diff --git a/src/test/CMakeLists.txt b/src/test/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 project(bitcoin-test)
 
+option(TEST_WITH_UPGRADE_ACTIVATED "Run unit tests with the next upgrade activated in addition to regular tests" OFF)
+
 # Process json files.
 file(MAKE_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/data")
 
@@ -152,6 +154,16 @@
 	${JSON_HEADERS}
 )
 
+if (TEST_WITH_UPGRADE_ACTIVATED)
+	add_test(
+		NAME
+			"bitcoin-upgrade-activated"
+		COMMAND
+			"test_bitcoin"
+			"-gravitonactivationtime=1573819200"
+	)
+endif()
+
 target_link_libraries(test_bitcoin rpcclient server)
 if(TARGET bitcoinconsensus-shared)
 	target_link_libraries(test_bitcoin bitcoinconsensus-shared)
diff --git a/src/test/activation_tests.cpp b/src/test/activation_tests.cpp
--- a/src/test/activation_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/activation_tests.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <chain.h>
 #include <chainparams.h>
 #include <consensus/activation.h>
+#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <test/test_bitcoin.h>
 
@@ -26,14 +27,15 @@
     CBlockIndex prev;
 
     const Consensus::Params &params = Params().GetConsensus();
-    const auto activation = params.gravitonActivationTime;
-
-    BOOST_CHECK(!IsGravitonEnabled(params, nullptr));
+    const auto activation =
+        gArgs.GetArg("-gravitonactivationtime", params.gravitonActivationTime);
+    SetMockTime(activation - 1000000);
 
     std::array<CBlockIndex, 12> blocks;
     for (size_t i = 1; i < blocks.size(); ++i) {
         blocks[i].pprev = &blocks[i - 1];
     }
+    BOOST_CHECK(!IsGravitonEnabled(params, &blocks.back()));
 
     SetMTP(blocks, activation - 1);
     BOOST_CHECK(!IsGravitonEnabled(params, &blocks.back()));
diff --git a/src/test/test_bitcoin_main.cpp b/src/test/test_bitcoin_main.cpp
--- a/src/test/test_bitcoin_main.cpp
+++ b/src/test/test_bitcoin_main.cpp
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
 #define BOOST_TEST_MODULE Bitcoin Test Suite
+#define BOOST_TEST_NO_MAIN
 
 #include <banman.h>
 #include <net.h>
+#include <util/system.h>
 
 #include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>
 
@@ -23,3 +25,21 @@
 bool ShutdownRequested() {
     return false;
 }
+
+std::set<std::string> testArgs = {"-gravitonactivationtime"};
+
+int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+    // Additional CLI params supported by test_bitcoin:
+    // Note: gArgs.ParseParameters() cannot be called here or it will fail to
+    // parse BOOST runtime params.
+    for (int i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
+        std::string key(argv[i]);
+        std::string value;
+        if (ParseKeyValue(key, value)) {
+            if (testArgs.count(key) > 0) {
+                gArgs.ForceSetArg(key, value);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return boost::unit_test::unit_test_main(&init_unit_test, argc, argv);
+}