diff --git a/packages/beacon-node/test/spec/presets/operations.test.ts b/packages/beacon-node/test/spec/presets/operations.test.ts
index b6a479ee379..4c90831ef15 100644
--- a/packages/beacon-node/test/spec/presets/operations.test.ts
+++ b/packages/beacon-node/test/spec/presets/operations.test.ts
@@ -92,8 +92,7 @@ const operationFns: Record<string, BlockProcessFn<CachedBeaconStateAllForks>> =
   },
 
   deposit_request: (state, testCase: {deposit_request: electra.DepositRequest}) => {
-    const fork = state.config.getForkSeq(state.slot);
-    blockFns.processDepositRequest(fork, state as CachedBeaconStateElectra, testCase.deposit_request);
+    blockFns.processDepositRequest(state as CachedBeaconStateElectra, testCase.deposit_request);
   },
 
   consolidation_request: (state, testCase: {consolidation_request: electra.ConsolidationRequest}) => {
diff --git a/packages/state-transition/src/block/processDeposit.ts b/packages/state-transition/src/block/processDeposit.ts
index 50622d81a2d..b7e9827c4cd 100644
--- a/packages/state-transition/src/block/processDeposit.ts
+++ b/packages/state-transition/src/block/processDeposit.ts
@@ -55,11 +55,11 @@ export function applyDeposit(
   state: CachedBeaconStateAllForks,
   deposit: DepositData | DepositRequest
 ): void {
-  const {config, epochCtx} = state;
+  const {config, epochCtx, validators} = state;
   const {pubkey, withdrawalCredentials, amount, signature} = deposit;
 
   const cachedIndex = epochCtx.getValidatorIndex(pubkey);
-  const isNewValidator = cachedIndex === null || !Number.isSafeInteger(cachedIndex);
+  const isNewValidator = cachedIndex === null || !Number.isSafeInteger(cachedIndex) || cachedIndex >= validators.length;
 
   if (fork < ForkSeq.electra) {
     if (isNewValidator) {
diff --git a/packages/state-transition/src/block/processDepositRequest.ts b/packages/state-transition/src/block/processDepositRequest.ts
index a349c372d51..7c6ea4928f5 100644
--- a/packages/state-transition/src/block/processDepositRequest.ts
+++ b/packages/state-transition/src/block/processDepositRequest.ts
@@ -3,11 +3,7 @@ import {ForkSeq, UNSET_DEPOSIT_REQUESTS_START_INDEX} from "@lodestar/params";
 
 import {CachedBeaconStateElectra} from "../types.js";
 
-export function processDepositRequest(
-  fork: ForkSeq,
-  state: CachedBeaconStateElectra,
-  depositRequest: electra.DepositRequest
-): void {
+export function processDepositRequest(state: CachedBeaconStateElectra, depositRequest: electra.DepositRequest): void {
   if (state.depositRequestsStartIndex === UNSET_DEPOSIT_REQUESTS_START_INDEX) {
     state.depositRequestsStartIndex = BigInt(depositRequest.index);
   }
diff --git a/packages/state-transition/src/block/processOperations.ts b/packages/state-transition/src/block/processOperations.ts
index bb52af14ba3..d611581584c 100644
--- a/packages/state-transition/src/block/processOperations.ts
+++ b/packages/state-transition/src/block/processOperations.ts
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ export function processOperations(
     const bodyElectra = body as electra.BeaconBlockBody;
 
     for (const depositRequest of bodyElectra.executionRequests.deposits) {
-      processDepositRequest(fork, stateElectra, depositRequest);
+      processDepositRequest(stateElectra, depositRequest);
     }
 
     for (const elWithdrawalRequest of bodyElectra.executionRequests.withdrawals) {