diff --git a/frame/babe/src/lib.rs b/frame/babe/src/lib.rs
index 79b87cd5c018d..d604bfd57d1a3 100644
--- a/frame/babe/src/lib.rs
+++ b/frame/babe/src/lib.rs
@@ -674,6 +674,7 @@ impl<T: Config> Module<T> {
 		if !authorities.is_empty() {
 			assert!(Authorities::get().is_empty(), "Authorities are already initialized!");
 			Authorities::put(authorities);
+			NextAuthorities::put(authorities);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/frame/babe/src/tests.rs b/frame/babe/src/tests.rs
index 4bef98873444f..23e8bc765c804 100644
--- a/frame/babe/src/tests.rs
+++ b/frame/babe/src/tests.rs
@@ -255,6 +255,12 @@ fn can_enact_next_config() {
 #[test]
 fn can_fetch_current_and_next_epoch_data() {
 	new_test_ext(5).execute_with(|| {
+		// genesis authorities should be used for the first and second epoch
+		assert_eq!(
+			Babe::current_epoch().authorities,
+			Babe::next_epoch().authorities,
+		);
+
 		// 1 era = 3 epochs
 		// 1 epoch = 3 slots
 		// Eras start from 0.