diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/blocktools.py b/test/functional/test_framework/blocktools.py
index f35ea6c122..fe441a093e 100644
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/blocktools.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/blocktools.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ COINBASE_MATURITY = 100
 WITNESS_COMMITMENT_HEADER = b"\xaa\x21\xa9\xed"
 
 NORMAL_GBT_REQUEST_PARAMS = {"rules": ["segwit"]}
+VERSIONBITS_LAST_OLD_BLOCK_VERSION = 4
 
 
 def create_block(hashprev=None, coinbase=None, ntime=None, *, version=None, tmpl=None, txlist=None):
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ def create_block(hashprev=None, coinbase=None, ntime=None, *, version=None, tmpl
     block = CBlock()
     if tmpl is None:
         tmpl = {}
-    block.nVersion = version or tmpl.get('version') or 1
+    block.nVersion = version or tmpl.get('version') or VERSIONBITS_LAST_OLD_BLOCK_VERSION
     block.nTime = ntime or tmpl.get('curtime') or int(time.time() + 600)
     block.hashPrevBlock = hashprev or int(tmpl['previousblockhash'], 0x10)
     if tmpl and not tmpl.get('bits') is None:
diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/messages.py b/test/functional/test_framework/messages.py
index 5a9736a7a3..f3be9c4e5f 100755
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/messages.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/messages.py
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ class CBlockHeader:
             self.calc_sha256()
 
     def set_null(self):
-        self.nVersion = 1
+        self.nVersion = 4
         self.hashPrevBlock = 0
         self.hashMerkleRoot = 0
         self.nTime = 0