diff --git a/nucypher/utilities/sandbox/blockchain.py b/nucypher/utilities/sandbox/blockchain.py
index 4029e6d01..ff25559e6 100644
--- a/nucypher/utilities/sandbox/blockchain.py
+++ b/nucypher/utilities/sandbox/blockchain.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import os
 from typing import List, Tuple
 
 import maya
+from eth_tester.exceptions import TransactionFailed
 from twisted.logger import Logger
 from web3 import Web3
 
@@ -265,5 +266,7 @@ class TesterBlockchain(BlockchainDeployerInterface):
         """Wait for a transaction receipt and return it"""
         timeout = timeout or self.TIMEOUT
         result = self.w3.eth.waitForTransactionReceipt(txhash, timeout=timeout)
+        if result.status == 0:
+            raise TransactionFailed()
         return result
 
diff --git a/tests/blockchain/eth/interfaces/test_chains.py b/tests/blockchain/eth/interfaces/test_chains.py
index b0efc2e85..1fdc33972 100644
--- a/tests/blockchain/eth/interfaces/test_chains.py
+++ b/tests/blockchain/eth/interfaces/test_chains.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ def test_testerchain_creation(testerchain, another_testerchain):
         assert 'tester' in chain.provider_uri
 
         # ... and that there are already some blocks mined
+        chain.w3.eth.web3.testing.mine(1)
         assert chain.w3.eth.blockNumber > 0
 
         # Check that we have enough test accounts
diff --git a/tests/fixtures.py b/tests/fixtures.py
index 3ec358837..7601ae85c 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures.py
+++ b/tests/fixtures.py
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import tempfile
 
 import maya
 import pytest
+from eth_tester import PyEVMBackend
+
 from constant_sorrow.constants import NON_PAYMENT
 from sqlalchemy.engine import create_engine
 from twisted.logger import Logger
@@ -366,6 +368,14 @@ def _make_testerchain():
     eth._utils.headers.GAS_LIMIT_MINIMUM = TEST_GAS_LIMIT
     eth._utils.headers.GENESIS_GAS_LIMIT = TEST_GAS_LIMIT
     eth.vm.forks.frontier.headers.GENESIS_GAS_LIMIT = TEST_GAS_LIMIT
+
+    # Monkey patch to prevent gas estimates
+    def _get_buffered_gas_estimate(web3, transaction, gas_buffer=100000):
+        return TEST_GAS_LIMIT
+
+    import web3
+    web3.eth.get_buffered_gas_estimate = _get_buffered_gas_estimate
+
     # Create the blockchain
     testerchain = TesterBlockchain(eth_airdrop=True, free_transactions=True)
     BlockchainInterfaceFactory.register_interface(interface=testerchain)
@@ -387,6 +397,11 @@ def _testerchain():
 def testerchain(_testerchain):
     testerchain = _testerchain
 
+    # Reset chain state
+    pyevm_backend = testerchain.provider.ethereum_tester.backend
+    snapshot = pyevm_backend.chain.get_canonical_block_by_number(0).hash
+    pyevm_backend.revert_to_snapshot(snapshot)
+
     coinbase, *addresses = testerchain.client.accounts
 
     for address in addresses: