diff --git a/core/chain_makers_test.go b/core/chain_makers_test.go
index 715e4c7aca..d7730aec8b 100644
--- a/core/chain_makers_test.go
+++ b/core/chain_makers_test.go
@@ -90,5 +90,5 @@ func ExampleGenerateChain() {
 	// last block: #5
 	// balance of addr1: 989000
 	// balance of addr2: 10000
-	// balance of addr3: 5906250000000001000
+	// balance of addr3: 19687500000000001000
 }
diff --git a/core/fees.go b/core/fees.go
index 3f61779752..29ba5c5a64 100644
--- a/core/fees.go
+++ b/core/fees.go
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ import (
 	"math/big"
 )
 
-var BlockReward *big.Int = big.NewInt(1.5e+18)
+var BlockReward *big.Int = big.NewInt(5e+18)
diff --git a/tests/block_test.go b/tests/block_test.go
index 40a210a3e3..5019b758d1 100644
--- a/tests/block_test.go
+++ b/tests/block_test.go
@@ -17,10 +17,18 @@
 package tests
 
 import (
+	"math/big"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
 )
 
+func init() {
+	// XXX remove me when block tests have been updated
+	core.BlockReward = big.NewInt(1.5e+18)
+}
+
 func TestBcValidBlockTests(t *testing.T) {
 	err := RunBlockTest(filepath.Join(blockTestDir, "bcValidBlockTest.json"), BlockSkipTests)
 	if err != nil {