diff --git a/packages/protocol/contracts/L1/libs/LibProposing.sol b/packages/protocol/contracts/L1/libs/LibProposing.sol
index 2030e71d771..1106faa7230 100644
--- a/packages/protocol/contracts/L1/libs/LibProposing.sol
+++ b/packages/protocol/contracts/L1/libs/LibProposing.sol
@@ -84,10 +84,10 @@ library LibProposing {
 
         bytes32 parentMetaHash =
             _state.blocks[(b.numBlocks - 1) % _config.blockRingBufferSize].metaHash;
+        // assert(parentMetaHash != 0);
 
-        // Check if parent block has the right meta hash
-        // This is to allow the proposer to make sure the block builds on the expected latest chain
-        // state
+        // Check if parent block has the right meta hash. This is to allow the proposer to make sure
+        // the block builds on the expected latest chain state.
         if (params.parentMetaHash != 0 && parentMetaHash != params.parentMetaHash) {
             revert L1_UNEXPECTED_PARENT();
         }
diff --git a/packages/protocol/contracts/L1/libs/LibVerifying.sol b/packages/protocol/contracts/L1/libs/LibVerifying.sol
index c463c2dd2fb..6d129d35c5a 100644
--- a/packages/protocol/contracts/L1/libs/LibVerifying.sol
+++ b/packages/protocol/contracts/L1/libs/LibVerifying.sol
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ library LibVerifying {
         blk.nextTransitionId = 2;
         blk.proposedAt = uint64(block.timestamp);
         blk.verifiedTransitionId = 1;
+        blk.metaHash = bytes32(uint256(1)); // Give the genesis metahash a non-zero value.
 
         // Init the first state transition
         TaikoData.TransitionState storage ts = _state.transitions[0][1];