diff --git a/client/lcd/lcd_test.go b/client/lcd/lcd_test.go
index b9b4d9993d..54cd7bf090 100644
--- a/client/lcd/lcd_test.go
+++ b/client/lcd/lcd_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
+	"os/exec"
 	"regexp"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -28,10 +29,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestKeys(t *testing.T) {
-	err := tests.InitServer()
-	require.Nil(t, err)
-	err := tests.StartServer()
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	cmd := junkInit(t)
+	defer cmd.Process.Kill()
 
 	// empty keys
 	res, body := request(t, "GET", "/keys", nil)
@@ -94,15 +93,17 @@ func TestKeys(t *testing.T) {
 	jsonStr = []byte(`{"password":"12345678901"}`)
 	res, body = request(t, "DELETE", "/keys/test", jsonStr)
 	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, res.StatusCode, body)
+}
 
-	db.Close()
+//XXX
+func junkInit(t *testing.T) *exec.Cmd {
+	tests.TestInitBasecoin(t)
+	return tests.StartServerForTest(t)
 }
 
 func TestVersion(t *testing.T) {
-	err := tests.InitServer()
-	require.Nil(t, err)
-	err := tests.StartServer()
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	cmd := junkInit(t)
+	defer cmd.Process.Kill()
 
 	// node info
 	res, body := request(t, "GET", "/version", nil)
@@ -115,10 +116,8 @@ func TestVersion(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestNodeStatus(t *testing.T) {
-	err := tests.InitServer()
-	require.Nil(t, err)
-	err := tests.StartServer()
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	cmd := junkInit(t)
+	defer cmd.Process.Kill()
 
 	// node info
 	res, body := request(t, "GET", "/node_info", nil)
@@ -139,10 +138,8 @@ func TestNodeStatus(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestBlock(t *testing.T) {
-	err := tests.InitServer()
-	require.Nil(t, err)
-	err := tests.StartServer()
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	cmd := junkInit(t)
+	defer cmd.Process.Kill()
 
 	// res, body := request(t, "GET", "/blocks/latest", nil)
 	// require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, res.StatusCode, body)
@@ -173,10 +170,8 @@ func TestBlock(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestValidators(t *testing.T) {
-	err := tests.InitServer()
-	require.Nil(t, err)
-	err := tests.StartServer()
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	cmd := junkInit(t)
+	defer cmd.Process.Kill()
 
 	// res, body := request(t, "GET", "/validatorsets/latest", nil)
 	// require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, res.StatusCode, body)
@@ -207,10 +202,8 @@ func TestValidators(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCoinSend(t *testing.T) {
-	err := tests.InitServer()
-	require.Nil(t, err)
-	err := tests.StartServer()
-	require.Nil(t, err)
+	cmd := junkInit(t)
+	defer cmd.Process.Kill()
 
 	// TODO make that account has coins
 	kb := client.MockKeyBase()
diff --git a/tests/tests.go b/tests/tests.go
index d1833c108f..631f558623 100644
--- a/tests/tests.go
+++ b/tests/tests.go
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import (
 	//"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
 // Tests assume the `basecoind` and `basecli` binaries
@@ -16,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 
 // TODO remove test dirs if tests are successful
 
+//nolint
 var (
 	basecoind = "build/basecoind"
 	basecli   = "build/basecli"
@@ -42,7 +45,8 @@ func whereIsBasecli() string {
 	return filepath.Join(gopath(), basecli)
 }
 
-func TestInitBaseCoin(t *testing.T) {
+// Init Basecoin Test
+func TestInitBasecoin(t *testing.T) {
 	Clean()
 
 	var err error
@@ -101,10 +105,6 @@ func makeKeys() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// these are in the original bash tests
-func TestBaseCliRecover(t *testing.T) {}
-func TestBaseCliShow(t *testing.T)    {}
-
 func _TestSendCoins(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := StartServer(); err != nil {
 		t.Error(err)
@@ -163,6 +163,17 @@ func StartServer() error {
 	// see: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11886531/terminating-a-process-started-with-os-exec-in-golang
 }
 
+// expects TestInitBaseCoin to have been run
+func StartServerForTest(t *testing.T) *exec.Cmd {
+	cmdName := whereIsBasecoind()
+	cmdArgs := []string{"start", "--home", basecoindDir}
+	cmd := exec.Command(cmdName, cmdArgs...)
+	err := cmd.Start()
+	require.Nil(t, err)
+	return cmd
+}
+
+// clean the directories
 func Clean() {
 	// ignore errors b/c the dirs may not yet exist
 	os.Remove(basecoindDir)