diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/phase0/sanity/test_blocks.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/phase0/sanity/test_blocks.py
index fa4e690af..5b98abac4 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/phase0/sanity/test_blocks.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/phase0/sanity/test_blocks.py
@@ -73,12 +73,10 @@ def test_same_slot_block_transition(spec, state):
 def test_empty_block_transition(spec, state):
     pre_slot = state.slot
     pre_eth1_votes = len(state.eth1_data_votes)
+    pre_mix = spec.get_randao_mix(state, spec.get_current_epoch(state))
 
     yield 'pre', state
 
-    # Ensure pre-state has default randao
-    assert spec.get_randao_mix(state, spec.get_current_epoch(state)) == spec.Bytes32()
-
     block = build_empty_block_for_next_slot(spec, state)
 
     signed_block = state_transition_and_sign_block(spec, state, block)
@@ -88,7 +86,7 @@ def test_empty_block_transition(spec, state):
 
     assert len(state.eth1_data_votes) == pre_eth1_votes + 1
     assert spec.get_block_root_at_slot(state, pre_slot) == signed_block.message.parent_root
-    assert spec.get_randao_mix(state, spec.get_current_epoch(state)) != spec.Bytes32()
+    assert spec.get_randao_mix(state, spec.get_current_epoch(state)) != pre_mix
 
 
 @with_all_phases
@@ -98,12 +96,10 @@ def test_empty_block_transition(spec, state):
 def test_empty_block_transition_large_validator_set(spec, state):
     pre_slot = state.slot
     pre_eth1_votes = len(state.eth1_data_votes)
+    pre_mix = spec.get_randao_mix(state, spec.get_current_epoch(state))
 
     yield 'pre', state
 
-    # Ensure pre-state has default randao
-    assert spec.get_randao_mix(state, spec.get_current_epoch(state)) == spec.Bytes32()
-
     block = build_empty_block_for_next_slot(spec, state)
 
     signed_block = state_transition_and_sign_block(spec, state, block)
@@ -113,7 +109,7 @@ def test_empty_block_transition_large_validator_set(spec, state):
 
     assert len(state.eth1_data_votes) == pre_eth1_votes + 1
     assert spec.get_block_root_at_slot(state, pre_slot) == signed_block.message.parent_root
-    assert spec.get_randao_mix(state, spec.get_current_epoch(state)) != spec.Bytes32()
+    assert spec.get_randao_mix(state, spec.get_current_epoch(state)) != pre_mix
 
 
 def process_and_sign_block_without_header_validations(spec, state, block):