diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index 40e6b3cff7..405e0a0d69 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -2156,6 +2156,10 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ProcessBlock(parentRoot common.Hash, block *types.Block, s
 		}
 		ptime = time.Since(pstart)
 
+		// TODO: remove. gross. shouldn't have to manually call Finalise
+		// to pull in post-tx-execution state changes to the BAL here.
+		balTracer.Finalise()
+
 		// unset the BAL-creation tracer (dirty)
 		bc.cfg.VmConfig.Tracer = nil
 
diff --git a/tests/block_test_util.go b/tests/block_test_util.go
index f694efd84d..eb912a5f21 100644
--- a/tests/block_test_util.go
+++ b/tests/block_test_util.go
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ func (t *BlockTest) Run(snapshotter bool, scheme string, witness bool, createAnd
 		for i := uint64(1); i <= chain.CurrentBlock().Number.Uint64(); i++ {
 			block := chain.GetBlockByNumber(i)
 			if block.Body().AccessList == nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("block missing BAL")
+				return fmt.Errorf("block %d missing BAL", block.NumberU64())
 			}
 			blocksWithBAL = append(blocksWithBAL, block)
 		}