diff --git a/beacon_chain/spec/beaconstate.nim b/beacon_chain/spec/beaconstate.nim
index 2b417f852..6968a6d2c 100644
--- a/beacon_chain/spec/beaconstate.nim
+++ b/beacon_chain/spec/beaconstate.nim
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import
   ./crypto, ./datatypes, ./digest, ./helpers, ./validator
 
 # https://github.com/ethereum/eth2.0-specs/blob/v0.9.1/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md#is_valid_merkle_branch
-func is_valid_merkle_branch(leaf: Eth2Digest, branch: openarray[Eth2Digest], depth: uint64, index: uint64, root: Eth2Digest): bool =
+func is_valid_merkle_branch*(leaf: Eth2Digest, branch: openarray[Eth2Digest], depth: uint64, index: uint64, root: Eth2Digest): bool =
   ## Check if ``leaf`` at ``index`` verifies against the Merkle ``root`` and
   ## ``branch``.
   var
diff --git a/tests/mocking/merkle_minimal.nim b/tests/mocking/merkle_minimal.nim
index f16c5b05a..ca9db2ac2 100644
--- a/tests/mocking/merkle_minimal.nim
+++ b/tests/mocking/merkle_minimal.nim
@@ -44,8 +44,7 @@ proc merkleTreeFromLeaves*(
         values: openarray[Eth2Digest],
         Depth: static[int] = DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH
       ): SparseMerkleTree[Depth] =
-  ## Depth should be the same as
-  ## verify_merkle_branch / is_valid_merkle_branch
+  ## Depth should be the same as is_valid_merkle_branch
 
   result.nnznodes[0] = @values
 
@@ -150,7 +149,7 @@ when isMainModule: # Checks
                 let proof = getMerkleProof(tree, index)
                 echo "Proof: ", proof
 
-                doAssert verify_merkle_branch(
+                doAssert is_valid_merkle_branch(
                   a, get_merkle_proof(tree, index = index),
                   depth = `depth`,
                   index = index.uint64,
@@ -163,7 +162,7 @@ when isMainModule: # Checks
                 let proof = getMerkleProof(tree, index)
                 # echo "Proof: ", proof
 
-                doAssert verify_merkle_branch(
+                doAssert is_valid_merkle_branch(
                   b, get_merkle_proof(tree, index = index),
                   depth = `depth`,
                   index = index.uint64,
@@ -176,7 +175,7 @@ when isMainModule: # Checks
                 let proof = getMerkleProof(tree, index)
                 # echo "Proof: ", proof
 
-                doAssert verify_merkle_branch(
+                doAssert is_valid_merkle_branch(
                   c, get_merkle_proof(tree, index = index),
                   depth = `depth`,
                   index = index.uint64,
diff --git a/tests/mocking/mock_deposits.nim b/tests/mocking/mock_deposits.nim
index 0e3153721..5c267183f 100644
--- a/tests/mocking/mock_deposits.nim
+++ b/tests/mocking/mock_deposits.nim
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import
   # 0.19.6 shims
   stew/objects, # import default
   # Specs
-  ../../beacon_chain/spec/[datatypes, crypto, helpers, digest],
+  ../../beacon_chain/spec/[datatypes, crypto, helpers, digest, beaconstate],
   # Internals
   ../../beacon_chain/[ssz, extras],
   # Mocking procs
@@ -136,23 +136,24 @@ template mockGenesisDepositsImpl(
       depositsDataHash.add hash_tree_root(result[valIdx].data)
 
     # 2nd & 3rd loops - build hashes and proofs
-    when false:
-      let root = hash_tree_root(depositsData)
-      let tree = merkleTreeFromLeaves(depositsDataHash)
+    let root = hash_tree_root(depositsData)
+    let tree = merkleTreeFromLeaves(depositsDataHash)
 
     # 4th loop - append proof
     for valIdx in 0 ..< validatorCount.int:
-      when false: # TODO
-        result[valIdx].proof[0..31] = tree.getMerkleProof(valIdx)
-        result[valIdx].proof[32] = int_to_bytes32(index + 1)
-        doAssert:
-          verify_merkle_branch(
-            depositsDataHash[valIdx],
-            result[valIdx].proof,
-            DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH,
-            valIdx,
-            root
-          )
+      # TODO ensure genesis & deposit process tests suffice to catch whether
+      # changes here break things; ensure that this matches the merkle proof
+      # sequence is_valid_merkle_branch(...) now looks for
+      result[valIdx].proof[0..31] = tree.getMerkleProof(valIdx)
+      result[valIdx].proof[32] =
+        Eth2Digest(data: int_to_bytes32((valIdx + 1).uint64))
+      doAssert is_valid_merkle_branch(
+          depositsDataHash[valIdx],
+          result[valIdx].proof,
+          DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH,
+          valIdx.uint64,
+          root
+        )
 
 proc mockGenesisBalancedDeposits*(
         validatorCount: uint64,
@@ -199,6 +200,7 @@ proc mockUpdateStateForNewDeposit*(
        flags: UpdateFlags
     ): Deposit =
 
+
   # TODO withdrawal credentials
 
   mockDepositData(
@@ -214,7 +216,7 @@ proc mockUpdateStateForNewDeposit*(
     let tree = merkleTreeFromLeaves([hash_tree_root(result.data)])
     result[valIdx].proof[0..31] = tree.getMerkleProof(0)
     result[valIdx].proof[32] = int_to_bytes32(0 + 1)
-    # doAssert: verify_merkle_branch(...)
+    # doAssert is_valid_merkle_branch(...)
 
   # TODO: this logic from the eth2.0-specs test suite seems strange
   #       but confirmed by running it