The standard test problem of MacNeal and Harder (Finite Elem. Anal. Des. 1 (1985) 3) for the verification of spatial beam finite elements, i.e. the deflection of the initially twisted beam, is commented through the analysis of three variants of initially twisted beams: (i) a linearly twisted beam with a constant cross-section; (ii) a non-linearly twisted beam with a constant cross-section; and (iii) a non-linearly twisted beam with variable cross-sections. Our numerical results lead to the conclusion that the twisted beam problem (Finite Elem. Anal. Des. 1 (1985) 3) assumes the linearly twisted, curved-edge beam. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.