diff --git a/chain/messagepool/messagepool_test.go b/chain/messagepool/messagepool_test.go
index bab4b81e3..484c72746 100644
--- a/chain/messagepool/messagepool_test.go
+++ b/chain/messagepool/messagepool_test.go
@@ -352,6 +352,12 @@ func TestRevertMessages(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestPruningSimple(t *testing.T) {
+	oldMaxNonceGap := MaxNonceGap
+	MaxNonceGap = 1000
+	defer func() {
+		MaxNonceGap = oldMaxNonceGap
+	}()
+
 	tma := newTestMpoolAPI()
 
 	w, err := wallet.NewWallet(wallet.NewMemKeyStore())
diff --git a/chain/messagepool/selection_test.go b/chain/messagepool/selection_test.go
index f22cd095d..a9797a466 100644
--- a/chain/messagepool/selection_test.go
+++ b/chain/messagepool/selection_test.go
@@ -369,6 +369,12 @@ func TestMessageChainSkipping(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestBasicMessageSelection(t *testing.T) {
+	oldMaxNonceGap := MaxNonceGap
+	MaxNonceGap = 1000
+	defer func() {
+		MaxNonceGap = oldMaxNonceGap
+	}()
+
 	mp, tma := makeTestMpool()
 
 	// the actors