diff --git a/libraries/chain/db_init.cpp b/libraries/chain/db_init.cpp
index e7ae7f2b..2ab6b882 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/db_init.cpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/db_init.cpp
@@ -702,7 +702,7 @@ void database::init_genesis(const genesis_state_type& genesis_state)
 
          linear_vesting_policy policy;
          policy.begin_timestamp = vest.begin_timestamp;
-         policy.vesting_cliff_seconds = 0;
+         policy.vesting_cliff_seconds = vest.vesting_cliff_seconds ? *vest.vesting_cliff_seconds : 0;
          policy.vesting_duration_seconds = vest.vesting_duration_seconds;
          policy.begin_balance = vest.begin_balance;
 
diff --git a/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/genesis_state.hpp b/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/genesis_state.hpp
index 42973df8..ebd153b6 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/genesis_state.hpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/genesis_state.hpp
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ struct genesis_state_type {
       string asset_symbol;
       share_type amount;
       time_point_sec begin_timestamp;
+      fc::optional<uint32_t> vesting_cliff_seconds;
       uint32_t vesting_duration_seconds = 0;
       share_type begin_balance;
    };
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ FC_REFLECT(graphene::chain::genesis_state_type::initial_balance_type,
            (owner)(asset_symbol)(amount))
 
 FC_REFLECT(graphene::chain::genesis_state_type::initial_vesting_balance_type,
-           (owner)(asset_symbol)(amount)(begin_timestamp)(vesting_duration_seconds)(begin_balance))
+           (owner)(asset_symbol)(amount)(begin_timestamp)(vesting_cliff_seconds)(vesting_duration_seconds)(begin_balance))
 
 FC_REFLECT(graphene::chain::genesis_state_type::initial_witness_type, (owner_name)(block_signing_key))