diff --git a/eth2/types/src/test_utils/testing_beacon_state_builder.rs b/eth2/types/src/test_utils/testing_beacon_state_builder.rs
index 473cd4166f..fcdbb00ae1 100644
--- a/eth2/types/src/test_utils/testing_beacon_state_builder.rs
+++ b/eth2/types/src/test_utils/testing_beacon_state_builder.rs
@@ -120,8 +120,10 @@ impl TestingBeaconStateBuilder {
             })
             .collect();
 
+        let genesis_time = 1549929600; // 12/2/2019 (arbitrary)
+
         let mut state = BeaconState::genesis(
-            0,
+            genesis_time,
             Eth1Data {
                 deposit_root: Hash256::zero(),
                 block_hash: Hash256::zero(),