diff --git a/src/chain/witness.cpp b/src/chain/witness.cpp
index 6b8d3d88b0..58bad8c039 100644
--- a/src/chain/witness.cpp
+++ b/src/chain/witness.cpp
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ void witness::assign_data(reader& source, bool prefix) NOEXCEPT
     if (annex::is_annex_pattern(stack_))
         annex_ = { stack_.back() };
 
-    valid_ = source;
+    valid_ = source && !stack_.empty();
 }
 
 // Serialization.