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Small molecules in solution may interfere with mechanistic investigations, as they can affect the stability of catalytic states and produce off-cycle states that can be mistaken for catalytically relevant species. Here we show that the hydride state (Hhyd), a proposed central intermediate in the catalytic cycle of [FeFe]-hydrogenase, can be formed in wild-type [FeFe]-hydrogenases treated with H2 in absence of other, non-biological, reductants. Moreover, we reveal a new state with unclear role in catalysis induced by common low pH buffers.