diff --git a/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md b/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
index 25a7340d3..9e59212fd 100644
--- a/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
+++ b/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
@@ -1173,9 +1173,9 @@ def is_genesis_trigger(deposits: List[Deposit, 2**DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH],
 
     # Process deposits
     state = BeaconState()
+    leaves = list(map(lambda deposit: hash_tree_root(deposit.data), deposits))
     for deposit_index, deposit in enumerate(deposits):
-        leaves = [hash_tree_root(d.data) for d in deposits[:deposit_index + 1]]
-        state.eth1_data.deposit_root = get_merkle_root(leaves, 2**DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH)
+        state.eth1_data.deposit_root = get_merkle_root(leaves[:deposit_index + 1], 2**DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH)
         state.eth1_deposit_index = deposit_index
         process_deposit(state, deposit)
 
@@ -1202,9 +1202,9 @@ def get_genesis_beacon_state(deposits: Sequence[Deposit], genesis_time: int, eth
     )
 
     # Process genesis deposits
+    leaves = list(map(lambda deposit: hash_tree_root(deposit.data), deposits))
     for deposit_index, deposit in enumerate(deposits):
-        leaves = [hash_tree_root(d.data) for d in deposits[:deposit_index + 1]]
-        state.eth1_data.deposit_root = get_merkle_root(leaves, 2**DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH)
+        state.eth1_data.deposit_root = get_merkle_root(leaves[:deposit_index + 1], 2**DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH)
         state.eth1_deposit_index = deposit_index
         process_deposit(state, deposit)
 
diff --git a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/deposits.py b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/deposits.py
index 60ff2a3db..529dd8c12 100644
--- a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/deposits.py
+++ b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/deposits.py
@@ -51,8 +51,6 @@ def build_deposit(spec,
     tree = calc_merkle_tree_from_leaves(tuple(deposit_data_leaves))
     root = get_merkle_root((tuple(deposit_data_leaves)))
     proof = list(get_merkle_proof(tree, item_index=index))
-    assert spec.verify_merkle_branch(item, proof, spec.DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH, index, root)
-
     deposit = spec.Deposit(
         proof=list(proof),
         index=index,