diff --git a/node/impl/full/eth.go b/node/impl/full/eth.go
index a6648723343..14c69b2e171 100644
--- a/node/impl/full/eth.go
+++ b/node/impl/full/eth.go
@@ -690,13 +690,6 @@ func (a *EthModule) EthSendRawTransaction(ctx context.Context, rawTx ethtypes.Et
 		return ethtypes.EmptyEthHash, err
 	}
 
-	_, err = a.StateAPI.StateGetActor(ctx, smsg.Message.To, types.EmptyTSK)
-	if err != nil {
-		// if actor does not exist on chain yet, set the method to 0 because
-		// placeholders only implement method 0
-		smsg.Message.Method = builtinactors.MethodSend
-	}
-
 	_, err = a.MpoolAPI.MpoolPush(ctx, smsg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return ethtypes.EmptyEthHash, err