diff --git a/share/getters/shrex.go b/share/getters/shrex.go
index 1c296a6a33..9576da252b 100644
--- a/share/getters/shrex.go
+++ b/share/getters/shrex.go
@@ -136,6 +136,10 @@ func (sg *ShrexGetter) GetEDS(ctx context.Context, header *header.ExtendedHeader
 	}()
 
 	dah := header.DAH
+	// short circuit if the data root is empty
+	if dah.Equals(share.EmptyRoot()) {
+		return share.EmptyExtendedDataSquare(), nil
+	}
 	for {
 		if ctx.Err() != nil {
 			sg.metrics.recordEDSAttempt(ctx, attempt, false)