diff --git a/test/functional/p2p-compactblocks.py b/test/functional/p2p-compactblocks.py
--- a/test/functional/p2p-compactblocks.py
+++ b/test/functional/p2p-compactblocks.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from test_framework.mininode import *
 from test_framework.test_framework import BitcoinTestFramework
 from test_framework.util import *
-from test_framework.blocktools import create_block, create_coinbase
+from test_framework.blocktools import create_block, create_coinbase, magnetic_anomaly_block
 from test_framework.script import CScript, OP_TRUE
 
 '''
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 
 # TestNode: A peer we use to send messages to bitcoind, and store responses.
 
+# Defer magnetic anomaly until far in the future, so this test can operate
+# normally
+MAGNETIC_ANOMALY_START_TIME = 2000000000
+
 
 class TestNode(NodeConnCB):
     def __init__(self):
@@ -100,7 +104,8 @@
     def set_test_params(self):
         self.setup_clean_chain = True
         self.num_nodes = 2
-        self.extra_args = [[], ["-txindex"]]
+        self.extra_args = [['-magneticanomalyactivationtime=%d' % MAGNETIC_ANOMALY_START_TIME],
+                           ["-txindex", '-magneticanomalyactivationtime=%d' % MAGNETIC_ANOMALY_START_TIME]]
         self.utxos = []
 
     def build_block_on_tip(self, node):