diff --git a/app/app.go b/app/app.go
index c89448e2..02261d73 100644
--- a/app/app.go
+++ b/app/app.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package app
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
@@ -534,7 +535,10 @@ func (app *EthermintApp) EndBlocker(ctx sdk.Context, req abci.RequestEndBlock) a
 // InitChainer updates at chain initialization
 func (app *EthermintApp) InitChainer(ctx sdk.Context, req abci.RequestInitChain) abci.ResponseInitChain {
 	var genesisState simapp.GenesisState
-	app.cdc.MustUnmarshalJSON(req.AppStateBytes, &genesisState)
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(req.AppStateBytes, &genesisState); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	app.UpgradeKeeper.SetModuleVersionMap(ctx, app.mm.GetVersionMap())
 	return app.mm.InitGenesis(ctx, app.appCodec, genesisState)
 }