diff --git a/bigchaindb/core.py b/bigchaindb/core.py
index 0ab7dd86..79d30baa 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/core.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/core.py
@@ -598,9 +598,11 @@ class Bigchain(object):
             .order_by(r.desc(r.row['block']['timestamp'])) \
             .run(self.conn)
 
+        # 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/tests/db/conftest.py b/tests/db/conftest.py
index 900e7918..4ae4f0c3 100644
--- a/tests/db/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/db/conftest.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def cleanup_tables(request, node_config):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def inputs(user_vk, amount=1, b=None):
+def inputs(user_vk, amount=4, b=None, blocks=4):
     from bigchaindb.exceptions import GenesisBlockAlreadyExistsError
     # 1. create the genesis block
     b = b or Bigchain()
@@ -108,13 +108,13 @@ def inputs(user_vk, amount=1, b=None):
         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(blocks):
+        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)
 
-    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 61d58e1e..92d36857 100644
--- a/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py
+++ b/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py
@@ -182,11 +182,13 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
     def test_genesis_block(self, b):
         response = list(r.table('bigchain')
                         .filter(util.is_genesis_block)
-                        .run(b.conn))[0]
+                        .run(b.conn))
 
-        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()
@@ -1988,6 +1990,7 @@ 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 +2013,7 @@ 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 +2021,7 @@ 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')