diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/block_processing.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/block_processing.rs
index 2c637031e..6dd48abda 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/block_processing.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/block_processing.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ pub enum Outcome {
 pub enum Error {
     DBError(String),
     UnableToDecodeBlock,
-    PresentSlotIsNone,
     SlotClockError(SystemTimeSlotClockError),
     MissingParentState(Hash256),
     InvalidParentState(Hash256),
@@ -57,25 +56,19 @@ where
             .ok_or(Error::UnableToDecodeBlock)?;
         let block_root = block.canonical_root();
 
-        let present_slot = self
-            .slot_clock
-            .present_slot()?
-            .ok_or(Error::PresentSlotIsNone)?;
+        let present_slot = self.present_slot();
 
-        // Block from future slots (i.e., greater than the present slot) should not be processed.
         if block.slot() > present_slot {
             return Ok(Outcome::InvalidBlock(InvalidBlock::FutureSlot));
         }
 
         let parent_block_root = block.parent_root();
-
         let parent_block = self
             .block_store
             .get_reader(&parent_block_root)?
             .ok_or(Error::MissingParentBlock(parent_block_root))?;
 
         let parent_state_root = parent_block.state_root();
-
         let parent_state = self
             .state_store
             .get_reader(&parent_state_root)?
diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/info.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/info.rs
index 34ac64c8e..70405ab32 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/info.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/info.rs
@@ -35,13 +35,17 @@ where
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn present_slot(&self) -> Option<u64> {
+    pub fn read_slot_clock(&self) -> Option<u64> {
         match self.slot_clock.present_slot() {
             Ok(some_slot) => some_slot,
             _ => None,
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn present_slot(&self) -> u64 {
+        self.state.read().slot
+    }
+
     pub fn block_proposer(&self, slot: u64) -> Result<usize, CommitteesError> {
         let index = self
             .state
diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/test_harness/src/harness.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/test_harness/src/harness.rs
index 7d05c7b89..ce88395cb 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/test_harness/src/harness.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/test_harness/src/harness.rs
@@ -104,11 +104,7 @@ impl BeaconChainHarness {
     ///
     /// Returns the new slot.
     pub fn increment_beacon_chain_slot(&mut self) -> u64 {
-        let slot = self
-            .beacon_chain
-            .present_slot()
-            .expect("Unable to determine slot.")
-            + 1;
+        let slot = self.beacon_chain.present_slot() + 1;
 
         debug!("Incrementing BeaconChain slot to {}.", slot);
 
@@ -122,7 +118,7 @@ impl BeaconChainHarness {
     /// Note: validators will only produce attestations _once per slot_. So, if you call this twice
     /// you'll only get attestations on the first run.
     pub fn gather_free_attesations(&mut self) -> Vec<FreeAttestation> {
-        let present_slot = self.beacon_chain.present_slot().unwrap();
+        let present_slot = self.beacon_chain.present_slot();
 
         let attesting_validators = self
             .beacon_chain
@@ -169,7 +165,7 @@ impl BeaconChainHarness {
     /// Note: the validator will only produce it _once per slot_. So, if you call this twice you'll
     /// only get a block once.
     pub fn produce_block(&mut self) -> BeaconBlock {
-        let present_slot = self.beacon_chain.present_slot().unwrap();
+        let present_slot = self.beacon_chain.present_slot();
 
         let proposer = self.beacon_chain.block_proposer(present_slot).unwrap();
 
@@ -210,13 +206,6 @@ impl BeaconChainHarness {
         });
 
         debug!("Free attestations processed.");
-        /*
-        for free_attestation in free_attestations {
-            self.beacon_chain
-                .process_free_attestation(free_attestation)
-                .unwrap();
-        }
-        */
     }
 
     pub fn chain_dump(&self) -> Result<Vec<SlotDump>, DumpError> {