diff --git a/itests/migration_test.go b/itests/migration_test.go
index 82b5db4859b..85d06118de9 100644
--- a/itests/migration_test.go
+++ b/itests/migration_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/chain/actors/builtin/system"
+
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-address"
@@ -801,6 +803,25 @@ func TestMigrationNV21(t *testing.T) {
 
 	require.Equal(t, types.StateTreeVersion5, newStateTree.Version())
 
+	// check the system actor
+	systemAct, err := newStateTree.GetActor(builtin.SystemActorAddr)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	systemCode, ok := actors.GetActorCodeID(actorstypes.Version12, manifest.SystemKey)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+
+	require.Equal(t, systemCode, systemAct.Code)
+
+	systemSt, err := system.Load(ctxStore, systemAct)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	manifest12Cid, ok := actors.GetManifest(actorstypes.Version12)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+
+	manifest12, err := actors.LoadManifest(ctx, manifest12Cid, ctxStore)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, manifest12.Data, systemSt.GetBuiltinActors())
+
 	// start post migration checks
 
 	//todo @aayush sector info changes