diff --git a/libraries/chain/CMakeLists.txt b/libraries/chain/CMakeLists.txt
index c38bd80b..9cc4285d 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libraries/chain/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
 add_custom_target( build_hardfork_hpp
-                   COMMAND cat-parts hardfork.d "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/include/graphene/chain/hardfork.hpp" )
+                   COMMAND cat-parts "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/hardfork.d" "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/include/graphene/chain/hardfork.hpp" )
 set_source_files_properties( "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/include/graphene/chain/hardfork.hpp" PROPERTIES GENERATED TRUE )
 
 add_dependencies( build_hardfork_hpp cat-parts )
diff --git a/libraries/chain/db_block.cpp b/libraries/chain/db_block.cpp
index 239e93c6..745578e8 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/db_block.cpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/db_block.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include <graphene/chain/witness_object.hpp>
 #include <graphene/chain/protocol/fee_schedule.hpp>
 #include <graphene/chain/exceptions.hpp>
+#include <graphene/chain/evaluator.hpp>
 
 namespace graphene { namespace chain {
 
diff --git a/libraries/chain/evaluator.cpp b/libraries/chain/evaluator.cpp
index b27d3960..a4127c25 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/evaluator.cpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/evaluator.cpp
@@ -118,4 +118,14 @@ database& generic_evaluator::db()const { return trx_state->db(); }
          _fba.accumulated_fba_fees += core_fee_paid;
       } );
    }
+
+   share_type generic_evaluator::calculate_fee_for_operation(const operation& op) const
+   {
+     return db().current_fee_schedule().calculate_fee( op ).amount;
+   }
+   void generic_evaluator::db_adjust_balance(const account_id_type& fee_payer, asset fee_from_account)
+   {
+     db().adjust_balance(fee_payer, fee_from_account);
+   }
+
 } }
diff --git a/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/database.hpp b/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/database.hpp
index 1f563995..b73b8931 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/database.hpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/database.hpp
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
  * THE SOFTWARE.
  */
 #pragma once
-#include <graphene/chain/evaluator.hpp>
 #include <graphene/chain/global_property_object.hpp>
 #include <graphene/chain/node_property_object.hpp>
 #include <graphene/chain/account_object.hpp>
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@
 #include <graphene/chain/fork_database.hpp>
 #include <graphene/chain/block_database.hpp>
 #include <graphene/chain/genesis_state.hpp>
+#include <graphene/chain/evaluator.hpp>
 
 #include <graphene/db/object_database.hpp>
 #include <graphene/db/object.hpp>
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@
 namespace graphene { namespace chain {
    using graphene::db::abstract_object;
    using graphene::db::object;
+   class op_evaluator;
+   class transaction_evaluation_state;
 
    struct budget_record;
 
diff --git a/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/evaluator.hpp b/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/evaluator.hpp
index 64205b80..af90517e 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/evaluator.hpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/evaluator.hpp
@@ -102,6 +102,12 @@ namespace graphene { namespace chain {
        */
       void pay_fba_fee( uint64_t fba_id );
 
+      // the next two functions are helpers that allow template functions declared in this 
+      // header to call db() without including database.hpp, which would
+      // cause a circular dependency
+      share_type calculate_fee_for_operation(const operation& op) const;
+      void db_adjust_balance(const account_id_type& fee_payer, asset fee_from_account);
+
       asset                            fee_from_account;
       share_type                       core_fee_paid;
       const account_object*            fee_paying_account = nullptr;
@@ -143,10 +149,11 @@ namespace graphene { namespace chain {
          prepare_fee(op.fee_payer(), op.fee);
          if( !trx_state->skip_fee_schedule_check )
          {
-            GRAPHENE_ASSERT( core_fee_paid >= db().current_fee_schedule().calculate_fee( op ).amount,
+            share_type required_fee = calculate_fee_for_operation(op);
+            GRAPHENE_ASSERT( core_fee_paid >= required_fee,
                        insufficient_fee,
                        "Insufficient Fee Paid",
-                       ("core_fee_paid",core_fee_paid)("required",db().current_fee_schedule().calculate_fee( op ).amount) );
+                       ("core_fee_paid",core_fee_paid)("required", required_fee) );
          }
 
          return eval->do_evaluate(op);
@@ -162,7 +169,7 @@ namespace graphene { namespace chain {
 
          auto result = eval->do_apply(op);
 
-         db().adjust_balance(op.fee_payer(), -fee_from_account);
+         db_adjust_balance(op.fee_payer(), -fee_from_account);
 
          return result;
       }
diff --git a/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/protocol/ext.hpp b/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/protocol/ext.hpp
index fda4feee..7e8636f5 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/protocol/ext.hpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/include/graphene/chain/protocol/ext.hpp
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ struct graphene_extension_unpack_visitor
 template< typename Stream, typename T >
 void operator>>( Stream& s, graphene::chain::extension<T>& value )
 {
+   value = graphene::chain::extension<T>();
    graphene_extension_unpack_visitor<Stream, T> vtor( s, value.value );
    fc::reflector<T>::visit( vtor );
    FC_ASSERT( vtor.count_left == 0 ); // unrecognized extension throws here
@@ -168,6 +169,15 @@ struct graphene_extension_from_variant_visitor
 template< typename T >
 void from_variant( const fc::variant& var, graphene::chain::extension<T>& value )
 {
+   value = graphene::chain::extension<T>();
+   if( var.is_null() )
+      return;
+   if( var.is_array() )
+   {
+      FC_ASSERT( var.size() == 0 );
+      return;
+   }
+
    graphene_extension_from_variant_visitor<T> vtor( var.get_object(), value.value );
    fc::reflector<T>::visit( vtor );
    FC_ASSERT( vtor.count_left == 0 );    // unrecognized extension throws here
diff --git a/libraries/chain/protocol/fee_schedule.cpp b/libraries/chain/protocol/fee_schedule.cpp
index dfc87fb3..ab8f6532 100644
--- a/libraries/chain/protocol/fee_schedule.cpp
+++ b/libraries/chain/protocol/fee_schedule.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
  * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
  * THE SOFTWARE.
  */
+#include <algorithm>
 #include <graphene/chain/protocol/fee_schedule.hpp>
 #include <fc/smart_ref_impl.hpp>
 
diff --git a/programs/build_helpers/cat-parts.cpp b/programs/build_helpers/cat-parts.cpp
index 0f06d2dc..13e692fe 100644
--- a/programs/build_helpers/cat-parts.cpp
+++ b/programs/build_helpers/cat-parts.cpp
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv, char** envp )
       }
 
       {
+         boost::filesystem::create_directories(opath.parent_path());
          boost::filesystem::ofstream ofs(opath);
          ofs.write( new_data.c_str(), new_data.length() );
       }
diff --git a/tests/tests/fee_tests.cpp b/tests/tests/fee_tests.cpp
index e6fd6748..984c6fce 100644
--- a/tests/tests/fee_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/tests/fee_tests.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <graphene/chain/fba_object.hpp>
 #include <graphene/chain/market_object.hpp>
 #include <graphene/chain/vesting_balance_object.hpp>
+#include <graphene/chain/exceptions.hpp>
 
 #include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>