diff --git a/container/ethereum.go b/container/ethereum.go
index ef62fe53..172f4375 100644
--- a/container/ethereum.go
+++ b/container/ethereum.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/docker/docker/client"
 	"github.com/docker/go-connections/nat"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/cmd/utils"
+	ethtypes "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethclient"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/p2p/discover"
 
@@ -48,6 +49,10 @@ const (
 	healthCheckRetryDelay = 2 * time.Second
 )
 
+var (
+	ErrConsensusTimeout = errors.New("consensus timeout")
+)
+
 type Ethereum interface {
 	Init(string) error
 	Start() error
@@ -59,6 +64,7 @@ type Ethereum interface {
 	Host() string
 	NewClient() *ethclient.Client
 	NewIstanbulClient() *istclient.Client
+	ConsensusMonitor(err chan<- error, quit chan struct{})
 }
 
 func NewEthereum(c *client.Client, options ...Option) *ethereum {
@@ -357,6 +363,47 @@ func (eth *ethereum) NodeAddress() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
+func (eth *ethereum) ConsensusMonitor(errCh chan<- error, quit chan struct{}) {
+	cli := eth.NewClient()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	subCh := make(chan *ethtypes.Header)
+
+	sub, err := cli.SubscribeNewHead(ctx, subCh)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(fmt.Sprintf("subscribe error:%v", err))
+		errCh <- err
+		return
+	}
+	defer sub.Unsubscribe()
+
+	for {
+		latestUpdate := time.Now()
+		select {
+		case err := <-sub.Err():
+			log.Printf("Connection lost: %v", err)
+			errCh <- err
+			return
+		case head := <-subCh:
+			// Ensure that mining is stable.
+			if head.Number.Uint64() < 3 {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			// Block is generated by 2 seconds. We tolerate 1 second delay in consensus.
+			if time.Now().Sub(latestUpdate).Seconds() > 3.0 {
+				errCh <- ErrConsensusTimeout
+				return
+			}
+			latestUpdate = time.Now()
+		case <-quit:
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 func (eth *ethereum) showLog(context context.Context) {
diff --git a/tests/integration_test.go b/tests/integration_test.go
index 4e2f6b43..e5a920fa 100644
--- a/tests/integration_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration_test.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"math/big"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ var _ = Describe("4 validators Istanbul", func() {
 			container.DataDir("/data"),
 			container.WebSocket(),
 			container.WebSocketAddress("0.0.0.0"),
-			container.WebSocketAPI("admin,eth,net,web3,personal,miner"),
+			container.WebSocketAPI("admin,eth,net,web3,personal,miner,istanbul"),
 			container.WebSocketOrigin("*"),
 			container.NAT("any"),
 			container.NoDiscover(),
@@ -69,9 +70,32 @@ var _ = Describe("4 validators Istanbul", func() {
 			Expect(err).To(BeNil())
 			Expect(block).NotTo(BeNil())
 		}
+
+		By("Ensure that consensus is working in 30 seconds", func() { ensureConsensusWorking(blockchain.Validators(), 30*time.Second) })
 	})
 })
 
+func ensureConsensusWorking(geths []container.Ethereum, t time.Duration) {
+	errCh := make(chan error, len(geths))
+	quitCh := make(chan struct{}, len(geths))
+	for _, geth := range geths {
+		go geth.ConsensusMonitor(errCh, quitCh)
+	}
+
+	timeout := time.NewTimer(t)
+
+	defer timeout.Stop()
+
+	select {
+	case err := <-errCh:
+		Expect(err).Should(BeNil())
+	case <-timeout.C:
+		for i := 0; i < len(geths); i++ {
+			quitCh <- struct{}{}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestIstanbul(t *testing.T) {
 	RegisterFailHandler(Fail)
 	RunSpecs(t, "Istanbul Test Suite")