diff --git a/tests/common/database_fixture.cpp b/tests/common/database_fixture.cpp
index e671aba4..676c53b5 100644
--- a/tests/common/database_fixture.cpp
+++ b/tests/common/database_fixture.cpp
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@
 
 using namespace graphene::chain::test;
 
+uint32_t GRAPHENE_TESTING_GENESIS_TIMESTAMP = 1431700000;
+
 namespace graphene { namespace chain {
 
 using std::cout;
diff --git a/tests/common/database_fixture.hpp b/tests/common/database_fixture.hpp
index 4f38c603..9bb218a9 100644
--- a/tests/common/database_fixture.hpp
+++ b/tests/common/database_fixture.hpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 
 using namespace graphene::db;
 
-#define GRAPHENE_TESTING_GENESIS_TIMESTAMP (1431700000)
+extern uint32_t GRAPHENE_TESTING_GENESIS_TIMESTAMP;
 
 #define PUSH_TX \
    graphene::chain::test::_push_transaction
diff --git a/tests/tests/main.cpp b/tests/tests/main.cpp
index c3ce0631..906bbca0 100644
--- a/tests/tests/main.cpp
+++ b/tests/tests/main.cpp
@@ -23,8 +23,16 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include <boost/test/included/unit_test.hpp>
 
+extern uint32_t GRAPHENE_TESTING_GENESIS_TIMESTAMP;
+
 boost::unit_test::test_suite* init_unit_test_suite(int argc, char* argv[]) {
    std::srand(time(NULL));
    std::cout << "Random number generator seeded to " << time(NULL) << std::endl;
+   const char* genesis_timestamp_str = getenv("GRAPHENE_TESTING_GENESIS_TIMESTAMP");
+   if( genesis_timestamp_str != nullptr )
+   {
+      GRAPHENE_TESTING_GENESIS_TIMESTAMP = std::stoul( genesis_timestamp_str );
+   }
+   std::cout << "GRAPHENE_TESTING_GENESIS_TIMESTAMP is " << GRAPHENE_TESTING_GENESIS_TIMESTAMP << std::endl;
    return nullptr;
 }