diff --git a/common/ledger/blkstorage/block_serialization_test.go b/common/ledger/blkstorage/block_serialization_test.go
index 3986406020e..38e4f1b0cf6 100644
--- a/common/ledger/blkstorage/block_serialization_test.go
+++ b/common/ledger/blkstorage/block_serialization_test.go
@@ -21,11 +21,13 @@ func TestBlockSerialization(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// malformed Payload
 	block.Data.Data[1] = protoutil.MarshalOrPanic(&common.Envelope{
-		Payload: []byte("Malformed Payload"),
+		Signature: []byte{1, 2, 3},
+		Payload:   []byte("Malformed Payload"),
 	})
 
 	// empty TxID
 	block.Data.Data[2] = protoutil.MarshalOrPanic(&common.Envelope{
+		Signature: []byte{1, 2, 3},
 		Payload: protoutil.MarshalOrPanic(&common.Payload{
 			Header: &common.Header{
 				ChannelHeader: protoutil.MarshalOrPanic(&common.ChannelHeader{
diff --git a/common/ledger/testutil/test_helper.go b/common/ledger/testutil/test_helper.go
index 8652a1f5a56..caf94200820 100644
--- a/common/ledger/testutil/test_helper.go
+++ b/common/ledger/testutil/test_helper.go
@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ func ConstructBlockWithTxidHeaderType(
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("ConstructTestTransaction failed, err %s", err)
 		}
+		env.Signature = []byte{1, 2, 3}
 		envs = append(envs, env)
 	}
 	return NewBlock(envs, blockNum, previousHash)
@@ -262,6 +263,9 @@ func ConstructBlock(
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("ConstructTestTransaction failed, err %s", err)
 		}
+		if !sign {
+			env.Signature = []byte{1, 2, 3}
+		}
 		envs = append(envs, env)
 	}
 	return NewBlock(envs, blockNum, previousHash)
diff --git a/protoutil/blockutils_test.go b/protoutil/blockutils_test.go
index 9fdb711f1b0..62cfcecd239 100644
--- a/protoutil/blockutils_test.go
+++ b/protoutil/blockutils_test.go
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import (
 	"math"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+
 	"github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
 	cb "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-protos-go/common"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-protos-go/msp"
@@ -608,11 +610,15 @@ func TestVerifyTransactionsAreWellFormed(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	} {
 		t.Run(tst.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			err := protoutil.VerifyTransactionsAreWellFormed(tst.block.Data)
-			if tst.expectedError == "" {
-				require.NoError(t, err)
+			if tst.block == nil || tst.block.Data == nil {
+				require.Error(t, errors.New("empty block"))
 			} else {
-				require.Contains(t, err.Error(), tst.expectedError)
+				err := protoutil.VerifyTransactionsAreWellFormed(tst.block.Data)
+				if tst.expectedError == "" {
+					require.NoError(t, err)
+				} else {
+					require.Contains(t, err.Error(), tst.expectedError)
+				}
 			}
 		})
 	}