diff --git a/specs/validator/0_beacon-chain-validator.md b/specs/validator/0_beacon-chain-validator.md
index dab02b773..2d0728e7c 100644
--- a/specs/validator/0_beacon-chain-validator.md
+++ b/specs/validator/0_beacon-chain-validator.md
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ Up to `MAX_ATTESTATIONS` aggregate attestations can be included in the `block`.
 
 ##### Deposits
 
-If there are any unprocessed deposits for the existing `state.latest_eth1_data` (i.e. `state.latest_eth1_data.deposit_count > state.deposit_index`), then pending deposits _must_ be added to the block. The expected number of deposits is exactly `min(MAX_DEPOSITS, latest_eth1_data.deposit_count - state.deposit_index)`.  These [`deposits`](../core/0_beacon-chain.md#deposit) are constructed from the `Deposit` logs from the [Eth1.0 deposit contract](../core/0_deposit-contract.md) and must be processed in sequential order. The deposits included in the `block` must satisfy the verification conditions found in [deposits processing](../core/0_beacon-chain.md#deposits).
+If there are any unprocessed deposits for the existing `state.latest_eth1_data` (i.e. `state.latest_eth1_data.deposit_count > state.deposit_index`), then pending deposits _must_ be added to the block. The expected number of deposits is exactly `min(MAX_DEPOSITS, latest_eth1_data.deposit_count - state.deposit_index)`.  These [`deposits`](../core/0_beacon-chain.md#deposit) are constructed from the `Deposit` logs from the [Eth1.0 deposit contract](../core/0_deposit-contract) and must be processed in sequential order. The deposits included in the `block` must satisfy the verification conditions found in [deposits processing](../core/0_beacon-chain.md#deposits).
 
 The `proof` for each deposit must be constructed against the deposit root contained in `state.latest_eth1_data` rather than the deposit root at the time the deposit was initially logged from the 1.0 chain. This entails storing a full deposit merkle tree locally and computing updated proofs against the `latest_eth1_data.deposit_root` as needed. See [`minimal_merkle.py`](https://github.com/ethereum/research/blob/master/spec_pythonizer/utils/merkle_minimal.py) for a sample implementation.
 
diff --git a/test_libs/pyspec/tests/epoch_processing/test_process_registry_updates.py b/test_libs/pyspec/tests/epoch_processing/test_process_registry_updates.py
index 6a3f156c4..11f5de2ad 100644
--- a/test_libs/pyspec/tests/epoch_processing/test_process_registry_updates.py
+++ b/test_libs/pyspec/tests/epoch_processing/test_process_registry_updates.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 from copy import deepcopy
 
+import pytest
+
 import eth2spec.phase0.spec as spec
 
 from eth2spec.phase0.spec import (
@@ -10,6 +12,9 @@ from tests.helpers import (
     next_epoch,
 )
 
+# mark entire file as 'state'
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.state
+
 
 def test_activation(state):
     index = 0
@@ -23,8 +28,10 @@ def test_activation(state):
 
     pre_state = deepcopy(state)
 
+    blocks = []
     for _ in range(spec.ACTIVATION_EXIT_DELAY + 1):
-        next_epoch(state)
+        block = next_epoch(state)
+        blocks.append(block)
 
     assert state.validator_registry[index].activation_eligibility_epoch != spec.FAR_FUTURE_EPOCH
     assert state.validator_registry[index].activation_epoch != spec.FAR_FUTURE_EPOCH
@@ -33,7 +40,7 @@ def test_activation(state):
         get_current_epoch(state),
     )
 
-    return pre_state, state
+    return pre_state, blocks, state
 
 
 def test_ejection(state):
@@ -46,8 +53,10 @@ def test_ejection(state):
 
     pre_state = deepcopy(state)
 
+    blocks = []
     for _ in range(spec.ACTIVATION_EXIT_DELAY + 1):
-        next_epoch(state)
+        block = next_epoch(state)
+        blocks.append(block)
 
     assert state.validator_registry[index].exit_epoch != spec.FAR_FUTURE_EPOCH
     assert not is_active_validator(
@@ -55,4 +64,4 @@ def test_ejection(state):
         get_current_epoch(state),
     )
 
-    return pre_state, state
+    return pre_state, blocks, state
diff --git a/test_libs/pyspec/tests/helpers.py b/test_libs/pyspec/tests/helpers.py
index 63e4cd710..19df560ac 100644
--- a/test_libs/pyspec/tests/helpers.py
+++ b/test_libs/pyspec/tests/helpers.py
@@ -402,11 +402,21 @@ def add_attestation_to_state(state, attestation, slot):
 
 
 def next_slot(state):
+    """
+    Transition to the next slot via an empty block.
+    Return the empty block that triggered the transition.
+    """
     block = build_empty_block_for_next_slot(state)
     state_transition(state, block)
+    return block
 
 
 def next_epoch(state):
+    """
+    Transition to the start slot of the next epoch via an empty block.
+    Return the empty block that triggered the transition.
+    """
     block = build_empty_block_for_next_slot(state)
     block.slot += spec.SLOTS_PER_EPOCH - (state.slot % spec.SLOTS_PER_EPOCH)
     state_transition(state, block)
+    return block