diff --git a/docs/userguides/networks.md b/docs/userguides/networks.md
index e685bbac44..aa00b2553a 100644
--- a/docs/userguides/networks.md
+++ b/docs/userguides/networks.md
@@ -123,3 +123,15 @@ To use a different network, such as `hardhat` or Anvil nodes, use the `--network
 ```shell
 ape networks run --network ethereum:local:foundry
 ```
+
+## Provider Interaction
+
+Once you are connected to a network, you now have access to a `.provider`.
+The provider class is what higher level Manager classes in Ape use to interface with the blockchain.
+You can call methods directly from the provider, like this:
+
+```python
+from ape import chain
+
+block = chain.provider.get_block("latest")
+```
diff --git a/src/ape/api/providers.py b/src/ape/api/providers.py
index 6f8f37a11b..e2d473ed27 100644
--- a/src/ape/api/providers.py
+++ b/src/ape/api/providers.py
@@ -1106,6 +1106,7 @@ def _prepare_call(self, txn: TransactionAPI, **kwargs) -> List:
         block_identifier = kwargs.pop("block_identifier", kwargs.pop("block_id", "latest"))
         if isinstance(block_identifier, int):
             block_identifier = to_hex(block_identifier)
+
         arguments = [txn_dict, block_identifier]
         if "state_override" in kwargs:
             arguments.append(kwargs["state_override"])
@@ -1154,6 +1155,7 @@ def get_receipt(
 
         network_config: Dict = self.network.config.dict().get(self.network.name, {})
         max_retries = network_config.get("max_get_transaction_retries", DEFAULT_MAX_RETRIES_TX)
+        txn = {}
         for attempt in range(max_retries):
             try:
                 txn = dict(self.web3.eth.get_transaction(HexStr(txn_hash)))
@@ -1491,13 +1493,14 @@ def _handle_execution_reverted(
         if isinstance(exception, Web3ContractLogicError) and no_reason:
             # Check for custom exception data and use that as the message instead.
             # This allows compiler exception enrichment to function.
+            err_trace = None
             try:
                 if trace:
                     trace, err_trace = tee(trace)
                 elif txn:
                     err_trace = self.provider.get_transaction_trace(txn.txn_hash.hex())
 
-                data = list(err_trace)[-1].raw
+                data = list(err_trace)[-1].raw if err_trace else {}
                 memory = data.get("memory", [])
                 return_value = "".join([x[2:] for x in memory[4:]])
                 if return_value:
diff --git a/src/ape_test/provider.py b/src/ape_test/provider.py
index e81747bf11..b4bd2b81a7 100644
--- a/src/ape_test/provider.py
+++ b/src/ape_test/provider.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def estimate_gas_cost(self, txn: TransactionAPI, **kwargs) -> int:
             block = self.web3.eth.get_block("latest")
             return block["gasLimit"]
 
-        block_id = kwargs.pop("block_identifier", None)
+        block_id = kwargs.pop("block_identifier", kwargs.pop("block_id", None))
         estimate_gas = self.web3.eth.estimate_gas
         txn_dict = txn.dict()
         if txn_dict.get("gas") == "auto":
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def base_fee(self) -> int:
 
     def send_call(self, txn: TransactionAPI, **kwargs) -> bytes:
         data = txn.dict(exclude_none=True)
-        block_id = kwargs.pop("block_identifier", None)
+        block_id = kwargs.pop("block_identifier", kwargs.pop("block_id", None))
         state = kwargs.pop("state_override", None)
         call_kwargs = {"block_identifier": block_id, "state_override": state}
 
diff --git a/tests/functional/test_contract_instance.py b/tests/functional/test_contract_instance.py
index 360a41cc7f..d3082936b0 100644
--- a/tests/functional/test_contract_instance.py
+++ b/tests/functional/test_contract_instance.py
@@ -112,11 +112,19 @@ def test_call_use_block_identifier(contract_instance, owner, chain):
     actual = contract_instance.myNumber(block_identifier=block_id)
     assert actual == expected
 
+    # Ensure alias "block_id" works
+    actual = contract_instance.myNumber(block_id=block_id)
+    assert actual == expected
+
     # Ensure works with hex
     block_id = to_hex(block_id)
     actual = contract_instance.myNumber(block_identifier=block_id)
     assert actual == expected
 
+    # Ensure alias "block_id" works.
+    actual = contract_instance.myNumber(block_id=block_id)
+    assert actual == expected
+
     # Ensure works keywords like "latest"
     actual = contract_instance.myNumber(block_identifier="latest")
     assert actual == 3
@@ -182,8 +190,9 @@ def test_call_using_block_identifier(
     contract.setNumber(1, sender=owner)
     height = chain.blocks.height
     contract.setNumber(33, sender=owner)
-    actual = contract.myNumber(block_identifier=height)
-    assert actual == 1
+    actual_0 = contract.myNumber(block_identifier=height)
+    actual_1 = contract.myNumber(block_id=height)
+    assert actual_0 == actual_1 == 1
 
 
 def test_repr(vyper_contract_instance):