diff --git a/runtime/src/bank.rs b/runtime/src/bank.rs
index 9657ad5d0a9d37..3b537d65cdb380 100644
--- a/runtime/src/bank.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/bank.rs
@@ -2560,6 +2560,7 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::{
         accounts_index::Ancestors,
+        builtin_programs::new_system_program_activation_epoch,
         genesis_utils::{
             create_genesis_config_with_leader, GenesisConfigInfo, BOOTSTRAP_VALIDATOR_LAMPORTS,
         },
@@ -6597,6 +6598,77 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(bank.capitalization(), pre_capitalization - burn_amount);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_legacy_system_instruction_processor0_stable() {
+        let (mut genesis_config, mint_keypair) = create_genesis_config(1_000_000);
+        genesis_config.operating_mode = OperatingMode::Stable;
+        let bank0 = Arc::new(Bank::new(&genesis_config));
+
+        let activation_epoch = new_system_program_activation_epoch(bank0.operating_mode());
+        assert!(activation_epoch > bank0.epoch());
+
+        // Transfer to self is not supported by legacy_system_instruction_processor0
+        bank0
+            .transfer(1, &mint_keypair, &mint_keypair.pubkey())
+            .unwrap_err();
+
+        // Activate system_instruction_processor
+        let bank = Bank::new_from_parent(
+            &bank0,
+            &Pubkey::default(),
+            genesis_config
+                .epoch_schedule
+                .get_first_slot_in_epoch(activation_epoch),
+        );
+
+        // Transfer to self is supported by system_instruction_processor
+        bank.transfer(2, &mint_keypair, &mint_keypair.pubkey())
+            .unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_legacy_system_instruction_processor0_preview() {
+        let (mut genesis_config, mint_keypair) = create_genesis_config(1_000_000);
+        genesis_config.operating_mode = OperatingMode::Preview;
+        let bank0 = Arc::new(Bank::new(&genesis_config));
+
+        let activation_epoch = new_system_program_activation_epoch(bank0.operating_mode());
+        assert!(activation_epoch > bank0.epoch());
+
+        // Transfer to self is not supported by legacy_system_instruction_processor0
+        bank0
+            .transfer(1, &mint_keypair, &mint_keypair.pubkey())
+            .unwrap_err();
+
+        // Activate system_instruction_processor
+        let bank = Bank::new_from_parent(
+            &bank0,
+            &Pubkey::default(),
+            genesis_config
+                .epoch_schedule
+                .get_first_slot_in_epoch(activation_epoch),
+        );
+
+        // Transfer to self is supported by system_instruction_processor
+        bank.transfer(2, &mint_keypair, &mint_keypair.pubkey())
+            .unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_legacy_system_instruction_processor0_development() {
+        let (mut genesis_config, mint_keypair) = create_genesis_config(1_000_000);
+        genesis_config.operating_mode = OperatingMode::Development;
+        let bank0 = Arc::new(Bank::new(&genesis_config));
+
+        let activation_epoch = new_system_program_activation_epoch(bank0.operating_mode());
+        assert!(activation_epoch == bank0.epoch());
+
+        // Transfer to self is supported by system_instruction_processor
+        bank0
+            .transfer(2, &mint_keypair, &mint_keypair.pubkey())
+            .unwrap();
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_duplicate_account_key() {
         solana_logger::setup();
diff --git a/runtime/src/builtin_programs.rs b/runtime/src/builtin_programs.rs
index 7c6671bcdec6bd..e6a7ea0c2fac78 100644
--- a/runtime/src/builtin_programs.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/builtin_programs.rs
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ impl BuiltinProgram {
     }
 }
 
-fn new_system_program_activation_epoch(operating_mode: OperatingMode) -> Epoch {
+pub(crate) fn new_system_program_activation_epoch(operating_mode: OperatingMode) -> Epoch {
     match operating_mode {
         OperatingMode::Development => 0,
-        OperatingMode::Preview => std::u64::MAX / 2,
-        OperatingMode::Stable => std::u64::MAX / 2,
+        OperatingMode::Preview => 1_000_000,
+        OperatingMode::Stable => 1_000_000,
     }
 }