diff --git a/scripts/alphanet.sh b/scripts/alphanet.sh
index 71264ae08..23ee1eac2 100755
--- a/scripts/alphanet.sh
+++ b/scripts/alphanet.sh
@@ -392,7 +392,6 @@ go_alpha_go() {
            activate \
            protocol ProtoALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaDdp3zK \
            with fitness 1 \
-           and passes 1 \
            and key dictator
 }
 
diff --git a/src/bin_client/tezos-init-sandboxed-client.sh b/src/bin_client/tezos-init-sandboxed-client.sh
index e7e7350a8..155f98f08 100755
--- a/src/bin_client/tezos-init-sandboxed-client.sh
+++ b/src/bin_client/tezos-init-sandboxed-client.sh
@@ -199,7 +199,6 @@ activate_alpha() {
         -block genesis \
         activate protocol ProtoALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaDdp3zK \
         with fitness 1 \
-        and passes 1 \
         and key dictator
 
 }
@@ -232,7 +231,7 @@ main () {
     cat <<EOF
 if type tezos-client-reset >/dev/null 2>&1 ; then tezos-client-reset; fi ;
 alias tezos-client="$client" ;
-alias tezos-activate-alpha="$client -block genesis activate protocol ProtoALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaDdp3zK with fitness 1 and passes 1 and key dictator" ;
+alias tezos-activate-alpha="$client -block genesis activate protocol ProtoALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaDdp3zK with fitness 1 and key dictator" ;
 alias tezos-client-reset="rm -rf \"$client_dir\"; unalias tezos-client tezos-activate-alpha tezos-client-reset" ;
 alias tezos-autocomplete="source \"$bin_dir/bash-completion.sh\"" ;
 trap tezos-client-reset EXIT ;
diff --git a/src/lib_protocol_environment_client/fake_updater.ml b/src/lib_protocol_environment_client/fake_updater.ml
index 31a3d635b..b4169824c 100644
--- a/src/lib_protocol_environment_client/fake_updater.ml
+++ b/src/lib_protocol_environment_client/fake_updater.ml
@@ -14,10 +14,14 @@ module Make(Context : sig type t end) = struct
     fitness: Fitness.t ;
     message: string option ;
     max_operation_data_length: int ;
-    max_number_of_operations: int list ;
     max_operations_ttl: int ;
   }
 
+  type quota = {
+    max_size: int ;
+    max_op: int option ;
+  }
+
   type rpc_context = {
     block_hash: Block_hash.t ;
     block_header: Block_header.t ;
@@ -30,6 +34,7 @@ module Make(Context : sig type t end) = struct
     type error = ..
     type 'a tzresult = ('a, error list) result
     val max_block_length: int
+    val validation_passes: quota list
     type operation
     val parse_operation:
       Operation_hash.t -> Operation.t -> operation tzresult
diff --git a/src/lib_protocol_environment_sigs/v1/updater.mli b/src/lib_protocol_environment_sigs/v1/updater.mli
index 6f20d8215..0ec3b3d3f 100644
--- a/src/lib_protocol_environment_sigs/v1/updater.mli
+++ b/src/lib_protocol_environment_sigs/v1/updater.mli
@@ -27,10 +27,6 @@ type validation_result = {
   max_operation_data_length: int ;
   (** The maximum size of operations in bytes. *)
 
-  max_number_of_operations: int list ;
-  (** The maximum number of operations allowed in one block
-      (per validation pass). *)
-
   max_operations_ttl: int ;
   (** The "time-to-live" of operation for the next block: any
       operations whose 'branch' is older than 'ttl' blocks in the
@@ -38,6 +34,15 @@ type validation_result = {
 
 }
 
+type quota = {
+  max_size: int ;
+  (** The maximum size (in bytes) of the serialized list of
+      operations. *)
+  max_op: int option ;
+  (** The maximum number of operation.
+      [None] means no limit. *)
+}
+
 type rpc_context = {
   block_hash: Block_hash.t ;
   block_header: Block_header.t ;
@@ -53,6 +58,10 @@ module type PROTOCOL = sig
   (** The maximum size of block headers in bytes. *)
   val max_block_length: int
 
+  (** The number of validation passes (length of the list) and the
+      operation's quota for each pass. *)
+  val validation_passes: quota list
+
   (** The version specific type of operations. *)
   type operation
 
diff --git a/src/lib_protocol_updater/updater.ml b/src/lib_protocol_updater/updater.ml
index aa3fb9ff3..d94a0ad0e 100644
--- a/src/lib_protocol_updater/updater.ml
+++ b/src/lib_protocol_updater/updater.ml
@@ -16,10 +16,14 @@ type validation_result = {
   fitness: Fitness.t ;
   message: string option ;
   max_operation_data_length: int ;
-  max_number_of_operations: int list ;
   max_operations_ttl: int ;
 }
 
+type quota = {
+  max_size: int ;
+  max_op: int option ;
+}
+
 type rpc_context = {
   block_hash: Block_hash.t ;
   block_header: Block_header.t ;
@@ -112,6 +116,7 @@ module Node_protocol_environment_sigs = struct
        and type Block_header.t = Block_header.t
        and type 'a RPC_directory.t = 'a RPC_directory.t
        and type Updater.validation_result = validation_result
+       and type Updater.quota = quota
        and type Updater.rpc_context = rpc_context
 
     type error += Ecoproto_error of Error_monad.error list
@@ -125,6 +130,7 @@ module type RAW_PROTOCOL = sig
   type error = ..
   type 'a tzresult = ('a, error list) result
   val max_block_length: int
+  val validation_passes: quota list
   type operation
   val parse_operation:
     Operation_hash.t -> Operation.t -> operation tzresult
diff --git a/src/lib_protocol_updater/updater.mli b/src/lib_protocol_updater/updater.mli
index 770b6a3df..f14b122b0 100644
--- a/src/lib_protocol_updater/updater.mli
+++ b/src/lib_protocol_updater/updater.mli
@@ -21,10 +21,14 @@ type validation_result = {
   fitness: Fitness.t ;
   message: string option ;
   max_operation_data_length: int ;
-  max_number_of_operations: int list ;
   max_operations_ttl: int ;
 }
 
+type quota = {
+  max_size: int ;
+  max_op: int option ;
+}
+
 type rpc_context = {
   block_hash: Block_hash.t ;
   block_header: Block_header.t ;
@@ -37,6 +41,7 @@ module type RAW_PROTOCOL = sig
   type error = ..
   type 'a tzresult = ('a, error list) result
   val max_block_length: int
+  val validation_passes: quota list
   type operation
   val parse_operation:
     Operation_hash.t -> Operation.t -> operation tzresult
@@ -102,6 +107,7 @@ module Node_protocol_environment_sigs : sig
        and type Block_header.t = Block_header.t
        and type 'a RPC_directory.t = 'a RPC_directory.t
        and type Updater.validation_result = validation_result
+       and type Updater.quota = quota
        and type Updater.rpc_context = rpc_context
 
     type error += Ecoproto_error of Error_monad.error list
diff --git a/src/lib_shell/block_validator.ml b/src/lib_shell/block_validator.ml
index f8f1a4792..2480ccb31 100644
--- a/src/lib_shell/block_validator.ml
+++ b/src/lib_shell/block_validator.ml
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ let debug w =
   Format.kasprintf (fun msg -> Worker.record_event w (Debug msg))
 
 let check_header
-    (pred: State.Block.t) hash (header: Block_header.t) =
+    (pred: State.Block.t) validation_passes hash (header: Block_header.t) =
   let pred_header = State.Block.header pred in
   fail_unless
     (Int32.succ pred_header.shell.level = header.shell.level)
@@ -75,8 +75,7 @@ let check_header
     Fitness.(pred_header.shell.fitness < header.shell.fitness)
     (invalid_block hash Non_increasing_fitness) >>=? fun () ->
   fail_unless
-    (header.shell.validation_passes =
-     List.length (State.Block.max_number_of_operations pred))
+    (header.shell.validation_passes = validation_passes)
     (invalid_block hash
        (Unexpected_number_of_validation_passes header.shell.validation_passes)
     ) >>=? fun () ->
@@ -120,12 +119,14 @@ let apply_block
     operations =
   let pred_header = State.Block.header pred
   and pred_hash = State.Block.hash pred in
-  check_header pred hash header >>=? fun () ->
+  check_header pred (List.length Proto.validation_passes) hash header >>=? fun () ->
   iteri2_p
-    (fun i ops max ->
+    (fun i ops quota ->
        fail_unless
-         (List.length ops <= max)
-         (invalid_block hash @@
+         (Option.unopt_map ~default:true
+            ~f:(fun max -> List.length ops <= max) quota.Updater.max_op)
+         (let max = Option.unopt ~default:~-1 quota.Updater.max_op in
+          invalid_block hash @@
           Too_many_operations
             { pass = i + 1 ; found = List.length ops ; max }) >>=? fun () ->
        let max_size = State.Block.max_operation_data_length pred in
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ let apply_block
                 { operation = Operation.hash op ;
                   size ; max = max_size })) ops >>=? fun () ->
        return ())
-    operations (State.Block.max_number_of_operations pred) >>=? fun () ->
+    operations Proto.validation_passes >>=? fun () ->
   let operation_hashes = List.map (List.map Operation.hash) operations in
   check_liveness net_state pred hash operation_hashes operations >>=? fun () ->
   map2_s (map2_s begin fun op_hash raw ->
diff --git a/src/lib_shell/prevalidation.ml b/src/lib_shell/prevalidation.ml
index a4449d1a0..40cf33cd9 100644
--- a/src/lib_shell/prevalidation.ml
+++ b/src/lib_shell/prevalidation.ml
@@ -57,19 +57,12 @@ and 'a proto =
 
 let start_prevalidation
     ?proto_header
-    ?max_number_of_operations
     ~predecessor ~timestamp () =
   let { Block_header.shell =
           { fitness = predecessor_fitness ;
             timestamp = predecessor_timestamp ;
             level = predecessor_level } } =
     State.Block.header predecessor in
-  let max_number_of_operations =
-    match max_number_of_operations with
-    | Some max -> max
-    | None ->
-        try List.hd (State.Block.max_number_of_operations predecessor)
-        with _ -> 0 in
   let max_operation_data_length =
     State.Block.max_operation_data_length predecessor in
   State.Block.context predecessor >>= fun predecessor_context ->
@@ -98,6 +91,8 @@ let start_prevalidation
     ?proto_header
     ()
   >>=? fun state ->
+  (* FIXME arbitrary value, to be customisable *)
+  let max_number_of_operations = 1000 in
   return (State { proto = (module Proto) ; state ;
                   max_number_of_operations ; max_operation_data_length })
 
diff --git a/src/lib_shell/prevalidation.mli b/src/lib_shell/prevalidation.mli
index 547e37aee..2d7cdca4d 100644
--- a/src/lib_shell/prevalidation.mli
+++ b/src/lib_shell/prevalidation.mli
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ type prevalidation_state
 
 val start_prevalidation :
   ?proto_header: MBytes.t ->
-  ?max_number_of_operations: int ->
   predecessor: State.Block.t ->
   timestamp: Time.t ->
   unit -> prevalidation_state tzresult Lwt.t
diff --git a/src/lib_shell/state.ml b/src/lib_shell/state.ml
index 2f7ca6506..df79e9548 100644
--- a/src/lib_shell/state.ml
+++ b/src/lib_shell/state.ml
@@ -172,7 +172,6 @@ module Locked_block = struct
     Store.Block.Contents.store (store, genesis.block)
       { Store.Block.header ; message = Some "Genesis" ;
         max_operations_ttl = 0 ; context ;
-        max_number_of_operations = [];
         max_operation_data_length = 0;
       } >>= fun () ->
     Lwt.return header
@@ -379,8 +378,6 @@ module Block = struct
   let message { contents = { message } } = message
   let max_operations_ttl { contents = { max_operations_ttl } } =
     max_operations_ttl
-  let max_number_of_operations { contents = { max_number_of_operations } } =
-    max_number_of_operations
   let max_operation_data_length { contents = { max_operation_data_length } } =
     max_operation_data_length
 
@@ -474,7 +471,7 @@ module Block = struct
   let store
       net_state block_header operations
       { Updater.context ; message ; max_operations_ttl ;
-        max_number_of_operations ; max_operation_data_length } =
+        max_operation_data_length } =
     let bytes = Block_header.to_bytes block_header in
     let hash = Block_header.hash_raw bytes in
     (* let's the validator check the consistency... of fitness, level, ... *)
@@ -494,7 +491,6 @@ module Block = struct
           Store.Block.header = block_header ;
           message ;
           max_operations_ttl ;
-          max_number_of_operations ;
           max_operation_data_length ;
           context = commit ;
         } in
diff --git a/src/lib_shell/state.mli b/src/lib_shell/state.mli
index d08cadfb8..eebfa37a7 100644
--- a/src/lib_shell/state.mli
+++ b/src/lib_shell/state.mli
@@ -134,7 +134,6 @@ module Block : sig
   val level: t -> Int32.t
   val message: t -> string option
   val max_operations_ttl: t -> int
-  val max_number_of_operations: t -> int list
   val max_operation_data_length: t -> int
 
   val is_genesis: t -> bool
diff --git a/src/lib_storage/store.ml b/src/lib_storage/store.ml
index 36eb6c6a9..93b0722cd 100644
--- a/src/lib_storage/store.ml
+++ b/src/lib_storage/store.ml
@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@ module Block = struct
     header: Block_header.t ;
     message: string option ;
     max_operations_ttl: int ;
-    max_number_of_operations: int list;
     max_operation_data_length: int;
     context: Context_hash.t ;
   }
@@ -99,21 +98,17 @@ module Block = struct
            let open Data_encoding in
            conv
              (fun { header ; message ; max_operations_ttl ;
-                    max_number_of_operations ; max_operation_data_length ;
-                    context } ->
+                    max_operation_data_length ; context } ->
                (message, max_operations_ttl,
-                max_number_of_operations, max_operation_data_length,
-                context, header))
+                max_operation_data_length, context, header))
              (fun (message, max_operations_ttl,
-                   max_number_of_operations, max_operation_data_length,
-                   context, header) ->
+                   max_operation_data_length, context, header) ->
                { header ; message ; max_operations_ttl ;
-                 max_number_of_operations ; max_operation_data_length ;
+                 max_operation_data_length ;
                  context })
-             (obj6
+             (obj5
                 (opt "message" string)
                 (req "max_operations_ttl" uint16)
-                (req "max_number_of_operations" (list uint16))
                 (req "max_operation_data_length" uint16)
                 (req "context" Context_hash.encoding)
                 (req "header" Block_header.encoding))
diff --git a/src/lib_storage/store.mli b/src/lib_storage/store.mli
index 2e7e6ad03..15b6d0ead 100644
--- a/src/lib_storage/store.mli
+++ b/src/lib_storage/store.mli
@@ -88,7 +88,6 @@ module Block : sig
     header: Block_header.t ;
     message: string option ;
     max_operations_ttl: int ;
-    max_number_of_operations: int list;
     max_operation_data_length: int;
     context: Context_hash.t ;
   }
diff --git a/src/proto_alpha/lib_protocol/src/main.ml b/src/proto_alpha/lib_protocol/src/main.ml
index ad2f20a30..439175fd8 100644
--- a/src/proto_alpha/lib_protocol/src/main.ml
+++ b/src/proto_alpha/lib_protocol/src/main.ml
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ let parse_operation = Tezos_context.Operation.parse
 let max_block_length =
   Tezos_context.Block_header.max_header_length
 
+let validation_passes =
+  [ Updater.{ max_size = 1024 * 1024 ; max_op = None  } ] (* 1MB *)
+
 let rpc_services = Services_registration.rpc_services
 
 type validation_mode =
diff --git a/src/proto_alpha/lib_protocol/src/tezos_context.ml b/src/proto_alpha/lib_protocol/src/tezos_context.ml
index 67c778bda..a95d9b7d1 100644
--- a/src/proto_alpha/lib_protocol/src/tezos_context.ml
+++ b/src/proto_alpha/lib_protocol/src/tezos_context.ml
@@ -137,7 +137,6 @@ let finalize ?commit_message:message c =
   let constants = Raw_context.constants c in
   { Updater.context ; fitness ; message ; max_operations_ttl = 60 ;
     max_operation_data_length = constants.max_operation_data_length ;
-    max_number_of_operations = constants.max_number_of_operations ;
   }
 
 let configure_sandbox = Raw_context.configure_sandbox
diff --git a/src/proto_demo/lib_protocol/src/main.ml b/src/proto_demo/lib_protocol/src/main.ml
index 2f5ac6355..c1e6aea35 100644
--- a/src/proto_demo/lib_protocol/src/main.ml
+++ b/src/proto_demo/lib_protocol/src/main.ml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ type operation = Operation_hash.t
 let max_operation_data_length = 42
 
 let max_block_length = 42
-let max_number_of_operations = 42
+let validation_passes = []
 
 let parse_operation h _ = Ok h
 
@@ -88,8 +88,7 @@ let finalize_block ctxt =
   let message = Some (Format.asprintf "fitness <- %Ld" fitness) in
   let fitness = Fitness.from_int64 fitness in
   return { Updater.message ; context = ctxt.context ; fitness ;
-           max_operations_ttl = 0 ; max_operation_data_length = 0 ;
-           max_number_of_operations = [] }
+           max_operations_ttl = 0 ; max_operation_data_length = 0 }
 
 let rpc_services = Services.rpc_services
 
diff --git a/src/proto_genesis/lib_client/client_proto_main.ml b/src/proto_genesis/lib_client/client_proto_main.ml
index e1622389d..a7a145af2 100644
--- a/src/proto_genesis/lib_client/client_proto_main.ml
+++ b/src/proto_genesis/lib_client/client_proto_main.ml
@@ -66,19 +66,16 @@ let commands () =
        @@ param ~name:"fitness"
          ~desc:"Hardcoded fitness of the first block (integer)"
          int64_parameter
-       @@ prefixes [ "and" ; "passes" ]
-       @@ param ~name:"passes"
-         ~desc:"Hardcoded number of validation passes (integer)"
-         int_parameter
        @@ prefixes [ "and" ; "key" ]
        @@ Client_keys.Secret_key.source_param
          ~name:"password" ~desc:"Dictator's key"
        @@ stop)
-      begin fun timestamp hash fitness validation_passes sk (cctxt : Client_commands.full_context) ->
+      begin fun timestamp hash fitness sk (cctxt : Client_commands.full_context) ->
         let fitness =
           Tezos_client_alpha.Proto_alpha.Fitness_repr.from_int64 fitness in
         bake cctxt ?timestamp cctxt#block
-          (Activate { protocol = hash ; validation_passes ; fitness }) sk >>=? fun hash ->
+          (Activate { protocol = hash ; fitness })
+          sk >>=? fun hash ->
         cctxt#answer "Injected %a" Block_hash.pp_short hash >>= fun () ->
         return ()
       end ;
@@ -87,18 +84,13 @@ let commands () =
       args
       (prefixes [ "fork" ; "test" ; "protocol" ]
        @@ Protocol_hash.param ~name:"version" ~desc:"Protocol version (b58check)"
-       @@ prefixes [ "with" ; "passes" ]
-       @@ param ~name:"passes"
-         ~desc:"Hardcoded number of validation passes (integer)"
-         int_parameter
-       @@ prefixes [ "and" ; "key" ]
+       @@ prefixes [ "with" ; "key" ]
        @@ Client_keys.Secret_key.source_param
          ~name:"password" ~desc:"Dictator's key"
        @@ stop)
-      begin fun timestamp hash validation_passes sk cctxt ->
+      begin fun timestamp hash sk cctxt ->
         bake cctxt ?timestamp cctxt#block
           (Activate_testnet { protocol = hash ;
-                              validation_passes ;
                               delay = Int64.mul 24L 3600L })
           sk >>=? fun hash ->
         cctxt#answer "Injected %a" Block_hash.pp_short hash >>= fun () ->
diff --git a/src/proto_genesis/lib_protocol/src/data.ml b/src/proto_genesis/lib_protocol/src/data.ml
index fb91ad9d7..b2320addd 100644
--- a/src/proto_genesis/lib_protocol/src/data.ml
+++ b/src/proto_genesis/lib_protocol/src/data.ml
@@ -13,14 +13,12 @@ module Command = struct
     (* Activate a protocol *)
     | Activate of {
         protocol: Protocol_hash.t ;
-        validation_passes: int ;
         fitness: Fitness.t ;
       }
 
     (* Activate a protocol as a testnet *)
     | Activate_testnet of {
         protocol: Protocol_hash.t ;
-        validation_passes: int ;
         delay: Int64.t ;
       }
 
@@ -38,29 +36,27 @@ module Command = struct
     union ~tag_size:`Uint8 [
       case (Tag 0)
         (mk_case "activate"
-           (obj3
+           (obj2
               (req "hash" Protocol_hash.encoding)
-              (req "validation_passes" uint8)
               (req "fitness" Fitness.encoding)
            ))
         (function
-          | Activate { protocol ; validation_passes ; fitness} ->
-              Some (protocol, validation_passes, fitness)
+          | Activate { protocol ; fitness} ->
+              Some (protocol, fitness)
           | _ -> None)
-        (fun (protocol, validation_passes, fitness) ->
-           Activate { protocol ; validation_passes ; fitness }) ;
+        (fun (protocol, fitness) ->
+           Activate { protocol ; fitness }) ;
       case (Tag 1)
         (mk_case "activate_testnet"
-           (obj3
+           (obj2
               (req "hash" Protocol_hash.encoding)
-              (req "validation_passes" uint8)
               (req "validity_time" int64)))
         (function
-          | Activate_testnet { protocol ; validation_passes ; delay } ->
-              Some (protocol, validation_passes, delay)
+          | Activate_testnet { protocol ; delay } ->
+              Some (protocol, delay)
           | _ -> None)
-        (fun (protocol, validation_passes, delay) ->
-           Activate_testnet { protocol ; validation_passes ; delay }) ;
+        (fun (protocol, delay) ->
+           Activate_testnet { protocol ; delay }) ;
     ]
 
   let signed_encoding =
diff --git a/src/proto_genesis/lib_protocol/src/main.ml b/src/proto_genesis/lib_protocol/src/main.ml
index 8c69789e1..f869c2bf9 100644
--- a/src/proto_genesis/lib_protocol/src/main.ml
+++ b/src/proto_genesis/lib_protocol/src/main.ml
@@ -33,10 +33,9 @@ let () =
     (fun () -> Invalid_signature)
 
 type operation = unit
-let max_operation_data_length = 0
 let parse_operation _h _op = Error []
 let compare_operations _ _ = 0
-let max_number_of_operations = 0
+let validation_passes = []
 
 type block = {
   shell: Block_header.shell_header ;
@@ -48,7 +47,6 @@ let max_block_length =
   Data_encoding.Binary.length
     Data.Command.encoding
     (Activate_testnet { protocol = Protocol_hash.hash_bytes [] ;
-                        validation_passes = 0 ;
                         delay = 0L })
   +
   begin
@@ -83,24 +81,20 @@ let precheck_block
 
 let prepare_application ctxt command timestamp fitness =
   match command with
-  | Data.Command.Activate { protocol = hash ; validation_passes ; fitness } ->
+  | Data.Command.Activate { protocol = hash ; fitness } ->
       let message =
         Some (Format.asprintf "activate %a" Protocol_hash.pp_short hash) in
       Updater.activate ctxt hash >>= fun ctxt ->
       return { Updater.message ; context = ctxt ;
                fitness ; max_operations_ttl = 0 ;
-               max_number_of_operations =
-                 Array.to_list (Array.make validation_passes 0) ;
                max_operation_data_length = 0 }
-  | Activate_testnet { protocol = hash ; validation_passes ; delay } ->
+  | Activate_testnet { protocol = hash ; delay } ->
       let message =
         Some (Format.asprintf "activate testnet %a" Protocol_hash.pp_short hash) in
       let expiration = Time.add timestamp delay in
       Updater.fork_test_network ctxt ~protocol:hash ~expiration >>= fun ctxt ->
       return { Updater.message ; context = ctxt ; fitness ;
                max_operations_ttl = 0 ;
-               max_number_of_operations =
-                 Array.to_list (Array.make validation_passes 0) ;
                max_operation_data_length = 0 }
 
 
@@ -129,7 +123,6 @@ let begin_construction
       return { Updater.message = None ; context = ctxt ;
                fitness ; max_operations_ttl = 0 ;
                max_operation_data_length = 0 ;
-               max_number_of_operations = [] ;
              }
   | Some command ->
       match Data_encoding.Binary.of_bytes Data.Command.encoding command with
diff --git a/src/proto_genesis/lib_protocol/src/main.mli b/src/proto_genesis/lib_protocol/src/main.mli
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4a1654398
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/proto_genesis/lib_protocol/src/main.mli
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+(**************************************************************************)
+(*                                                                        *)
+(*    Copyright (c) 2014 - 2017.                                          *)
+(*    Dynamic Ledger Solutions, Inc. <contact@tezos.com>                  *)
+(*                                                                        *)
+(*    All rights reserved. No warranty, explicit or implicit, provided.   *)
+(*                                                                        *)
+(**************************************************************************)
+
+(** Tezos Protocol Implementation - Protocol Signature Instance *)
+
+include Updater.PROTOCOL
diff --git a/test/proto_alpha/proto_alpha_helpers.ml b/test/proto_alpha/proto_alpha_helpers.ml
index 42202d7e0..59f91d351 100644
--- a/test/proto_alpha/proto_alpha_helpers.ml
+++ b/test/proto_alpha/proto_alpha_helpers.ml
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ let activate_alpha () =
       ~location:"edsk31vznjHSSpGExDMHYASz45VZqXN4DPxvsa4hAyY8dHM28cZzp6" in
   Tezos_client_genesis.Client_proto_main.bake
     (new Client_rpcs.http_ctxt !rpc_config) (`Head 0)
-    (Activate  { protocol = Client_proto_main.protocol ; validation_passes = 1 ;
+    (Activate  { protocol = Client_proto_main.protocol ;
                  fitness })
     dictator_sk
 
diff --git a/test/proto_alpha_isolate_helpers/helpers_init.ml b/test/proto_alpha_isolate_helpers/helpers_init.ml
index cdec77ad5..986d6d094 100644
--- a/test/proto_alpha_isolate_helpers/helpers_init.ml
+++ b/test/proto_alpha_isolate_helpers/helpers_init.ml
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ let get_activation_block baker context_hash head =
   let fitness =
     Tezos_embedded_raw_protocol_alpha.Fitness_repr.from_int64 100L in
   let command: Data.Command.t =
-    Data.Command.Activate({protocol = Helpers_constants.alpha_hash ; validation_passes = 0 ; fitness}) in
+    Data.Command.Activate({protocol = Helpers_constants.alpha_hash ; fitness}) in
   let content_bytes = Data.Command.forge shell_header command in
   let signature = Ed25519.sign baker.ppk content_bytes in
   let proto = (command , signature) in
diff --git a/test/shell/test_store.ml b/test/shell/test_store.ml
index c53e0b7d5..cbd07a97a 100644
--- a/test/shell/test_store.ml
+++ b/test/shell/test_store.ml
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ let lolblock ?(operations = []) header =
     max_operations_ttl = 0 ;
     message = None ;
     context = Context_hash.zero ;
-    max_number_of_operations = [] ;
     max_operation_data_length = 0 ;
   }
 
diff --git a/test/test_utils.sh b/test/test_utils.sh
index 6cd02ecf3..472aae619 100755
--- a/test/test_utils.sh
+++ b/test/test_utils.sh
@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@ activate_alpha() {
                 activate \
                 protocol ProtoALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaALphaDdp3zK \
                 with fitness 1 \
-                and passes 1 \
                 and key edsk31vznjHSSpGExDMHYASz45VZqXN4DPxvsa4hAyY8dHM28cZzp6 \
                 > /dev/stderr
 }