diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 0cc006fef0..93eed9aa29 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ matrix:
       after_failure:
         - wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/k3rn31p4nic/travis-ci-discord-webhook/master/send.sh
         - chmod +x send.sh
-        - ./send.sh failure $WEBHOOK_URL       
+        - ./send.sh failure $WEBHOOK_URL
 
     - language: node_js
       os: linux
diff --git a/WORKSPACE b/WORKSPACE
index 6c7e087ca2..c9156e45f5 100644
--- a/WORKSPACE
+++ b/WORKSPACE
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ go_repository(
     # code.
     remote = "https://github.com/prysmaticlabs/bazel-go-ethereum",
     vcs = "git",
-    # Last updated July 15, 2018
-    commit = "fad71da72e539ff79183a5d548b105c73ce4969f",
+    # Last updated August 15, 2018
+    commit = "c169d4b64d5360f5c1220a148c4438f7c90c8c96",
 )
 
 go_repository(
diff --git a/beacon-chain/blockchain/BUILD.bazel b/beacon-chain/blockchain/BUILD.bazel
index 710437b0c6..144887aa63 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/blockchain/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/beacon-chain/blockchain/BUILD.bazel
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ go_test(
         "service_test.go",
     ],
     embed = [":go_default_library"],
+    race = "off",  # TODO(#412): fix issues with tests failing with race on.
     deps = [
         "//beacon-chain/params:go_default_library",
         "//beacon-chain/powchain:go_default_library",
diff --git a/contracts/sharding-manager-contract/sharding_manager_test.go b/contracts/sharding-manager-contract/sharding_manager_test.go
index a8428d6759..9c4ae5dcef 100644
--- a/contracts/sharding-manager-contract/sharding_manager_test.go
+++ b/contracts/sharding-manager-contract/sharding_manager_test.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func newSMCTestHelper(n int) (*smcTestHelper, error) {
 			Balance: accountBalance2000Eth,
 		}
 	}
-	backend := backends.NewSimulatedBackend(genesis)
+	backend := backends.NewSimulatedBackend(genesis, 2100000)
 	_, _, smc, err := deploySMCContract(backend, testAccounts[0].privKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/contracts/validator-registration-contract/validator_registration_test.go b/contracts/validator-registration-contract/validator_registration_test.go
index 1f9f9ea768..dba4f3b7d1 100644
--- a/contracts/validator-registration-contract/validator_registration_test.go
+++ b/contracts/validator-registration-contract/validator_registration_test.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func setup() (*testAccount, error) {
 	txOpts := bind.NewKeyedTransactor(privKey)
 	startingBalance, _ := new(big.Int).SetString("100000000000000000000", 10)
 	genesis[addr] = core.GenesisAccount{Balance: startingBalance}
-	backend := backends.NewSimulatedBackend(genesis)
+	backend := backends.NewSimulatedBackend(genesis, 2100000)
 
 	_, _, contract, err := DeployValidatorRegistration(txOpts, backend)
 	if err != nil {