diff --git a/tests/systemtests/rest_cli.go b/tests/systemtests/rest_cli.go
index a760994938..3ad1e30dda 100644
--- a/tests/systemtests/rest_cli.go
+++ b/tests/systemtests/rest_cli.go
@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ func GetRequestWithHeaders(t *testing.T, url string, headers map[string]string,
 	defer func() {
 		_ = res.Body.Close()
 	}()
-	require.Equal(t, expCode, res.StatusCode, "status code should be %d, got: %d", expCode, res.StatusCode)
-
 	body, err := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, expCode, res.StatusCode, "status code should be %d, got: %d, %s", expCode, res.StatusCode, body)
+
 	return body
 }
diff --git a/tests/systemtests/system.go b/tests/systemtests/system.go
index 346f39e761..f42bf96a79 100644
--- a/tests/systemtests/system.go
+++ b/tests/systemtests/system.go
@@ -766,6 +766,11 @@ func (s *SystemUnderTest) CurrentHeight() int64 {
 	return s.currentHeight.Load()
 }
 
+// NodesCount returns the number of node instances used
+func (s *SystemUnderTest) NodesCount() int {
+	return s.nodesCount
+}
+
 type Node struct {
 	ID      string
 	IP      string
diff --git a/tests/systemtests/testnet_init.go b/tests/systemtests/testnet_init.go
index bdb2a85d25..9033c283e4 100644
--- a/tests/systemtests/testnet_init.go
+++ b/tests/systemtests/testnet_init.go
@@ -51,6 +51,20 @@ func NewSingleHostTestnetCmdInitializer(
 	}
 }
 
+// InitializerWithBinary creates new SingleHostTestnetCmdInitializer from sut with given binary
+func InitializerWithBinary(binary string, sut *SystemUnderTest) TestnetInitializer {
+	return NewSingleHostTestnetCmdInitializer(
+		binary,
+		WorkDir,
+		sut.chainID,
+		sut.outputDir,
+		sut.initialNodesCount,
+		sut.minGasPrice,
+		sut.CommitTimeout(),
+		sut.Log,
+	)
+}
+
 func (s SingleHostTestnetCmdInitializer) Initialize() {
 	args := []string{
 		"testnet",
diff --git a/tests/systemtests/upgrade_test.go b/tests/systemtests/upgrade_test.go
index bd719d1e79..a2000aeaea 100644
--- a/tests/systemtests/upgrade_test.go
+++ b/tests/systemtests/upgrade_test.go
@@ -28,14 +28,14 @@ func TestChainUpgrade(t *testing.T) {
 	currentBranchBinary := sut.execBinary
 	currentInitializer := sut.testnetInitializer
 	sut.SetExecBinary(legacyBinary)
-	sut.SetTestnetInitializer(NewModifyConfigYamlInitializer(legacyBinary, sut))
+	sut.SetTestnetInitializer(InitializerWithBinary(legacyBinary, sut))
 	sut.SetupChain()
 	votingPeriod := 5 * time.Second // enough time to vote
 	sut.ModifyGenesisJSON(t, SetGovVotingPeriod(t, votingPeriod))
 
 	const (
 		upgradeHeight int64 = 22
-		upgradeName         = "v050-to-v051"
+		upgradeName         = "v050-to-v052" // must match UpgradeName in simapp/upgrades.go
 	)
 
 	sut.StartChain(t, fmt.Sprintf("--halt-height=%d", upgradeHeight+1))