diff --git a/tests/common/database_fixture.cpp b/tests/common/database_fixture.cpp
index de7dd3ee..5207514f 100644
--- a/tests/common/database_fixture.cpp
+++ b/tests/common/database_fixture.cpp
@@ -492,13 +492,14 @@ const asset_object& database_fixture::create_user_issued_asset( const string& na
 
 void database_fixture::issue_uia( const account_object& recipient, asset amount )
 {
+   BOOST_TEST_MESSAGE( "Issuing UIA" );
    asset_issue_operation op;
    op.issuer = amount.asset_id(db).issuer;
    op.asset_to_issue = amount;
    op.issue_to_account = recipient.id;
-   trx.validate();
    trx.operations.push_back(op);
-   return;
+   db.push_transaction( trx, ~0 );
+   trx.operations.clear();
 }
 
 const account_object& database_fixture::create_account(
diff --git a/tests/tests/authority_tests.cpp b/tests/tests/authority_tests.cpp
index b694b98f..12ce3cda 100644
--- a/tests/tests/authority_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/tests/authority_tests.cpp
@@ -902,7 +902,6 @@ BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE( max_authority_membership, database_fixture )
       int keys_to_create = 2*GRAPHENE_DEFAULT_MAX_AUTHORITY_MEMBERSHIP;
       vector<private_key_type> private_keys;
 
-      tx = transaction();
       private_keys.reserve( keys_to_create );
       for( int i=0; i<keys_to_create; i++ )
       {
@@ -911,7 +910,6 @@ BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE( max_authority_membership, database_fixture )
          private_keys.push_back( privkey );
       }
       set_expiration( db, tx );
-      ptx = PUSH_TX( db, tx, ~0 );
 
       vector<public_key_type> key_ids;
 
diff --git a/tests/tests/serialization_tests.cpp b/tests/tests/serialization_tests.cpp
index 8094639a..a1714e66 100644
--- a/tests/tests/serialization_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/tests/serialization_tests.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( serialization_raw_test )
 {
    try {
       make_account();
+      transfer_operation op;
+      op.from = account_id_type(1);
+      op.to = account_id_type(2);
+      op.amount = asset(100);
+      trx.operations.push_back( op );
       auto packed = fc::raw::pack( trx );
       signed_transaction unpacked = fc::raw::unpack<signed_transaction>(packed);
       unpacked.validate();
@@ -47,6 +52,11 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( serialization_json_test )
 {
    try {
       make_account();
+      transfer_operation op;
+      op.from = account_id_type(1);
+      op.to = account_id_type(2);
+      op.amount = asset(100);
+      trx.operations.push_back( op );
       fc::variant packed(trx);
       signed_transaction unpacked = packed.as<signed_transaction>();
       unpacked.validate();
diff --git a/tests/tests/uia_tests.cpp b/tests/tests/uia_tests.cpp
index b0f7ad82..c3f0280a 100644
--- a/tests/tests/uia_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/tests/uia_tests.cpp
@@ -73,13 +73,11 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( override_transfer_test )
 { try {
    ACTORS( (dan)(eric)(sam) );
    const asset_object& advanced = create_user_issued_asset( "ADVANCED", sam, override_authority );
+   BOOST_TEST_MESSAGE( "Issuing 1000 ADVANCED to dan" );
    issue_uia( dan, advanced.amount( 1000 ) );
-   trx.validate();
-   db.push_transaction(trx, ~0);
-   trx.operations.clear();
+   BOOST_TEST_MESSAGE( "Checking dan's balance" );
    BOOST_REQUIRE_EQUAL( get_balance( dan, advanced ), 1000 );
 
-   trx.operations.clear();
    override_transfer_operation otrans;
    otrans.issuer = advanced.issuer;
    otrans.from = dan.id;
@@ -106,9 +104,6 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( override_transfer_test2 )
    ACTORS( (dan)(eric)(sam) );
    const asset_object& advanced = create_user_issued_asset( "ADVANCED", sam, 0 );
    issue_uia( dan, advanced.amount( 1000 ) );
-   trx.validate();
-   db.push_transaction(trx, ~0);
-   trx.operations.clear();
    BOOST_REQUIRE_EQUAL( get_balance( dan, advanced ), 1000 );
 
    trx.operations.clear();