diff --git a/nano/core_test/bootstrap.cpp b/nano/core_test/bootstrap.cpp
index ae3cb1471c..aeaeec51fb 100644
--- a/nano/core_test/bootstrap.cpp
+++ b/nano/core_test/bootstrap.cpp
@@ -1327,7 +1327,6 @@ TEST (bootstrap_processor, lazy_pruning_missing_block)
 				 .sign (nano::dev::genesis_key.prv, nano::dev::genesis_key.pub)
 				 .work (*system.work.generate (nano::dev::genesis->hash ()))
 				 .build ();
-	node1->process_active (send1);
 
 	// send from genesis to key2
 	auto send2 = builder
@@ -1340,7 +1339,6 @@ TEST (bootstrap_processor, lazy_pruning_missing_block)
 				 .sign (nano::dev::genesis_key.prv, nano::dev::genesis_key.pub)
 				 .work (*system.work.generate (send1->hash ()))
 				 .build ();
-	node1->process_active (send2);
 
 	// open account key1
 	auto open = builder
@@ -1351,7 +1349,6 @@ TEST (bootstrap_processor, lazy_pruning_missing_block)
 				.sign (key1.prv, key1.pub)
 				.work (*system.work.generate (key1.pub))
 				.build ();
-	node1->process_active (open);
 
 	//  open account key2
 	auto state_open = builder
@@ -1365,11 +1362,13 @@ TEST (bootstrap_processor, lazy_pruning_missing_block)
 					  .work (*system.work.generate (key2.pub))
 					  .build ();
 
-	node1->process_active (state_open);
-	ASSERT_TIMELY (5s, node1->block (state_open->hash ()) != nullptr);
-	// Confirm last block to prune previous
-	ASSERT_TRUE (nano::test::start_elections (system, *node1, { send1, send2, open, state_open }, true));
-	ASSERT_TIMELY (5s, nano::test::confirmed (*node1, { send2, open, state_open }));
+	// add the blocks without starting elections because elections publish blocks
+	// and the publishing would interefere with the testing
+	std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::block>> const blocks{ send1, send2, open, state_open };
+	ASSERT_TRUE (nano::test::process (*node1, blocks));
+	ASSERT_TIMELY (5s, nano::test::exists (*node1, blocks));
+	nano::test::force_confirm (node1->ledger, blocks);
+	ASSERT_TIMELY (5s, nano::test::confirmed (*node1, blocks));
 	ASSERT_EQ (5, node1->ledger.block_count ());
 	ASSERT_EQ (5, node1->ledger.cemented_count ());
 
diff --git a/nano/secure/ledger.cpp b/nano/secure/ledger.cpp
index e301ba5f07..4ca2bb3da1 100644
--- a/nano/secure/ledger.cpp
+++ b/nano/secure/ledger.cpp
@@ -1594,3 +1594,9 @@ std::unique_ptr<nano::container_info_component> nano::ledger::collect_container_
 	composite->add_component (cache.rep_weights.collect_container_info ("rep_weights"));
 	return composite;
 }
+
+void nano::ledger::force_confirm (secure::write_transaction const & transaction, nano::block const & block)
+{
+	release_assert (*constants.genesis == *constants.nano_dev_genesis);
+	confirm (transaction, block);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/nano/secure/ledger.hpp b/nano/secure/ledger.hpp
index 465b029eac..db7a7a6ae1 100644
--- a/nano/secure/ledger.hpp
+++ b/nano/secure/ledger.hpp
@@ -117,5 +117,8 @@ class ledger final
 	std::optional<std::pair<nano::pending_key, nano::pending_info>> receivable_lower_bound (secure::transaction const & tx, nano::account const & account, nano::block_hash const & hash) const;
 	void initialize (nano::generate_cache_flags const &);
 	void confirm (secure::write_transaction const & transaction, nano::block const & block);
+
+public: // Only used in tests
+	void force_confirm (secure::write_transaction const & transaction, nano::block const & block);
 };
 }
diff --git a/nano/test_common/testutil.cpp b/nano/test_common/testutil.cpp
index b5dfe5c200..9e1469afa0 100644
--- a/nano/test_common/testutil.cpp
+++ b/nano/test_common/testutil.cpp
@@ -121,6 +121,14 @@ bool nano::test::exists (nano::node & node, std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::bl
 	return exists (node, blocks_to_hashes (blocks));
 }
 
+void nano::test::force_confirm (nano::ledger & ledger, std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::block>> const blocks)
+{
+	for (auto const block : blocks)
+	{
+		ledger.force_confirm (ledger.tx_begin_write (), *block);
+	}
+}
+
 bool nano::test::block_or_pruned_all_exists (nano::node & node, std::vector<nano::block_hash> hashes)
 {
 	auto transaction = node.ledger.tx_begin_read ();
diff --git a/nano/test_common/testutil.hpp b/nano/test_common/testutil.hpp
index 77c848d8fb..5712cba734 100644
--- a/nano/test_common/testutil.hpp
+++ b/nano/test_common/testutil.hpp
@@ -321,6 +321,12 @@ namespace test
 	 * @return true if all blocks are fully processed and inserted in the ledger, false otherwise
 	 */
 	bool exists (nano::node & node, std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::block>> blocks);
+	/*
+	 * Convenience function to confirm/cement a block in the ledger by setting the confirmation
+	 * height of the account to be the height of the block.
+	 * The blocks are confirmed in the order that they are given.
+	 */
+	void force_confirm (nano::ledger & ledger, std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::block>> const blocks);
 	/*
 	 * Convenience function to check whether *all* of the hashes exists in node ledger or in the pruned table.
 	 * @return true if all blocks are fully processed and inserted in the ledger, false otherwise