diff --git a/app/scripts/background.js b/app/scripts/background.js
index 7f1c1368696f..bee63e711886 100644
--- a/app/scripts/background.js
+++ b/app/scripts/background.js
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ const localStore = inTest
   : new LocalStore()
 let versionedData
 
+if (inTest || process.env.METAMASK_DEBUG) {
+  global.metamaskGetState = localStore.get.bind(localStore)
+}
+
 // initialization flow
 initialize().catch(log.error)
 
diff --git a/test/e2e/fixtures/README.md b/test/e2e/fixtures/README.md
index 41c04177fc05..e8bbe39ac3e2 100644
--- a/test/e2e/fixtures/README.md
+++ b/test/e2e/fixtures/README.md
@@ -7,30 +7,17 @@ one thing:
 
 ## Generating fixture data
 
-Fixture data can be generated by loading the unpacked extension, inspecting the background context,
-dumping `chrome.storage.local`, and using [`copy`][1] to copy it to the clipboard, and manually pasting the contents into
-a file on disk.
+Fixture data can be generated by following these steps:
 
-```js
-// Step 1:
-chrome.storage.local.get(null, (x) => console.log(x))
-// Should print something like:
-// > temp1
-// > {data: {…}, meta: {…}}
+1. Load the unpacked extension in development or test mode
+2. Inspecting the background context of the extension
+3. Call `metamaskGetState`, then call [`copy`][1] on the results
 
-// Step 2:
-// Store the value as a global via the 'Store as global variable' option in context menu (shown below)
+You can then paste the contents directly in your fixture file.
 
-// Step 3:
-copy(temp1)
+```js
+copy(await metamaskGetState())
 ```
 
-Store the value as a global variable:
-
-<img
-  width="840"
-  alt="Store as global variable"
-  src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/1623628/60987884-1a2c4a00-a31d-11e9-932e-b7fab452e6bd.png"
-/>
 
   [1]:https://developers.google.com/web/tools/chrome-devtools/console/utilities