bug: add switch case to detect blank pointers in keeper

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ Ref: https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/
 * (light-clients/solomachine) [#1839](https://github.com/cosmos/ibc-go/issues/1839) Fixed usage of the new diversifier in validation of changing diversifiers for the solo machine. The current diversifier must sign over the new diversifier.
 * (light-clients/07-tendermint) [\#1674](https://github.com/cosmos/ibc-go/pull/1674) Submitted ClientState is zeroed out before checking the proof in order to prevent the proposal from containing information governance is not actually voting on.
 * (modules/core/02-client)[\#1676](https://github.com/cosmos/ibc-go/pull/1676) ClientState must be zeroed out for `UpgradeProposals` to pass validation. This prevents a proposal containing information governance is not actually voting on.
+* (modules/core/keeper) [\#2268](https://github.com/cosmos/ibc-go/pull/2393) Added switch case in NewKeeper to cater for blank pointers.
 
 ## [v4.1.0](https://github.com/cosmos/ibc-go/releases/tag/v4.1.0) - 2022-09-20
 

modules/core/keeper/keeper.go

@@ -50,12 +50,28 @@ func NewKeeper(
 	}
 
 	// panic if any of the keepers passed in is empty
-	if reflect.ValueOf(stakingKeeper).IsZero() {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf("cannot initialize IBC keeper: empty staking keeper"))
+
+	// switch case to detect blank pointers
+	switch reflect.TypeOf(stakingKeeper).Kind() {
+	case reflect.Ptr:
+		if reflect.ValueOf(&stakingKeeper).IsZero() {
+			panic(fmt.Errorf("cannot initialize IBC keeper: empty staking keeper"))
+		}
+	default:
+		if reflect.ValueOf(stakingKeeper).IsZero() {
+			panic(fmt.Errorf("cannot initialize IBC keeper: empty staking keeper"))
+		}
 	}
 
-	if reflect.ValueOf(upgradeKeeper).IsZero() {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf("cannot initialize IBC keeper: empty upgrade keeper"))
+	switch reflect.TypeOf(upgradeKeeper).Kind() {
+	case reflect.Ptr:
+		if reflect.ValueOf(&upgradeKeeper).IsZero() {
+			panic(fmt.Errorf("cannot initialize IBC keeper: empty upgrade keeper"))
+		}
+	default:
+		if reflect.ValueOf(upgradeKeeper).IsZero() {
+			panic(fmt.Errorf("cannot initialize IBC keeper: empty upgrade keeper"))
+		}
 	}
 
 	if reflect.DeepEqual(capabilitykeeper.ScopedKeeper{}, scopedKeeper) {