diff --git a/crates/node/src/shell/testing/node.rs b/crates/node/src/shell/testing/node.rs
index 5b92d3184d..a6e67d3987 100644
--- a/crates/node/src/shell/testing/node.rs
+++ b/crates/node/src/shell/testing/node.rs
@@ -363,8 +363,6 @@ impl MockNode {
     }
 
     pub fn next_epoch(&mut self) -> Epoch {
-        let header_time = #[allow(clippy::disallowed_methods)]
-        DateTimeUtc::now();
         {
             let mut locked = self.shell.lock().unwrap();
 
@@ -372,19 +370,22 @@ impl MockNode {
                 locked.state.in_mem().get_last_block_height() + 1;
             locked.state.in_mem_mut().next_epoch_min_start_height =
                 next_epoch_height;
-            locked.state.in_mem_mut().next_epoch_min_start_time = header_time;
+            locked.state.in_mem_mut().next_epoch_min_start_time = {
+                #[allow(clippy::disallowed_methods)]
+                DateTimeUtc::now()
+            };
+            let next_epoch_min_start_height =
+                locked.state.in_mem().next_epoch_min_start_height;
             if let Some(LastBlock { height, .. }) =
                 locked.state.in_mem_mut().last_block.as_mut()
             {
-                *height = next_epoch_height;
+                *height = next_epoch_min_start_height;
             }
         }
-        // Use the same timestamp as `next_epoch_min_start_time` to ensure a new
-        // epoch is started on this block
-        self.finalize_and_commit(Some(header_time));
+        self.finalize_and_commit();
 
         for _ in 0..EPOCH_SWITCH_BLOCKS_DELAY {
-            self.finalize_and_commit(None);
+            self.finalize_and_commit();
         }
         self.shell
             .lock()
@@ -458,7 +459,7 @@ impl MockNode {
 
     /// Simultaneously call the `FinalizeBlock` and
     /// `Commit` handlers.
-    pub fn finalize_and_commit(&self, header_time: Option<DateTimeUtc>) {
+    pub fn finalize_and_commit(&self) {
         let (proposer_address, votes) = self.prepare_request();
 
         let mut locked = self.shell.lock().unwrap();
@@ -489,7 +490,7 @@ impl MockNode {
             header: BlockHeader {
                 hash: Hash([0; 32]),
                 #[allow(clippy::disallowed_methods)]
-                time: header_time.unwrap_or_else(DateTimeUtc::now),
+                time: DateTimeUtc::now(),
                 next_validators_hash: Hash([0; 32]),
             },
             block_hash: Hash([0; 32]),
@@ -569,7 +570,7 @@ impl MockNode {
     /// Send a tx through Process Proposal and Finalize Block
     /// and register the results.
     pub fn submit_txs(&self, txs: Vec<Vec<u8>>) {
-        self.finalize_and_commit(None);
+        self.finalize_and_commit();
         let (proposer_address, votes) = self.prepare_request();
 
         #[allow(clippy::disallowed_methods)]
diff --git a/crates/tests/src/integration/ledger_tests.rs b/crates/tests/src/integration/ledger_tests.rs
index 9e0e0a6777..65c0862061 100644
--- a/crates/tests/src/integration/ledger_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/tests/src/integration/ledger_tests.rs
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ fn invalid_transactions() -> Result<()> {
     assert_matches!(captured.result, Ok(_));
     assert!(captured.contains(TX_REJECTED));
 
-    node.finalize_and_commit(None);
+    node.finalize_and_commit();
     // There should be state now
     {
         let locked = node.shell.lock().unwrap();
@@ -1719,7 +1719,7 @@ fn enforce_fee_payment() -> Result<()> {
     }
     // Finalize the next block to execute the txs
     node.clear_results();
-    node.finalize_and_commit(None);
+    node.finalize_and_commit();
     {
         let results = node.results.lock().unwrap();
         for result in results.iter() {
@@ -2028,7 +2028,7 @@ fn scheduled_migration() -> Result<()> {
     }
 
     while node.block_height().0 != 4 {
-        node.finalize_and_commit(None)
+        node.finalize_and_commit()
     }
     // check that the key doesn't exist before the scheduled block
     let rt = tokio::runtime::Runtime::new().unwrap();
@@ -2045,7 +2045,7 @@ fn scheduled_migration() -> Result<()> {
     assert!(bytes.is_empty());
 
     // check that the key now exists and has the expected value
-    node.finalize_and_commit(None);
+    node.finalize_and_commit();
     let rt = tokio::runtime::Runtime::new().unwrap();
     let bytes = rt
         .block_on(RPC.shell().storage_value(
diff --git a/crates/tests/src/integration/masp.rs b/crates/tests/src/integration/masp.rs
index 19d092dbb3..e2f6d66848 100644
--- a/crates/tests/src/integration/masp.rs
+++ b/crates/tests/src/integration/masp.rs
@@ -1527,7 +1527,7 @@ fn multiple_unfetched_txs_same_block() -> Result<()> {
     }
     // Finalize the next block to actually execute the decrypted txs
     node.clear_results();
-    node.finalize_and_commit(None);
+    node.finalize_and_commit();
     {
         let results = node.results.lock().unwrap();
         for result in results.iter() {