diff --git a/src/blockchain_db/berkeleydb/db_bdb.h b/src/blockchain_db/berkeleydb/db_bdb.h
index 6bc9cb4f..d05abea2 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_db/berkeleydb/db_bdb.h
+++ b/src/blockchain_db/berkeleydb/db_bdb.h
@@ -297,6 +297,8 @@ public:
 
   virtual uint64_t get_num_outputs(const uint64_t& amount) const;
 
+  virtual uint64_t get_indexing_base() const { return 1; }
+
   virtual output_data_t get_output_key(const uint64_t& amount, const uint64_t& index);
   virtual output_data_t get_output_key(const uint64_t& global_index) const;
   virtual void get_output_key(const uint64_t &amount, const std::vector<uint64_t> &offsets, std::vector<output_data_t> &outputs);
diff --git a/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h b/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h
index 85144f04..152f29b3 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h
+++ b/src/blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h
@@ -464,6 +464,9 @@ public:
   // returns the total number of outputs of amount <amount>
   virtual uint64_t get_num_outputs(const uint64_t& amount) const = 0;
 
+  // return index of the first element (should be hidden, but isn't)
+  virtual uint64_t get_indexing_base() const { return 0; }
+
   // return public key for output with global output amount <amount> and index <index>
   virtual output_data_t get_output_key(const uint64_t& amount, const uint64_t& index) = 0;
   virtual output_data_t get_output_key(const uint64_t& global_index) const = 0;
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_dump.cpp b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_dump.cpp
index 6c61cb90..f5f0986e 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_dump.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_dump.cpp
@@ -236,19 +236,16 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   BlockchainDB* db;
   int mdb_flags = 0;
   std::string db_type = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_db_type);
-  size_t base_idx = 0;
   if (db_type.empty() || db_type == "lmdb")
   {
     db = new BlockchainLMDB();
     mdb_flags |= MDB_RDONLY;
-    base_idx = 0;
   }
 #ifdef BERKELEY_DB
   else if (db_type == "berkeley")
   {
     db = new BlockchainBDB();
     // can't open readonly due to the way flags are split in db_bdb.cpp
-    base_idx = 1;
   }
 #endif
   else
@@ -259,6 +256,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   boost::filesystem::path folder(m_config_folder);
   folder /= db->get_db_name();
   const std::string filename = folder.string();
+  uint64_t base_idx = db->get_indexing_base();
 
   LOG_PRINT_L0("Loading blockchain from folder " << filename << " ...");
   try
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/hardfork.cpp b/tests/unit_tests/hardfork.cpp
index 254dece5..e59d4c59 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/hardfork.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/hardfork.cpp
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ public:
   virtual std::vector<transaction> get_tx_list(const std::vector<crypto::hash>& hlist) const { return std::vector<transaction>(); }
   virtual uint64_t get_tx_block_height(const crypto::hash& h) const { return 0; }
   virtual uint64_t get_num_outputs(const uint64_t& amount) const { return 1; }
+  virtual uint64_t get_indexing_base() const { return 0; }
   virtual output_data_t get_output_key(const uint64_t& amount, const uint64_t& index) { return output_data_t(); }
   virtual output_data_t get_output_key(const uint64_t& global_index) const { return output_data_t(); }
   virtual tx_out_index get_output_tx_and_index_from_global(const uint64_t& index) const { return tx_out_index(); }