diff --git a/bigchaindb/core.py b/bigchaindb/core.py
index 3c9e3d3f..5171aab8 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/core.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/core.py
@@ -492,6 +492,16 @@ class Bigchain(object):
         response = r.table('bigchain').get_all(transaction_id, index='transaction_id').run(self.conn)
         return True if len(response.items) > 0 else False
 
+    def prepare_genesis_block(self):
+        """Prepare a genesis block."""
+
+        payload = {'message': 'Hello World from the BigchainDB'}
+        transaction = self.create_transaction([self.me], [self.me], None, 'GENESIS', payload=payload)
+        transaction_signed = self.sign_transaction(transaction, self.me_private)
+
+        # create the block
+        return self.create_block([transaction_signed])
+
     # TODO: Unless we prescribe the signature of create_transaction, this will
     #       also need to be moved into the plugin API.
     def create_genesis_block(self):
@@ -511,14 +521,7 @@ class Bigchain(object):
         if blocks_count:
             raise exceptions.GenesisBlockAlreadyExistsError('Cannot create the Genesis block')
 
-        payload = {'message': 'Hello World from the BigchainDB'}
-        transaction = self.create_transaction([self.me], [self.me], None, 'GENESIS', payload=payload)
-        transaction_signed = self.sign_transaction(transaction, self.me_private)
-
-        # create the block
-        block = self.create_block([transaction_signed])
-        # add block number before writing
-        block['block_number'] = 0
+        block = self.prepare_genesis_block()
         self.write_block(block, durability='hard')
 
         return block
@@ -534,6 +537,9 @@ class Bigchain(object):
             invalid_reason (Optional[str]): Reason the block is invalid
         """
 
+        if block['id'] == previous_block_id:
+            raise exceptions.CyclicBlockchainError()
+
         vote = {
             'voting_for_block': block['id'],
             'previous_block': previous_block_id,
@@ -553,18 +559,13 @@ class Bigchain(object):
 
         return vote_signed
 
-    def write_vote(self, block, vote, block_number):
+    def write_vote(self, block, vote):
         """Write the vote to the database."""
 
         # First, make sure this block doesn't contain a vote from this node
         if self.has_previous_vote(block):
             return None
 
-        # We need to *not* override the existing block_number, if any
-        # FIXME: MIGHT HAVE RACE CONDITIONS WITH THE OTHER NODES IN THE FEDERATION
-        if 'block_number' not in vote:
-            vote['block_number'] = block_number  # maybe this should be in the signed part...or better yet, removed..
-
         r.table('votes') \
             .insert(vote) \
             .run(self.conn)
@@ -572,22 +573,55 @@ class Bigchain(object):
     def get_last_voted_block(self):
         """Returns the last block that this node voted on."""
 
-        last_voted = r.table('votes') \
-            .filter(r.row['node_pubkey'] == self.me) \
-            .order_by(r.desc('block_number')) \
-            .limit(1) \
-            .run(self.conn)
+        try:
+            # get the latest value for the vote timestamp (over all votes)
+            max_timestamp = r.table('votes') \
+                .filter(r.row['node_pubkey'] == self.me) \
+                .max(r.row['vote']['timestamp']) \
+                .run(self.conn)['vote']['timestamp']
 
-        # return last vote if last vote exists else return Genesis block
-        if not last_voted:
+            last_voted = list(r.table('votes') \
+                .filter(r.row['vote']['timestamp'] == max_timestamp) \
+                .filter(r.row['node_pubkey'] == self.me) \
+                .run(self.conn))
+
+        except r.ReqlNonExistenceError:
+            # return last vote if last vote exists else return Genesis block
             return list(r.table('bigchain')
-                        .filter(r.row['block_number'] == 0)
+                        .filter(util.is_genesis_block)
                         .run(self.conn))[0]
 
-        res = r.table('bigchain').get(last_voted[0]['vote']['voting_for_block']).run(self.conn)
+        # Now the fun starts. Since the resolution of timestamp is a second,
+        # we might have more than one vote per timestamp. If this is the case
+        # then we need to rebuild the chain for the blocks that have been retrieved
+        # to get the last one.
 
-        if 'block_number' in last_voted[0]:
-            res['block_number'] = last_voted[0]['block_number']
+        # Given a block_id, mapping returns the id of the block pointing at it.
+        mapping = {v['vote']['previous_block']: v['vote']['voting_for_block']
+                   for v in last_voted}
+
+        # Since we follow the chain backwards, we can start from a random
+        # point of the chain and "move up" from it.
+        last_block_id = list(mapping.values())[0]
+
+        # We must be sure to break the infinite loop. This happens when:
+        # - the block we are currenty iterating is the one we are looking for.
+        #   This will trigger a KeyError, breaking the loop
+        # - we are visiting again a node we already explored, hence there is
+        #   a loop. This might happen if a vote points both `previous_block`
+        #   and `voting_for_block` to the same `block_id`
+        explored = set()
+
+        while True:
+            try:
+                if last_block_id in explored:
+                    raise exceptions.CyclicBlockchainError()
+                explored.add(last_block_id)
+                last_block_id = mapping[last_block_id]
+            except KeyError:
+                break
+
+        res = r.table('bigchain').get(last_block_id).run(self.conn)
 
         return res
 
@@ -597,13 +631,14 @@ class Bigchain(object):
         unvoted = r.table('bigchain') \
             .filter(lambda block: r.table('votes').get_all([block['id'], self.me], index='block_and_voter')
                     .is_empty()) \
-            .order_by(r.desc('block_number')) \
+            .order_by(r.asc(r.row['block']['timestamp'])) \
             .run(self.conn)
 
-        if unvoted and unvoted[0].get('block_number') == 0:
-            unvoted.pop(0)
+        # FIXME: I (@vrde) don't like this solution. Filtering should be done at a
+        #        database level. Solving issue #444 can help untangling the situation
+        unvoted = filter(lambda block: not util.is_genesis_block(block), unvoted)
 
-        return unvoted
+        return list(unvoted)
 
     def block_election_status(self, block):
         """Tally the votes on a block, and return the status: valid, invalid, or undecided."""
diff --git a/bigchaindb/db/utils.py b/bigchaindb/db/utils.py
index 482d27fc..252527d7 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/db/utils.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/db/utils.py
@@ -42,8 +42,6 @@ def init():
     # create the secondary indexes
     # to order blocks by timestamp
     r.db(dbname).table('bigchain').index_create('block_timestamp', r.row['block']['timestamp']).run(conn)
-    # to order blocks by block number
-    r.db(dbname).table('bigchain').index_create('block_number', r.row['block']['block_number']).run(conn)
     # to order transactions by timestamp
     r.db(dbname).table('backlog').index_create('transaction_timestamp', r.row['transaction']['timestamp']).run(conn)
     # to query the bigchain for a transaction id
diff --git a/bigchaindb/exceptions.py b/bigchaindb/exceptions.py
index 9985d722..480a0bd8 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/exceptions.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/exceptions.py
@@ -56,3 +56,7 @@ class MultipleVotesError(Exception):
 
 class GenesisBlockAlreadyExistsError(Exception):
     """Raised when trying to create the already existing genesis block"""
+
+
+class CyclicBlockchainError(Exception):
+    """Raised when there is a cycle in the blockchain"""
diff --git a/bigchaindb/util.py b/bigchaindb/util.py
index b16cdd78..8492cc81 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/util.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/util.py
@@ -615,3 +615,18 @@ def transform_create(tx):
     new_tx = create_tx(b.me, transaction['fulfillments'][0]['current_owners'], None, 'CREATE', payload=payload)
     return new_tx
 
+
+def is_genesis_block(block):
+    """Check if the block is the genesis block.
+
+    Args:
+        block (dict): the block to check
+
+    Returns:
+        bool: True if the block is the genesis block, False otherwise.
+    """
+
+    # we cannot have empty blocks, there will always be at least one
+    # element in the list so we can safely refer to it
+    return block['block']['transactions'][0]['transaction']['operation'] == 'GENESIS'
+
diff --git a/bigchaindb/voter.py b/bigchaindb/voter.py
index 73e08fb9..60a029db 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/voter.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/voter.py
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ class Voter(object):
         self.q_validated_block = mp.Queue()
         self.q_voted_block = mp.Queue()
         self.v_previous_block_id = mp.Value(ctypes.c_char_p)
-        self.v_previous_block_number = mp.Value(ctypes.c_uint64)
         self.initialized = mp.Event()
 
     def feed_blocks(self):
@@ -105,18 +104,15 @@ class Voter(object):
                 return
 
             logger.info('new_block arrived to voter')
-            block_number = self.v_previous_block_number.value + 1
 
             with self.monitor.timer('validate_block'):
                 validity = b.is_valid_block(new_block)
 
             self.q_validated_block.put((new_block,
                                         self.v_previous_block_id.value.decode(),
-                                        block_number,
                                         validity))
 
             self.v_previous_block_id.value = new_block['id'].encode()
-            self.v_previous_block_number.value = block_number
 
     def vote(self):
         """
@@ -134,9 +130,9 @@ class Voter(object):
                 self.q_voted_block.put('stop')
                 return
 
-            validated_block, previous_block_id, block_number, decision = elem
+            validated_block, previous_block_id, decision = elem
             vote = b.vote(validated_block, previous_block_id, decision)
-            self.q_voted_block.put((validated_block, vote, block_number))
+            self.q_voted_block.put((validated_block, vote))
 
     def update_block(self):
         """
@@ -154,22 +150,21 @@ class Voter(object):
                 logger.info('clean exit')
                 return
 
-            block, vote, block_number = elem
-            logger.info('updating block %s with number %s and with vote %s', block['id'], block_number, vote)
-            b.write_vote(block, vote, block_number)
+            block, vote = elem
+            logger.info('updating block %s and with vote %s', block['id'], vote)
+            b.write_vote(block, vote)
 
     def bootstrap(self):
         """
         Before starting handling the new blocks received by the changefeed we need to handle unvoted blocks
         added to the bigchain while the process was down
 
-        We also need to set the previous_block_id and the previous block_number
+        We also need to set the previous_block_id.
         """
 
         b = Bigchain()
         last_voted = b.get_last_voted_block()
 
-        self.v_previous_block_number.value = last_voted['block_number']
         self.v_previous_block_id.value = last_voted['id'].encode()
 
     def kill(self):
diff --git a/docs/source/topic-guides/models.md b/docs/source/topic-guides/models.md
index 5b08cbe0..c130ce83 100644
--- a/docs/source/topic-guides/models.md
+++ b/docs/source/topic-guides/models.md
@@ -270,7 +270,6 @@ Each node must generate a vote for each block, to be appended the `votes` table.
         "timestamp": "<Unix time when the vote was generated, provided by the voting node>"
     },
     "signature": "<signature of vote>",
-    "block_number": "<roughly sequential integer index for block ordering>"
 }
 ```
 
diff --git a/tests/db/conftest.py b/tests/db/conftest.py
index 900e7918..d89ca004 100644
--- a/tests/db/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/db/conftest.py
@@ -98,23 +98,22 @@ def cleanup_tables(request, node_config):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def inputs(user_vk, amount=1, b=None):
+def inputs(user_vk):
     from bigchaindb.exceptions import GenesisBlockAlreadyExistsError
     # 1. create the genesis block
-    b = b or Bigchain()
+    b = Bigchain()
     try:
         b.create_genesis_block()
     except GenesisBlockAlreadyExistsError:
         pass
 
     # 2. create block with transactions for `USER` to spend
-    transactions = []
-    for i in range(amount):
-        tx = b.create_transaction(b.me, user_vk, None, 'CREATE')
-        tx_signed = b.sign_transaction(tx, b.me_private)
-        transactions.append(tx_signed)
-        b.write_transaction(tx_signed)
+    for block in range(4):
+        transactions = []
+        for i in range(10):
+            tx = b.create_transaction(b.me, user_vk, None, 'CREATE')
+            tx_signed = b.sign_transaction(tx, b.me_private)
+            transactions.append(tx_signed)
 
-    block = b.create_block(transactions)
-    b.write_block(block, durability='hard')
-    return block
+        block = b.create_block(transactions)
+        b.write_block(block, durability='hard')
diff --git a/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py b/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py
index e5a92440..cf5091b2 100644
--- a/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py
+++ b/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
 
         # vote the block invalid
         vote = b.vote(block, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], False)
-        b.write_vote(block, vote, 3)
+        b.write_vote(block, vote)
         response = b.get_transaction(tx_signed["id"])
 
         # should be None, because invalid blocks are ignored
@@ -181,13 +181,14 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures('inputs')
     def test_genesis_block(self, b):
         response = list(r.table('bigchain')
-                        .filter(r.row['block_number'] == 0)
-                        .run(b.conn))[0]
+                        .filter(util.is_genesis_block)
+                        .run(b.conn))
 
-        assert response['block_number'] == 0
-        assert len(response['block']['transactions']) == 1
-        assert response['block']['transactions'][0]['transaction']['operation'] == 'GENESIS'
-        assert response['block']['transactions'][0]['transaction']['fulfillments'][0]['input'] is None
+        assert len(response) == 1
+        block = response[0]
+        assert len(block['block']['transactions']) == 1
+        assert block['block']['transactions'][0]['transaction']['operation'] == 'GENESIS'
+        assert block['block']['transactions'][0]['transaction']['fulfillments'][0]['input'] is None
 
     def test_create_genesis_block_fails_if_table_not_empty(self, b):
         b.create_genesis_block()
@@ -196,7 +197,7 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
             b.create_genesis_block()
 
         genesis_blocks = list(r.table('bigchain')
-                              .filter(r.row['block_number'] == 0)
+                              .filter(util.is_genesis_block)
                               .run(b.conn))
 
         assert len(genesis_blocks) == 1
@@ -257,13 +258,13 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
     def test_get_last_voted_block_returns_genesis_if_no_votes_has_been_casted(self, b):
         b.create_genesis_block()
         genesis = list(r.table('bigchain')
-                       .filter(r.row['block_number'] == 0)
+                       .filter(util.is_genesis_block)
                        .run(b.conn))[0]
         gb = b.get_last_voted_block()
         assert gb == genesis
         assert b.validate_block(gb) == gb
 
-    def test_get_last_voted_block_returns_the_correct_block(self, b):
+    def test_get_last_voted_block_returns_the_correct_block_same_timestamp(self, b, monkeypatch):
         genesis = b.create_genesis_block()
 
         assert b.get_last_voted_block() == genesis
@@ -276,27 +277,57 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
         b.write_block(block_2, durability='hard')
         b.write_block(block_3, durability='hard')
 
-        b.write_vote(block_1, b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block(), True), 1)
+        # make sure all the blocks are written at the same time
+        monkeypatch.setattr(util, 'timestamp', lambda: '1')
+
+        b.write_vote(block_1, b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], True))
         assert b.get_last_voted_block()['id'] == block_1['id']
 
-        b.write_vote(block_2, b.vote(block_2, b.get_last_voted_block(), True), 2)
+        b.write_vote(block_2, b.vote(block_2, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], True))
         assert b.get_last_voted_block()['id'] == block_2['id']
 
-        b.write_vote(block_3, b.vote(block_3, b.get_last_voted_block(), True), 3)
+        b.write_vote(block_3, b.vote(block_3, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], True))
+        assert b.get_last_voted_block()['id'] == block_3['id']
+
+
+    def test_get_last_voted_block_returns_the_correct_block_different_timestamps(self, b, monkeypatch):
+        genesis = b.create_genesis_block()
+
+        assert b.get_last_voted_block() == genesis
+
+        block_1 = dummy_block()
+        block_2 = dummy_block()
+        block_3 = dummy_block()
+
+        b.write_block(block_1, durability='hard')
+        b.write_block(block_2, durability='hard')
+        b.write_block(block_3, durability='hard')
+
+        # make sure all the blocks are written at different timestamps
+        monkeypatch.setattr(util, 'timestamp', lambda: '1')
+        b.write_vote(block_1, b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], True))
+        assert b.get_last_voted_block()['id'] == block_1['id']
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(util, 'timestamp', lambda: '2')
+        b.write_vote(block_2, b.vote(block_2, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], True))
+        assert b.get_last_voted_block()['id'] == block_2['id']
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(util, 'timestamp', lambda: '3')
+        b.write_vote(block_3, b.vote(block_3, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], True))
         assert b.get_last_voted_block()['id'] == block_3['id']
 
     def test_no_vote_written_if_block_already_has_vote(self, b):
-        b.create_genesis_block()
+        genesis = b.create_genesis_block()
 
         block_1 = dummy_block()
 
         b.write_block(block_1, durability='hard')
 
-        b.write_vote(block_1, b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block(), True), 1)
+        b.write_vote(block_1, b.vote(block_1, genesis['id'], True))
         retrieved_block_1 = r.table('bigchain').get(block_1['id']).run(b.conn)
 
         # try to vote again on the retrieved block, should do nothing
-        b.write_vote(retrieved_block_1, b.vote(retrieved_block_1, b.get_last_voted_block(), True), 1)
+        b.write_vote(retrieved_block_1, b.vote(retrieved_block_1, genesis['id'], True))
         retrieved_block_2 = r.table('bigchain').get(block_1['id']).run(b.conn)
 
         assert retrieved_block_1 == retrieved_block_2
@@ -306,8 +337,8 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
         block_1 = dummy_block()
         b.write_block(block_1, durability='hard')
         # insert duplicate votes
-        vote_1 = b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block(), True)
-        vote_2 = b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block(), True)
+        vote_1 = b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], True)
+        vote_2 = b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], True)
         vote_2['node_pubkey'] = 'aaaaaaa'
         r.table('votes').insert(vote_1).run(b.conn)
         r.table('votes').insert(vote_2).run(b.conn)
@@ -319,12 +350,12 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
             .format(block_id=block_1['id'], n_votes=str(2), n_voters=str(1))
 
     def test_multiple_votes_single_node(self, b):
-        b.create_genesis_block()
+        genesis = b.create_genesis_block()
         block_1 = dummy_block()
         b.write_block(block_1, durability='hard')
         # insert duplicate votes
         for i in range(2):
-            r.table('votes').insert(b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block(), True)).run(b.conn)
+            r.table('votes').insert(b.vote(block_1, genesis['id'], True)).run(b.conn)
 
         from bigchaindb.exceptions import MultipleVotesError
         with pytest.raises(MultipleVotesError) as excinfo:
@@ -341,7 +372,7 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
         b.create_genesis_block()
         block_1 = dummy_block()
         b.write_block(block_1, durability='hard')
-        vote_1 = b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block(), True)
+        vote_1 = b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], True)
         # mangle the signature
         vote_1['signature'] = 'a' * 87
         r.table('votes').insert(vote_1).run(b.conn)
@@ -898,9 +929,9 @@ class TestBigchainBlock(object):
         b.write_block(block_2, durability='hard')
         b.write_block(block_3, durability='hard')
 
-        b.write_vote(block_1, b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block(), True), 1)
-        b.write_vote(block_2, b.vote(block_2, b.get_last_voted_block(), True), 2)
-        b.write_vote(block_3, b.vote(block_3, b.get_last_voted_block(), True), 3)
+        b.write_vote(block_1, b.vote(block_1, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], True))
+        b.write_vote(block_2, b.vote(block_2, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], True))
+        b.write_vote(block_3, b.vote(block_3, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], True))
 
         q_revert_delete = mp.Queue()
 
@@ -1186,6 +1217,7 @@ class TestMultipleInputs(object):
         assert owned_inputs_user2 == [{'cid': 0, 'txid': tx['id']}]
 
     def test_get_owned_ids_single_tx_single_output_invalid_block(self, b, user_sk, user_vk):
+        genesis = b.create_genesis_block()
         # create a new users
         user2_sk, user2_vk = crypto.generate_key_pair()
 
@@ -1196,8 +1228,8 @@ class TestMultipleInputs(object):
         b.write_block(block, durability='hard')
 
         # vote the block VALID
-        vote = b.vote(block, b.get_unvoted_blocks()[0]['id'], True)
-        b.write_vote(block, vote, 2)
+        vote = b.vote(block, genesis['id'], True)
+        b.write_vote(block, vote)
 
         # get input
         owned_inputs_user1 = b.get_owned_ids(user_vk)
@@ -1213,7 +1245,7 @@ class TestMultipleInputs(object):
 
         # vote the block invalid
         vote = b.vote(block, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], False)
-        b.write_vote(block, vote, 3)
+        b.write_vote(block, vote)
 
         owned_inputs_user1 = b.get_owned_ids(user_vk)
         owned_inputs_user2 = b.get_owned_ids(user2_vk)
@@ -1314,6 +1346,8 @@ class TestMultipleInputs(object):
         assert spent_inputs_user1 == tx_signed
 
     def test_get_spent_single_tx_single_output_invalid_block(self, b, user_sk, user_vk):
+        genesis = b.create_genesis_block()
+
         # create a new users
         user2_sk, user2_vk = crypto.generate_key_pair()
 
@@ -1324,8 +1358,8 @@ class TestMultipleInputs(object):
         b.write_block(block, durability='hard')
 
         # vote the block VALID
-        vote = b.vote(block, b.get_unvoted_blocks()[0]['id'], True)
-        b.write_vote(block, vote, 2)
+        vote = b.vote(block, genesis['id'], True)
+        b.write_vote(block, vote)
 
         # get input
         owned_inputs_user1 = b.get_owned_ids(user_vk)
@@ -1342,7 +1376,7 @@ class TestMultipleInputs(object):
 
         # vote the block invalid
         vote = b.vote(block, b.get_last_voted_block()['id'], False)
-        b.write_vote(block, vote, 2)
+        b.write_vote(block, vote)
         response = b.get_transaction(tx_signed["id"])
         spent_inputs_user1 = b.get_spent(owned_inputs_user1[0])
 
@@ -1988,6 +2022,7 @@ class TestCryptoconditions(object):
 
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures('inputs')
     def test_transfer_asset_with_hashlock_condition(self, b, user_vk, user_sk):
+        owned_count = len(b.get_owned_ids(user_vk))
         first_input_tx = b.get_owned_ids(user_vk).pop()
 
         hashlock_tx = b.create_transaction(user_vk, None, first_input_tx, 'TRANSFER')
@@ -2010,7 +2045,7 @@ class TestCryptoconditions(object):
 
         assert b.validate_transaction(hashlock_tx_signed) == hashlock_tx_signed
         assert b.is_valid_transaction(hashlock_tx_signed) == hashlock_tx_signed
-        assert len(b.get_owned_ids(user_vk)) == 1
+        assert len(b.get_owned_ids(user_vk)) == owned_count
 
         b.write_transaction(hashlock_tx_signed)
 
@@ -2018,7 +2053,7 @@ class TestCryptoconditions(object):
         block = b.create_block([hashlock_tx_signed])
         b.write_block(block, durability='hard')
 
-        assert len(b.get_owned_ids(user_vk)) == 0
+        assert len(b.get_owned_ids(user_vk)) == owned_count - 1
 
     def test_create_and_fulfill_asset_with_hashlock_condition(self, b, user_vk):
         hashlock_tx = b.create_transaction(b.me, None, None, 'CREATE')
diff --git a/tests/db/test_utils.py b/tests/db/test_utils.py
index 9e032b25..d521fa21 100644
--- a/tests/db/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/db/test_utils.py
@@ -30,8 +30,7 @@ def test_init_creates_db_tables_and_indexes():
     assert r.db(dbname).table_list().contains('backlog', 'bigchain').run(conn) is True
 
     assert r.db(dbname).table('bigchain').index_list().contains(
-        'block_timestamp',
-        'block_number').run(conn) is True
+        'block_timestamp').run(conn) is True
 
     assert r.db(dbname).table('backlog').index_list().contains(
         'transaction_timestamp',
diff --git a/tests/db/test_voter.py b/tests/db/test_voter.py
index fb0331ca..d87c7eaa 100644
--- a/tests/db/test_voter.py
+++ b/tests/db/test_voter.py
@@ -325,11 +325,8 @@ class TestBigchainVoter(object):
                        .run(b.conn))
 
         # retrieve votes
-        votes = r.table('votes')\
-            .order_by(r.asc((r.row['block_number'])))\
-            .run(b.conn)
+        votes = list(r.table('votes').run(b.conn))
 
-        assert blocks[0]['block_number'] == 0  # genesis block
         assert votes[0]['vote']['voting_for_block'] in (blocks[1]['id'], blocks[2]['id'])
         assert votes[1]['vote']['voting_for_block'] in (blocks[1]['id'], blocks[2]['id'])
 
diff --git a/tests/test_util.py b/tests/test_util.py
index a8bb21ec..4a440d60 100644
--- a/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_util.py
@@ -210,3 +210,9 @@ def test_check_hash_and_signature_invalid_signature(monkeypatch):
         'bigchaindb.util.validate_fulfillments', lambda tx: False)
     with pytest.raises(InvalidSignature):
         check_hash_and_signature(transaction)
+
+
+def test_is_genesis_block_returns_true_if_genesis(b):
+    from bigchaindb.util import is_genesis_block
+    genesis_block = b.prepare_genesis_block()
+    assert is_genesis_block(genesis_block)