diff --git a/eosio.system/src/producer_pay.cpp b/eosio.system/src/producer_pay.cpp
index 39fe64efc..84e2444ad 100644
--- a/eosio.system/src/producer_pay.cpp
+++ b/eosio.system/src/producer_pay.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ namespace eosiosystem {
          if( (timestamp.slot - _gstate.last_name_close.slot) > blocks_per_day ) {
             name_bid_table bids(_self,_self);
             auto idx = bids.get_index<N(highbid)>();
-            auto highest = idx.begin();
+            auto highest = idx.lower_bound( std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max()/2 );
             if( highest != idx.end() &&
                 highest->high_bid > 0 &&
                 highest->last_bid_time < (current_time() - useconds_per_day) &&
diff --git a/tests/eosio.system_tester.hpp b/tests/eosio.system_tester.hpp
index 7ce52211c..d2896a39c 100644
--- a/tests/eosio.system_tester.hpp
+++ b/tests/eosio.system_tester.hpp
@@ -518,6 +518,7 @@ class eosio_system_tester : public TESTER {
          trx.sign( get_private_key( config::system_account_name, "active" ), control->get_chain_id()  );
          trx.sign( get_private_key( N(producer1111), "active" ), control->get_chain_id()  );
          push_transaction( trx );
+         produce_block();
       }
    }
 
diff --git a/tests/eosio.system_tests.cpp b/tests/eosio.system_tests.cpp
index ac21342b7..b8f5380da 100644
--- a/tests/eosio.system_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/eosio.system_tests.cpp
@@ -2367,6 +2367,21 @@ BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE( multiple_namebids, eosio_system_tester ) try {
 
 } FC_LOG_AND_RETHROW()
 
+BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE( namebid_pending_winner, eosio_system_tester ) try {
+   cross_15_percent_threshold();
+   produce_block( fc::hours(14*24) );    //wait 14 day for name auction activation
+   transfer( config::system_account_name, N(alice1111111), core_from_string("10000.0000") );
+   transfer( config::system_account_name, N(bob111111111), core_from_string("10000.0000") );
+
+   BOOST_REQUIRE_EQUAL( success(), bidname( "alice1111111", "prefa", core_from_string( "50.0000" ) ));
+   BOOST_REQUIRE_EQUAL( success(), bidname( "bob111111111", "prefb", core_from_string( "30.0000" ) ));
+   produce_block( fc::hours(100) ); //should close "perfa"
+   produce_block( fc::hours(100) ); //should close "perfb"
+
+   //despite "perfa" account hasn't been created, we should be able to create "perfb" account
+   create_account_with_resources( N(prefb), N(bob111111111) );
+} FC_LOG_AND_RETHROW()
+
 BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE( vote_producers_in_and_out, eosio_system_tester ) try {
 
    const asset net = core_from_string("80.0000");