diff --git a/consensus/reactor.go b/consensus/reactor.go
index b7129f45e..6e9bf6ccd 100644
--- a/consensus/reactor.go
+++ b/consensus/reactor.go
@@ -293,7 +293,9 @@ func (conR *ConsensusReactor) stepTransitionRoutine() {
 	// when it is due.
 	scheduleNextAction := func() {
 		rs := conR.conS.GetRoundState()
-		_, _, roundDuration, _, elapsedRatio := calcRoundInfo(rs.StartTime)
+		round, roundStartTime, roundDuration, _, elapsedRatio := calcRoundInfo(rs.StartTime)
+		log.Debug("Called scheduleNextAction. round:%v roundStartTime:%v elapsedRatio:%v",
+			round, roundStartTime, elapsedRatio)
 		go func() {
 			switch rs.Step {
 			case RoundStepStart:
diff --git a/state/genesis.go b/state/genesis.go
index e81106bb0..417b2d858 100644
--- a/state/genesis.go
+++ b/state/genesis.go
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ func GenesisStateFromDoc(db db_.DB, genDoc *GenesisDoc) *State {
 
 func GenesisState(db db_.DB, genesisTime time.Time, accDets []*AccountDetail) *State {
 
+	if genesisTime.IsZero() {
+		genesisTime = time.Now()
+	}
+
 	// TODO: Use "uint64Codec" instead of BasicCodec
 	accountDetails := merkle.NewIAVLTree(BasicCodec, AccountDetailCodec, defaultAccountDetailsCacheCapacity, db)
 	validators := []*Validator{}