diff --git a/store/store.go b/store/store.go
index 5894fcea..73e0afcf 100644
--- a/store/store.go
+++ b/store/store.go
@@ -180,6 +180,10 @@ func (s *Store[H]) Height() uint64 {
 
 	head, err := s.Head(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) ||
+			errors.Is(err, datastore.ErrNotFound) {
+			return 0
+		}
 		panic(err)
 	}
 	return head.Height()