diff --git a/contracts/stake/src/state.rs b/contracts/stake/src/state.rs
index af8dfedb4e..b106c80166 100644
--- a/contracts/stake/src/state.rs
+++ b/contracts/stake/src/state.rs
@@ -175,8 +175,6 @@ impl StakeState {
     }
 
     pub fn withdraw(&mut self, withdraw: Withdraw) {
-        self.check_new_block();
-
         let transfer_withdraw = withdraw.transfer_withdraw();
         let account = *withdraw.account();
         let value = transfer_withdraw.value();
@@ -186,10 +184,14 @@ impl StakeState {
             .get_stake_mut(&account)
             .expect("A stake should exist in the map to be unstaked!");
 
-        // ensure there is a reward, and that the withdrawal is not more than
-        // that
-        if value > loaded_stake.reward {
-            panic!("Value withdrawn larger than available reward");
+        // ensure there is a non-zero reward, and that the withdrawal is exactly
+        // the same amount
+        if loaded_stake.reward == 0 {
+            panic!("There is no reward available to withdraw");
+        }
+
+        if value != loaded_stake.reward {
+            panic!("Value withdrawn different from available reward");
         }
 
         // check signature is correct
@@ -205,7 +207,7 @@ impl StakeState {
                 .expect("Withdrawing reward should succeed");
 
         // update the state accordingly
-        loaded_stake.reward -= value;
+        loaded_stake.reward = 0;
 
         rusk_abi::emit(
             "withdraw",