diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 3c88e6c..d3e0aa1 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -42,10 +42,14 @@ function hash256(buffer) {
 };
 
 function getMerkleRoot(transactions) {
-  if (transactions.length === 0) return null;
-  if (transactions.length === 1) return transactions[0].getHash();
-  let hashes = [ reverseBuffer(transactions[0].getHash()).toString('hex') ];
-  transactions.split(1).forEach(function (value) {
+  // error
+  if (transactions.length === 0) return new Buffer('0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000', 'hex');
+  // coinbase tx only
+  const txhash0 = transactions[0].getHash();
+  if (transactions.length === 1) return txhash0;
+  // have other txs
+  let hashes = [ reverseBuffer(txhash0).toString('hex') ];
+  transactions.slice(1).forEach(function (value) {
     hashes.push(value.hash);
   });
   return reverseBuffer(new Buffer(Object.values(merklebitcoin(hashes))[2].root, 'hex'));
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ad24536..0a0473e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "cryptoforknote-util",
-  "version": "9.0.15",
+  "version": "9.0.16",
   "main": "cryptoforknote-util",
   "author": {
     "name": "LucasJones",