diff --git a/cmd/derod/rpc/rpc_dero_estimategas.go b/cmd/derod/rpc/rpc_dero_estimategas.go
index cf522ecb..d524b8a1 100644
--- a/cmd/derod/rpc/rpc_dero_estimategas.go
+++ b/cmd/derod/rpc/rpc_dero_estimategas.go
@@ -64,13 +64,14 @@ func GetGasEstimate(ctx context.Context, p rpc.GasEstimate_Params) (result rpc.G
 		}
 	}
 
-	toporecord, err := chain.Store.Topo_store.Read(chain.Load_TOPO_HEIGHT())
+	topoHeight := chain.Load_TOPO_HEIGHT()
+	toporecord, err := chain.Store.Topo_store.Read(topoHeight)
 	// we must now fill in compressed ring members
 	if err == nil {
 		var ss *graviton.Snapshot
 		ss, err = chain.Store.Balance_store.LoadSnapshot(toporecord.State_Version)
 		if err == nil {
-			s := dvm.SimulatorInitialize(ss)
+			s := dvm.SimulatorInitialize(ss, uint64(topoHeight))
 			if len(p.SC_Code) >= 1 { // we need to install the SC
 				if _, result.GasCompute, result.GasStorage, err = s.SCInstall(p.SC_Code, incoming_values, p.SC_RPC, signer, 0); err != nil {
 					return
diff --git a/dvm/simulator.go b/dvm/simulator.go
index 702e2e26..243f965d 100644
--- a/dvm/simulator.go
+++ b/dvm/simulator.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ type Simulator struct {
 	Balances     map[string]map[string]uint64
 }
 
-func SimulatorInitialize(ss *graviton.Snapshot) *Simulator {
+func SimulatorInitialize(ss *graviton.Snapshot, topoHeight uint64) *Simulator {
 
 	var s Simulator
 	var err error
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ func SimulatorInitialize(ss *graviton.Snapshot) *Simulator {
 	}
 	s.ss = ss
 
+	s.height = topoHeight
 	s.balance_tree, err = ss.GetTree(config.BALANCE_TREE)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
diff --git a/dvm/simulator_test.go b/dvm/simulator_test.go
index 869217d0..24b5b805 100644
--- a/dvm/simulator_test.go
+++ b/dvm/simulator_test.go
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ This lottery smart contract will give lottery wins on every second try in follow
 
 // run the test
 func Test_Simulator_execution(t *testing.T) {
-	s := SimulatorInitialize(nil)
+	s := SimulatorInitialize(nil, 0)
 	var addr *rpc.Address
 	var err error