diff --git a/packages-ts/gauntlet-cosmos-contracts/package.json b/packages-ts/gauntlet-cosmos-contracts/package.json
index 01aff793a..359ab814d 100644
--- a/packages-ts/gauntlet-cosmos-contracts/package.json
+++ b/packages-ts/gauntlet-cosmos-contracts/package.json
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@
     "preinstall": "node ../../scripts/require-yarn.js",
     "gauntlet": "ts-node ./src/index.ts",
     "lint": "tsc",
-    "test:debug:wasmd-up": "yarn ts-node ./test/scripts/startWasmdAndUpload.ts",
-    "test:debug": "yarn test:codegen && SKIP_WASMD_SETUP=true yarn test",
+    "dev:test:wasmd-up": "yarn ts-node ./test/scripts/startWasmdAndUpload.ts",
+    "dev:test": "yarn test:codegen && SKIP_WASMD_SETUP=true yarn test",
     "test": "yarn test:codegen && SKIP_PROMPTS=true jest --runInBand --config ../../jest.config.js --selectProjects gauntlet-cosmos-contracts --passWithNoTests",
     "test:codegen": "yarn node ./src/scripts/codegen.js",
     "test:coverage": "yarn test --collectCoverage",
diff --git a/packages-ts/gauntlet-cosmos-contracts/test/utils.ts b/packages-ts/gauntlet-cosmos-contracts/test/utils.ts
index e5efffb4b..c86d00c7d 100644
--- a/packages-ts/gauntlet-cosmos-contracts/test/utils.ts
+++ b/packages-ts/gauntlet-cosmos-contracts/test/utils.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
-import { DirectSecp256k1HdWallet } from '@cosmjs/proto-signing'
+import { DirectSecp256k1HdWallet, coins } from '@cosmjs/proto-signing'
 import { execSync } from 'child_process'
 import { readFileSync, writeFileSync } from 'fs'
 import path from 'path'
 
 import UploadCmd from '../src/commands/tooling/upload'
+import { SigningCosmWasmClient } from '@cosmjs/cosmwasm-stargate'
+import { GasPrice } from '@cosmjs/stargate'
 
 const MNEMONIC =
   'surround miss nominee dream gap cross assault thank captain prosper drop duty group candy wealth weather scale put'
@@ -70,21 +72,27 @@ export const startWasmdAndUpload = async () => {
   const otherAddresses = accounts.map((a) => a.address).join(' ')
   const wasmdScript = path.join(__dirname, '../../../scripts/wasmd.sh')
 
-  execSync(`${wasmdScript} ${otherAddresses}`)
+  execSync(wasmdScript)
+
+   // querying wasmd too soon will result in errors
+   await new Promise((f) => setTimeout(f, 10000))
+
+  const deployerWallet = await DirectSecp256k1HdWallet.fromMnemonic(MNEMONIC, { prefix: 'wasm' })
+  const deployerAccounts = await deployerWallet.getAccounts()
+  const deployerAccount = deployerAccounts[0]
+  const deployer = await SigningCosmWasmClient.connectWithSigner(NODE_URL, deployerWallet, {
+    gasPrice: GasPrice.fromString(DEFAULT_GAS_PRICE),
+  })
+
+  // initialize other accounts with some tokens
+  for (const a of accounts) {
+    await deployer.sendTokens(deployerAccount.address, a.address, coins("1", "ucosm"), "auto")
+  }
 
-  // retrieve default deployer account
-  const deployerAccount = await (async () => {
-    const deployerWallet = await DirectSecp256k1HdWallet.fromMnemonic(MNEMONIC, { prefix: 'wasm' })
-    const deployerAccounts = await deployerWallet.getAccounts()
-    return deployerAccounts[0]
-  })()
   accounts = [deployerAccount, ...accounts]
 
   console.log(`All accounts initialized ${deployerAccount.address} ${otherAddresses}`)
 
-  // querying wasmd too soon will result in errors
-  await new Promise((f) => setTimeout(f, 10000))
-
   // upload contracts
   process.env.SKIP_PROMPTS = 'true'
 
@@ -94,7 +102,7 @@ export const startWasmdAndUpload = async () => {
       mnemonic: MNEMONIC,
       nodeURL: NODE_URL,
       gauntletTest: true,
-      defaultGasPrice: '0.025ucosm',
+      defaultGasPrice: DEFAULT_GAS_PRICE,
     },
     [],
   )
diff --git a/scripts/wasmd.sh b/scripts/wasmd.sh
index 9ad9379b9..3d952c9e7 100755
--- a/scripts/wasmd.sh
+++ b/scripts/wasmd.sh
@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@ docker run \
 	--name "${container_name}" \
 	"cosmwasm/wasmd:${container_version}" \
 	"./setup_and_run.sh" \
-	"${genesis_account}" \
-	"$@"
+	"${genesis_account}"
 
 echo "Waiting for wasmd container to become ready.."
 start_time=$(date +%s)