/extrinsics/asyncex/staking.py
+++ b/bittensor/core/extrinsics/asyncex/staking.py
@@ -89,6 +89,13 @@ async def add_stake_extrinsic(
             subtensor.get_existential_deposit(block_hash=block_hash),
         )
 
+        # Leave existential balance to keep key alive.
+        if old_balance <= existential_deposit:
+            return ExtrinsicResponse(
+                False,
+                f"Balance ({old_balance}) is not enough to cover existential deposit `{existential_deposit}`.",
+            ).with_log()
+
         # Leave existential balance to keep key alive.
         if amount > old_balance - existential_deposit:
             # If we are staking all, we need to leave at least the existential deposit.
diff --git a/bittensor/core/extrinsics/staking.py b/bittensor/core/extrinsics/staking.py
index e53e04aa2a..a8f3d4c913 100644
--- a/bittensor/core/extrinsics/staking.py
+++ b/bittensor/core/extrinsics/staking.py
@@ -86,6 +86,13 @@ def add_stake_extrinsic(
         )
         existential_deposit = subtensor.get_existential_deposit(block=block)
 
+        # Leave existential balance to keep key alive.
+        if old_balance <= existential_deposit:
+            return ExtrinsicResponse(
+                False,
+                f"Balance ({old_balance}) is not enough to cover existential deposit `{existential_deposit}`.",
+            ).with_log()
+
         # Leave existential balance to keep key alive.
         if amount > old_balance - existential_deposit:
             # If we are staking all, we need to leave at least the existential deposit.