diff --git a/specs/phase0/beacon-chain.md b/specs/phase0/beacon-chain.md
index 02b139d0d..45a7df3d9 100644
--- a/specs/phase0/beacon-chain.md
+++ b/specs/phase0/beacon-chain.md
@@ -1009,6 +1009,7 @@ def get_total_balance(state: BeaconState, indices: Set[ValidatorIndex]) -> Gwei:
 def get_total_active_balance(state: BeaconState) -> Gwei:
     """
     Return the combined effective balance of the active validators.
+    Note: ``get_total_balance`` returns ``EFFECTIVE_BALANCE_INCREMENT`` Gwei minimum to avoid divisions by zero.
     """
     return get_total_balance(state, set(get_active_validator_indices(state, get_current_epoch(state))))
 ```
@@ -1290,6 +1291,10 @@ def get_unslashed_attesting_indices(state: BeaconState,
 
 ```python
 def get_attesting_balance(state: BeaconState, attestations: Sequence[PendingAttestation]) -> Gwei:
+    """
+    Return the combined effective balance of the set of unslashed validators participating in ``attestations``.
+    Note: ``get_total_balance`` returns ``EFFECTIVE_BALANCE_INCREMENT`` Gwei minimum to avoid divisions by zero.
+    """
     return get_total_balance(state, get_unslashed_attesting_indices(state, attestations))
 ```
 
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py
index bdf26e637..84c617a08 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ def default_activation_threshold(spec):
 
 def zero_activation_threshold(spec):
     """
-    Helper method to use the default balance activation threshold for state creation for tests.
-    Usage: `@with_custom_state(threshold_fn=one_gwei_activation_threshold, ...)`
+    Helper method to use 0 gwei as the activation threshold for state creation for tests.
+    Usage: `@with_custom_state(threshold_fn=zero_activation_threshold, ...)`
     """
     return 0