diff --git a/lib/bcoin/chaindb.js b/lib/bcoin/chaindb.js
index ab551614..c1cc4754 100644
--- a/lib/bcoin/chaindb.js
+++ b/lib/bcoin/chaindb.js
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ ChainDB.prototype._init = function _init() {
       }, null);
 
       block = bcoin.block.fromRaw(network.genesisBlock, 'hex');
-      block.height = 0;
+      block.setHeight(0);
 
       self.save(genesis, block, true, finish);
     });