diff --git a/baseapp/baseapp.go b/baseapp/baseapp.go
index 5e3624bb7d..7e35fb5f6e 100644
--- a/baseapp/baseapp.go
+++ b/baseapp/baseapp.go
@@ -262,6 +262,11 @@ func (app *BaseApp) InitChain(req abci.RequestInitChain) (res abci.ResponseInitC
 	if app.initChainer == nil {
 		return
 	}
+
+	// add block gas meter for any genesis transactions (allow infinite gas)
+	app.deliverState.ctx = app.deliverState.ctx.
+		WithBlockGasMeter(sdk.NewInfiniteGasMeter())
+
 	res = app.initChainer(app.deliverState.ctx, req)
 
 	// NOTE: we don't commit, but BeginBlock for block 1