diff --git a/api/test/mining.go b/api/test/mining.go
index 07070101b..835ab3e79 100644
--- a/api/test/mining.go
+++ b/api/test/mining.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func (ts *testSuite) testMining(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, abi.ChainEpoch(2), h1.Height())
 
-	err = sn[0].MineOne(ctx, MineNext)
+	MineUntilBlock(ctx, t, sn[0], nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	<-newHeads
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func (ts *testSuite) testMiningReal(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, abi.ChainEpoch(2), h1.Height())
 
-	err = sn[0].MineOne(ctx, MineNext)
+	MineUntilBlock(ctx, t, sn[0], nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	<-newHeads
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (ts *testSuite) testMiningReal(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, abi.ChainEpoch(3), h2.Height())
 
-	err = sn[0].MineOne(ctx, MineNext)
+	MineUntilBlock(ctx, t, sn[0], nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	<-newHeads
diff --git a/api/test/util.go b/api/test/util.go
index 7ffd2d312..7d2e9e95b 100644
--- a/api/test/util.go
+++ b/api/test/util.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-address"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/chain/types"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/miner"
 )
 
 func SendFunds(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, sender TestNode, addr address.Address, amount abi.TokenAmount) {
@@ -34,3 +35,30 @@ func SendFunds(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, sender TestNode, addr address.
 		t.Fatal("did not successfully send money")
 	}
 }
+
+func MineUntilBlock(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, sn TestStorageNode, cb func()) {
+	for i := 0; i < 1000; i++ {
+		var success bool
+		var err error
+		wait := make(chan struct{})
+		sn.MineOne(ctx, miner.MineReq{
+			Done: func(win bool, e error) {
+				success = win
+				err = e
+				wait <- struct{}{}
+			},
+		})
+		<-wait
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if success {
+			if cb != nil {
+				cb()
+			}
+			return
+		}
+		t.Log("did not mine block, trying again", i)
+	}
+	t.Fatal("failed to mine 1000 times in a row...")
+}
diff --git a/node/test/builder.go b/node/test/builder.go
index 6fbec16f9..d2d2128d5 100644
--- a/node/test/builder.go
+++ b/node/test/builder.go
@@ -270,13 +270,13 @@ func Builder(t *testing.T, nFull int, storage []test.StorageMiner) ([]test.TestN
 		var wait sync.Mutex
 		wait.Lock()
 
-		_ = storers[0].MineOne(ctx, miner2.MineReq{Done: func(bool, error) {
+		test.MineUntilBlock(ctx, t, storers[0], func() {
 			wait.Unlock()
-		}})
+		})
 		wait.Lock()
-		_ = storers[0].MineOne(ctx, miner2.MineReq{Done: func(bool, error) {
+		test.MineUntilBlock(ctx, t, storers[0], func() {
 			wait.Unlock()
-		}})
+		})
 		wait.Lock()
 	}
 
@@ -419,13 +419,13 @@ func MockSbBuilder(t *testing.T, nFull int, storage []test.StorageMiner) ([]test
 		var wait sync.Mutex
 		wait.Lock()
 
-		_ = storers[0].MineOne(ctx, miner2.MineReq{Done: func(bool, error) {
+		test.MineUntilBlock(ctx, t, storers[0], func() {
 			wait.Unlock()
-		}})
+		})
 		wait.Lock()
-		_ = storers[0].MineOne(ctx, miner2.MineReq{Done: func(bool, error) {
+		test.MineUntilBlock(ctx, t, storers[0], func() {
 			wait.Unlock()
-		}})
+		})
 		wait.Lock()
 	}