diff --git a/x/distribution/abci_test.go b/x/distribution/abci_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ea31b564b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x/distribution/abci_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+package distribution_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/crypto/keys/ed25519"
+	cryptotypes "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/crypto/types"
+	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/simapp"
+	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
+	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/x/staking/teststaking"
+	stakingtypes "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/x/staking/types"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	abci "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/abci/types"
+	tmproto "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proto/tendermint/types"
+)
+
+const (
+	totalValidators  = 6
+	lazyValidatorIdx = 2
+	power            = 100 / totalValidators
+)
+
+var (
+	valTokens                = sdk.TokensFromConsensusPower(50, sdk.DefaultPowerReduction)
+	validatorCommissionRates = stakingtypes.NewCommissionRates(sdk.OneDec(), sdk.OneDec(), sdk.OneDec())
+)
+
+type validator struct {
+	addr   sdk.ValAddress
+	pubkey cryptotypes.PubKey
+	votes  []abci.VoteInfo
+}
+
+// Context in https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/issues/9161
+func TestVerifyProposerRewardAssignement(t *testing.T) {
+	app := simapp.Setup(t, false)
+	ctx := app.BaseApp.NewContext(false, tmproto.Header{})
+	addrs := simapp.AddTestAddrsIncremental(app, ctx, totalValidators, valTokens)
+	tstaking := teststaking.NewHelper(t, ctx, app.StakingKeeper)
+	tstaking.Commission = validatorCommissionRates
+
+	// create validators
+	validators := make([]validator, totalValidators-1)
+	for i := range validators {
+		validators[i].addr = sdk.ValAddress(addrs[i])
+		validators[i].pubkey = ed25519.GenPrivKey().PubKey()
+		validators[i].votes = make([]abci.VoteInfo, totalValidators)
+		tstaking.CreateValidatorWithValPower(validators[i].addr, validators[i].pubkey, power, true)
+	}
+	app.EndBlock(abci.RequestEndBlock{})
+	require.NotEmpty(t, app.Commit())
+
+	// verify validators lists
+	require.Len(t, app.StakingKeeper.GetAllValidators(ctx), totalValidators)
+	for i, val := range validators {
+		// verify all validator exists
+		require.NotNil(t, app.StakingKeeper.ValidatorByConsAddr(ctx, sdk.GetConsAddress(val.pubkey)))
+
+		// populate last commit info
+		voteInfos := []abci.VoteInfo{}
+		for _, val2 := range validators {
+			voteInfos = append(voteInfos, abci.VoteInfo{
+				Validator: abci.Validator{
+					Address: sdk.GetConsAddress(val2.pubkey),
+					Power:   power,
+				},
+				SignedLastBlock: true,
+			})
+		}
+
+		// have this validator only submit the minimum amount of pre-commits
+		if i == lazyValidatorIdx {
+			for j := totalValidators * 2 / 3; j < len(voteInfos); j++ {
+				voteInfos[j].SignedLastBlock = false
+			}
+		}
+
+		validators[i].votes = voteInfos
+	}
+
+	// previous block submitted by validator n-1 (with 100% previous commits) and proposed by lazy validator
+	app.BeginBlock(abci.RequestBeginBlock{
+		Header:         tmproto.Header{Height: app.LastBlockHeight() + 1, ProposerAddress: sdk.GetConsAddress(validators[lazyValidatorIdx].pubkey)},
+		LastCommitInfo: abci.LastCommitInfo{Votes: validators[lazyValidatorIdx-1].votes},
+	})
+	require.NotEmpty(t, app.Commit())
+
+	// previous block submitted by lazy validator (with 67% previous commits) and proposed by validator n+1
+	app.BeginBlock(abci.RequestBeginBlock{
+		Header:         tmproto.Header{Height: app.LastBlockHeight() + 1, ProposerAddress: sdk.GetConsAddress(validators[lazyValidatorIdx+1].pubkey)},
+		LastCommitInfo: abci.LastCommitInfo{Votes: validators[lazyValidatorIdx].votes},
+	})
+	require.NotEmpty(t, app.Commit())
+
+	// previous block submitted by validator n+1 (with 100% previous commits) and proposed by validator n+2
+	app.BeginBlock(abci.RequestBeginBlock{
+		Header:         tmproto.Header{Height: app.LastBlockHeight() + 1, ProposerAddress: sdk.GetConsAddress(validators[lazyValidatorIdx+2].pubkey)},
+		LastCommitInfo: abci.LastCommitInfo{Votes: validators[lazyValidatorIdx+1].votes},
+	})
+	require.NotEmpty(t, app.Commit())
+
+	rewardsValidatorBeforeLazyValidator := app.DistrKeeper.GetValidatorOutstandingRewardsCoins(ctx, validators[lazyValidatorIdx+1].addr)
+	rewardsLazyValidator := app.DistrKeeper.GetValidatorOutstandingRewardsCoins(ctx, validators[lazyValidatorIdx].addr)
+	rewardsValidatorAfterLazyValidator := app.DistrKeeper.GetValidatorOutstandingRewardsCoins(ctx, validators[lazyValidatorIdx+1].addr)
+	require.True(t, rewardsLazyValidator[0].Amount.LT(rewardsValidatorAfterLazyValidator[0].Amount))
+	require.Equal(t, rewardsValidatorBeforeLazyValidator, rewardsValidatorAfterLazyValidator)
+}