diff --git a/test/e2e/testnet/testnet.go b/test/e2e/testnet/testnet.go
index e300a77288..9a37d87e7a 100644
--- a/test/e2e/testnet/testnet.go
+++ b/test/e2e/testnet/testnet.go
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@ func (t *Testnet) CreateAccount(name string, tokens int64, txsimKeyringDir strin
 	err = t.genesis.AddAccount(genesis.Account{
 		PubKey:  pk,
 		Balance: tokens,
+		Name:    name,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/test/util/genesis/genesis.go b/test/util/genesis/genesis.go
index f5ffe51084..80a14d11ea 100644
--- a/test/util/genesis/genesis.go
+++ b/test/util/genesis/genesis.go
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@ func (g *Genesis) WithKeyringAccounts(accs ...KeyringAccount) *Genesis {
 
 // AddAccount adds an existing account to the genesis.
 func (g *Genesis) AddAccount(account Account) error {
+	if err := account.ValidateBasic(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	for _, acc := range g.accounts {
 		if bytes.Equal(acc.PubKey.Bytes(), account.PubKey.Bytes()) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("account with pubkey %s already exists", account.PubKey.String())