diff --git a/chain/gen/mining.go b/chain/gen/mining.go
index ebe26d1ac..60a91b7dc 100644
--- a/chain/gen/mining.go
+++ b/chain/gen/mining.go
@@ -2,12 +2,11 @@ package gen
 
 import (
 	"context"
-
-	bls "github.com/filecoin-project/go-bls-sigs"
-	cid "github.com/ipfs/go-cid"
-	hamt "github.com/ipfs/go-hamt-ipld"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-bls-sigs"
+	"github.com/ipfs/go-cid"
+	"github.com/ipfs/go-hamt-ipld"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
-	sharray "github.com/whyrusleeping/sharray"
+	"github.com/whyrusleeping/sharray"
 	"golang.org/x/xerrors"
 
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-lotus/chain/actors"
diff --git a/chain/sync.go b/chain/sync.go
index d9aca4843..ee4200d35 100644
--- a/chain/sync.go
+++ b/chain/sync.go
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ func (syncer *Syncer) ValidateBlock(ctx context.Context, b *types.FullBlock) err
 
 	if h.Timestamp < baseTs.MinTimestamp()+uint64(build.BlockDelay*len(h.Tickets)) {
 		log.Warn("timestamp funtimes: ", h.Timestamp, baseTs.MinTimestamp(), len(h.Tickets))
-		return xerrors.Errorf("block was generated too soon (timestamp < BLOCK_DELAY * len(tickets))")
+		return xerrors.Errorf("block was generated too soon (h.ts:%d < base.mints:%d + BLOCK_DELAY:%d * tkts.len:%d)", h.Timestamp, baseTs.MinTimestamp(), build.BlockDelay, len(h.Tickets))
 	}
 
 	if err := syncer.minerIsValid(ctx, h.Miner, baseTs); err != nil {
diff --git a/miner/miner.go b/miner/miner.go
index 67396d469..d1a0a807f 100644
--- a/miner/miner.go
+++ b/miner/miner.go
@@ -336,8 +336,10 @@ func (m *Miner) createBlock(base *MiningBase, ticket *types.Ticket, proof types.
 
 	msgs := m.selectMessages(pending)
 
+	uts := time.Now().Unix() // TODO: review: is this what we want here?
+
 	// why even return this? that api call could just submit it for us
-	return m.api.MinerCreateBlock(context.TODO(), m.addresses[0], base.ts, append(base.tickets, ticket), proof, msgs, 0)
+	return m.api.MinerCreateBlock(context.TODO(), m.addresses[0], base.ts, append(base.tickets, ticket), proof, msgs, uint64(uts))
 }
 
 func (m *Miner) selectMessages(msgs []*types.SignedMessage) []*types.SignedMessage {