diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 1951fed8e..db8be0dd9 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ ARG BUILDNUM=""
 # Build Geth in a stock Go builder container
 FROM golang:1.20-alpine as builder
 
-RUN apk add --no-cache gcc musl-dev linux-headers git
+RUN apk add --no-cache gcc musl-dev binutils-gold linux-headers git
 
 # Get dependencies - will also be cached if we won't change go.mod/go.sum
 COPY go.mod /go-ethereum/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c52c76e11..3d5a51e8d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ rather than forking the Geth project. Out of the box, PluGeth behaves exactly
 like upstream Geth, but by installing plugins written in Golang, developers can
 extend its functionality in a wide variety of way.
 
+### Submitting Pull Requests
+
+We are eager to include contributions from the community into the project. We ask that pull requests which include new features to be covered by our test plugin found in: `/plugins/test-plugin`. The test design and instructions for use are documented there. If further assistance is needed please get in touch with us. 
+
 ### Contact Us
 
 If you're trying to do something that isn't supported by the current plugin system, Reach out to us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/Epf7b7Gr) and we'll help you figure out how to make it work.
diff --git a/cmd/geth/main.go b/cmd/geth/main.go
index 662056298..8ff471028 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/main.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/main.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ const (
 var (
 	// flags that configure the node
 	nodeFlags = flags.Merge([]cli.Flag{
+		//begin PluGeth code injection
+		utils.PluginsDirFlag,
+		//end PluGeth code injection
 		utils.IdentityFlag,
 		utils.UnlockedAccountFlag,
 		utils.PasswordFileFlag,
@@ -322,7 +325,14 @@ func prepare(ctx *cli.Context) {
 // blocking mode, waiting for it to be shut down.
 func geth(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	//begin PluGeth code injection
-	if err := plugins.Initialize(path.Join(ctx.String(utils.DataDirFlag.Name), "plugins"), ctx); err != nil {
+	var pluginsDir string
+	if ctx.IsSet(utils.PluginsDirFlag.Name) {
+		pluginsDir = ctx.String(utils.PluginsDirFlag.Name)
+	} else {
+		pluginsDir = filepath.Join(ctx.String(utils.DataDirFlag.Name), "plugins")
+	}
+
+	if err := plugins.Initialize(pluginsDir, ctx); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	prepare(ctx)
diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index b67671e03..8e1d637e8 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -88,6 +88,14 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	// General settings
+	//begin PluGeth code injection
+	PluginsDirFlag = &flags.DirectoryFlag{
+		Name:     "pluginsdir",
+		Usage:    "Directory for plugins",
+		Value:    flags.DirectoryString(filepath.Join("<datadir>", "plugins")),
+		Category: flags.EthCategory,
+	}
+	//end PluGeth code injection
 	DataDirFlag = &flags.DirectoryFlag{
 		Name:     "datadir",
 		Usage:    "Data directory for the databases and keystore",
diff --git a/plugins/plugin_loader.go b/plugins/plugin_loader.go
index 652988d9c..dfb4af030 100644
--- a/plugins/plugin_loader.go
+++ b/plugins/plugin_loader.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"plugin"
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
-	
+
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/openrelayxyz/plugeth-utils/core"
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ func Lookup(name string, validate func(interface{}) bool) []interface{} {
 var DefaultPluginLoader *PluginLoader
 
 func NewPluginLoader(target string) (*PluginLoader, error) {
+	log.Info("Loading plugins from directory", "path", target)
 	pl := &PluginLoader{
 		Plugins:     []pluginDetails{},
 		Subcommands: make(map[string]Subcommand),
diff --git a/plugins/test-plugin/main.go b/plugins/test-plugin/main.go
index 2e76f84e1..bd6cd6a06 100644
--- a/plugins/test-plugin/main.go
+++ b/plugins/test-plugin/main.go
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@ import (
 	"math/big"
 	"time"
 	"os"
-	
+	"bytes"
+
 	"github.com/openrelayxyz/plugeth-utils/core"
 	"github.com/openrelayxyz/plugeth-utils/restricted/hexutil"
+	"github.com/openrelayxyz/plugeth-utils/restricted/crypto"
 )
 
 var hookChan chan map[string]struct{} = make(chan map[string]struct{}, 10)
@@ -223,6 +225,8 @@ func txTracer() {
 		log.Error("debug_traceTransaction failed",  "err", err)
 	}
 
+	testGetContractCode(t3)
+
 	debugArg0 := map[string]interface{}{
 		"input": "0x60006000fd",
 		"from": coinBase,
@@ -242,7 +246,6 @@ func txTracer() {
 	var trResult1 interface{}
 	err = client.Call(&trResult1, "debug_traceCall", debugArg1, "latest", t)
 
-
 	final := map[string]interface{}{
 		"input": "0x61520873000000000000000000000000000000000000000060006000600060006000f1",
 		"from": coinBase,
@@ -258,3 +261,39 @@ func txTracer() {
 
 }
 
+func testGetContractCode(hash core.Hash) {
+	
+	cl := apis[0].Service.(*engineService).stack
+	client, err := cl.Attach()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("Error connecting with client testGetContractCode")
+	}
+
+	receipt := map[string]interface{}{}
+	err = client.Call(&receipt, "eth_getTransactionReceipt", hash)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("Error calling getTransactionReciepts, testGetContractCode", "err", err)
+	}
+
+	var controlCode hexutil.Bytes
+	err = client.Call(&controlCode, "eth_getCode", receipt["contractAddress"], receipt["blockNumber"])
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("Error calling getCode, testGetContractCode", "err", err)
+	}
+
+	codeHash := crypto.Keccak256Hash(controlCode)
+
+	testCode, err := apis[0].Service.(*engineService).backend.GetContractCode(codeHash)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("Error calling GetContractCode", "err", err)
+	}
+
+	if !bytes.Equal(testCode, controlCode) {
+
+		log.Error("Exit with error, return value from GetContractCode is divergent from control value")
+		os.Exit(1)
+	} 
+
+	log.Info("made it through checkGetContractCode")
+}
+
diff --git a/plugins/wrappers/backendwrapper/backendwrapper.go b/plugins/wrappers/backendwrapper/backendwrapper.go
index 6716d4182..083e070c8 100644
--- a/plugins/wrappers/backendwrapper/backendwrapper.go
+++ b/plugins/wrappers/backendwrapper/backendwrapper.go
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	gcore "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
 	gparams "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/internal/ethapi"
@@ -510,7 +511,6 @@ func (b *Backend) GetAccountTrie(stateRoot core.Hash, account core.Address) (cor
 	return NewWrappedTrie(acTr), nil
 }
 
-
-
-
-
+func (b *Backend) GetContractCode(h core.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
+	return state.NewDatabase(b.b.ChainDb()).ContractCode(common.Hash{}, common.Hash(h))
+}