diff --git a/specs/merge/beacon-chain.md b/specs/merge/beacon-chain.md
index 50b9551b0..626a86724 100644
--- a/specs/merge/beacon-chain.md
+++ b/specs/merge/beacon-chain.md
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
     - [`ExecutionPayloadHeader`](#executionpayloadheader)
 - [Helper functions](#helper-functions)
   - [Misc](#misc)
+    - [`is_execution_enabled`](#is_execution_enabled)
     - [`is_transition_completed`](#is_transition_completed)
     - [`is_transition_block`](#is_transition_block)
     - [`compute_time_at_slot`](#compute_time_at_slot)
@@ -140,6 +141,13 @@ class ExecutionPayloadHeader(Container):
 
 ### Misc
 
+#### `is_execution_enabled`
+
+```python
+def is_execution_enabled(state: BeaconState, block: BeaconBlock) -> bool:
+    return is_transition_completed(state) or is_transition_block(state, block)
+```
+
 #### `is_transition_completed`
 
 ```python
@@ -173,7 +181,7 @@ def process_block(state: BeaconState, block: BeaconBlock) -> None:
     process_eth1_data(state, block.body)
     process_operations(state, block.body)
     # Pre-merge, skip execution payload processing
-    if is_transition_completed(state) or is_transition_block(state, block):
+    if is_execution_enabled(state, block):
         process_execution_payload(state, block.body.execution_payload)  # [New in Merge]
 ```
 
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py
index 775efdcf3..7a2e61c22 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py
@@ -330,7 +330,6 @@ def with_phases(phases, other_phases=None):
                 phase_dir[PHASE0] = spec_phase0
             if ALTAIR in available_phases:
                 phase_dir[ALTAIR] = spec_altair
-
             if MERGE in available_phases:
                 phase_dir[MERGE] = spec_merge
 
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/block_processing/test_process_execution_payload.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/block_processing/test_process_execution_payload.py
index d45a2689b..fb1da8758 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/block_processing/test_process_execution_payload.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/block_processing/test_process_execution_payload.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ def run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload, valid=True,
     If ``valid == False``, run expecting ``AssertionError``
     """
 
+    pre_exec_header = state.latest_execution_payload_header.copy()
+
     yield 'pre', state
     yield 'execution', {'execution_valid': execution_valid}
     yield 'execution_payload', execution_payload
@@ -26,7 +28,8 @@ def run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload, valid=True,
 
     yield 'post', state
 
-    # TODO: any assertions to make?
+    assert pre_exec_header != state.latest_execution_payload_header
+    # TODO: any more assertions to make?
 
 
 @with_merge_and_later