diff --git a/qa/rpc-tests/pegging.py b/qa/rpc-tests/pegging.py
index 7aabc3db87..e23bd6986f 100755
--- a/qa/rpc-tests/pegging.py
+++ b/qa/rpc-tests/pegging.py
@@ -88,15 +88,19 @@ with open(os.path.join(sidechain2_datadir, "elements.conf"), 'w') as f:
 
 try:
 
+    # Default is 8, meaning 8+2 confirms for mempool acceptance normally
+    # this will require 10+2.
+    sidechain_args = " -peginconfirmationdepth=10 "
+
     # Start daemons
     print("Starting daemons at "+bitcoin_datadir+", "+sidechain_datadir+" and "+sidechain2_datadir)
     bitcoindstart = sys.argv[1]+"/bitcoind -datadir="+bitcoin_datadir
     subprocess.Popen(bitcoindstart.split(), stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
 
-    sidechainstart = sys.argv[2]+"/elementsd -datadir="+sidechain_datadir
+    sidechainstart = sys.argv[2]+"/elementsd -datadir="+sidechain_datadir + sidechain_args
     subprocess.Popen(sidechainstart.split(), stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
 
-    sidechain2start = sys.argv[2]+"/elementsd -datadir="+sidechain2_datadir
+    sidechain2start = sys.argv[2]+"/elementsd -datadir="+sidechain2_datadir + sidechain_args
     subprocess.Popen(sidechain2start.split(), stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
 
     print("Daemons started")
@@ -122,19 +126,31 @@ try:
     addrs = sidechain.getpeginaddress()
     txid1 = bitcoin.sendtoaddress(addrs["mainchain_address"], 24)
     txid2 = bitcoin.sendtoaddress(addrs["mainchain_address"], 24)
-    bitcoin.generate(10)
+    # 10+2 confirms required to get into mempool and confirm
+    bitcoin.generate(11)
+    time.sleep(2)
     proof = bitcoin.gettxoutproof([txid1])
     raw = bitcoin.getrawtransaction(txid1)
 
     print("Attempting peg-in")
+    try:
+        pegtxid = sidechain.claimpegin(raw, proof)
+        raise Exception("Peg-in should not mature enough yet, need another block.")
+    except JSONRPCException as e:
+        assert("Withdraw proof validation failed" in e.error["message"])
+        pass
 
-    # Should fail due to non-matching address
+    # Should fail due to non-matching wallet address
     try:
         pegtxid = sidechain.claimpegin(raw, proof, sidechain.getnewaddress())
         raise Exception("Peg-in with non-matching address should fail.")
-    except JSONRPCException:
+    except JSONRPCException as e:
+        assert("Failed to find output in bitcoinTx to the mainchain_address" in e.error["message"])
         pass
 
+    # 12 confirms allows in mempool
+    bitcoin.generate(1)
+
     timeout = 20
     # Both should succeed via wallet lookup for address match, and when given
     pegtxid1 = sidechain.claimpegin(raw, proof)
@@ -179,7 +195,7 @@ try:
     for i in range(n_claims):
         addrs = sidechain.getpeginaddress()
         txid = bitcoin.sendtoaddress(addrs["mainchain_address"], 1)
-        bitcoin.generate(10)
+        bitcoin.generate(12)
         proof = bitcoin.gettxoutproof([txid])
         raw = bitcoin.getrawtransaction(txid)
         pegtxs += [sidechain.claimpegin(raw, proof)]
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index 5dc9ee6e56..f0021ca7a6 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -513,6 +513,7 @@ std::string HelpMessage(HelpMessageMode mode)
     if (showDebug) {
         strUsage += HelpMessageOpt("-fedpegscript=<hex>", _("Change federated peg to use a different script.") +
             " " + _("This creates a new chain with a different genesis block."));
+        strUsage += HelpMessageOpt("-peginconfirmationdepth", strprintf(_("Pegin claims must be this deep to be considered valid. (default: %d)"), DEFAULT_PEGIN_CONFIRMATION_DEPTH));
     }
     strUsage += HelpMessageOpt("-validatepegin", strprintf(_("Validate pegin claims. All functionaries must run this. (default: %u)"), DEFAULT_VALIDATE_PEGIN));
 
diff --git a/src/script/interpreter.cpp b/src/script/interpreter.cpp
index acf3f86fc1..d63e8285d9 100644
--- a/src/script/interpreter.cpp
+++ b/src/script/interpreter.cpp
@@ -1580,7 +1580,7 @@ bool EvalScript(vector<vector<unsigned char> >& stack, const CScript& script, un
                                     return set_error(serror, SCRIPT_ERR_WITHDRAW_VERIFY_OUTPUT_SCRIPT);
 
 #ifndef BITCOIN_SCRIPT_NO_CALLRPC
-                                if (GetBoolArg("-validatepegin", DEFAULT_VALIDATE_PEGIN) && !checker.IsConfirmedBitcoinBlock(genesishash, merkleBlock.header.GetHash(), flags & SCRIPT_VERIFY_INCREASE_CONFIRMATIONS_REQUIRED))
+                                if (GetBoolArg("-validatepegin", DEFAULT_VALIDATE_PEGIN) && !checker.IsConfirmedBitcoinBlock(genesishash, merkleBlock.header.GetHash(), flags & SCRIPT_VERIFY_INCREASE_CONFIRMATIONS_REQUIRED, GetArg("-peginconfirmationdepth", DEFAULT_PEGIN_CONFIRMATION_DEPTH)))
                                     return set_error(serror, SCRIPT_ERR_WITHDRAW_VERIFY_BLOCKCONFIRMED);
 #endif
                             } catch (std::exception& e) {
@@ -1975,10 +1975,10 @@ CConfidentialValue TransactionSignatureChecker::GetValueInPrevIn() const
     return amountPreviousInput;
 }
 
-bool TransactionSignatureChecker::IsConfirmedBitcoinBlock(const uint256& genesishash, const uint256& hash, bool fConservativeConfirmationRequirements) const
+bool TransactionSignatureChecker::IsConfirmedBitcoinBlock(const uint256& genesishash, const uint256& hash, bool fConservativeConfirmationRequirements, uint32_t nConfirmationsRequired) const
 {
 #ifndef BITCOIN_SCRIPT_NO_CALLRPC
-    return ::IsConfirmedBitcoinBlock(genesishash, hash, fConservativeConfirmationRequirements ? 10 : 8);
+    return ::IsConfirmedBitcoinBlock(genesishash, hash, nConfirmationsRequired + (fConservativeConfirmationRequirements ? 2 : 0));
 #else
     return true;
 #endif
diff --git a/src/script/interpreter.h b/src/script/interpreter.h
index 389c940eee..308041866a 100644
--- a/src/script/interpreter.h
+++ b/src/script/interpreter.h
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ public:
         return -1;
     }
 
-    virtual bool IsConfirmedBitcoinBlock(const uint256& genesishash, const uint256& hash, bool fConservativeConfirmationRequirements) const
+    virtual bool IsConfirmedBitcoinBlock(const uint256& genesishash, const uint256& hash, bool fConservativeConfirmationRequirements, uint32_t nConfirmationsRequired) const
     {
         return false;
     }
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ public:
     COutPoint GetPrevOut() const;
     CConfidentialValue GetValueIn() const;
     CConfidentialValue GetValueInPrevIn() const;
-    bool IsConfirmedBitcoinBlock(const uint256& genesishash, const uint256& hash, bool fConservativeConfirmationRequirements) const;
+    bool IsConfirmedBitcoinBlock(const uint256& genesishash, const uint256& hash, bool fConservativeConfirmationRequirements, uint32_t nConfirmationsRequired) const;
     virtual CScript GetFedpegScript() const
     {
         return fedpegScript;
diff --git a/src/script/script.h b/src/script/script.h
index dea83e8d7e..6eb21b826e 100644
--- a/src/script/script.h
+++ b/src/script/script.h
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ static const int MAX_PUBKEYS_PER_MULTISIG = 20;
 // mainchain.
 static const bool DEFAULT_VALIDATE_PEGIN = false;
 
+// Number of confirms on parent chain required to confirm on sidechain
+static const unsigned int DEFAULT_PEGIN_CONFIRMATION_DEPTH = 8;
+
 // Maximum script length in bytes
 static const int MAX_SCRIPT_SIZE = 10000;
 class uint256;