diff --git a/x/genutil/utils.go b/x/genutil/utils.go
index 78fc18f85ae..e06e440d9a2 100644
--- a/x/genutil/utils.go
+++ b/x/genutil/utils.go
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@ func ExportGenesisFile(genesis *types.AppGenesis, genFile string) error {
 
 // ExportGenesisFileWithTime creates and writes the genesis configuration to disk.
 // An error is returned if building or writing the configuration to file fails.
-func ExportGenesisFileWithTime(genFile, chainID string, validators []cmttypes.GenesisValidator, appState json.RawMessage, genTime time.Time) error {
+func ExportGenesisFileWithTime(
+	genFile, chainID string, validators []cmttypes.GenesisValidator, appState json.RawMessage, genTime time.Time,
+) error {
 	appGenesis := types.NewAppGenesisWithVersion(chainID, appState)
 	appGenesis.GenesisTime = genTime
 	appGenesis.Consensus.Validators = validators
@@ -46,13 +48,17 @@ func ExportGenesisFileWithTime(genFile, chainID string, validators []cmttypes.Ge
 }
 
 // InitializeNodeValidatorFiles creates private validator and p2p configuration files.
-func InitializeNodeValidatorFiles(config *cfg.Config, keyType string) (nodeID string, valPubKey cryptotypes.PubKey, err error) {
+func InitializeNodeValidatorFiles(config *cfg.Config, keyType string) (
+	nodeID string, valPubKey cryptotypes.PubKey, err error,
+) {
 	return InitializeNodeValidatorFilesFromMnemonic(config, "", keyType)
 }
 
 // InitializeNodeValidatorFilesFromMnemonic creates private validator and p2p configuration files using the given mnemonic.
 // If no valid mnemonic is given, a random one will be used instead.
-func InitializeNodeValidatorFilesFromMnemonic(config *cfg.Config, mnemonic, keyType string) (nodeID string, valPubKey cryptotypes.PubKey, err error) {
+func InitializeNodeValidatorFilesFromMnemonic(config *cfg.Config, mnemonic, keyType string) (
+	nodeID string, valPubKey cryptotypes.PubKey, err error,
+) {
 	if len(mnemonic) > 0 && !bip39.IsMnemonicValid(mnemonic) {
 		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid mnemonic")
 	}
@@ -81,14 +87,15 @@ func InitializeNodeValidatorFilesFromMnemonic(config *cfg.Config, mnemonic, keyT
 	if len(mnemonic) == 0 {
 		switch keyType {
 		case "ed25519":
-			privKey = tmed25519.GenPrivKey()
+			filePV = loadOrGenFilePV(tmed25519.GenPrivKey(), pvKeyFile, pvStateFile)
 		case "bls12_381":
 			privKey, err = cmtbls12381.GenPrivKey()
 			if err != nil {
 				return "", nil, err
 			}
+			filePV = loadOrGenFilePV(privKey, pvKeyFile, pvStateFile)
 		default:
-			privKey = tmed25519.GenPrivKey()
+			filePV = loadOrGenFilePV(tmed25519.GenPrivKey(), pvKeyFile, pvStateFile)
 		}
 	} else {
 		switch keyType {
@@ -100,11 +107,10 @@ func InitializeNodeValidatorFilesFromMnemonic(config *cfg.Config, mnemonic, keyT
 		default:
 			privKey = tmed25519.GenPrivKeyFromSecret([]byte(mnemonic))
 		}
+		filePV = privval.NewFilePV(privKey, pvKeyFile, pvStateFile)
+		filePV.Save()
 	}
 
-	filePV = privval.NewFilePV(privKey, pvKeyFile, pvStateFile)
-	filePV.Save()
-
 	tmValPubKey, err := filePV.GetPubKey()
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", nil, err
@@ -117,3 +123,19 @@ func InitializeNodeValidatorFilesFromMnemonic(config *cfg.Config, mnemonic, keyT
 
 	return nodeID, valPubKey, nil
 }
+
+// loadOrGenFilePV loads a FilePV from the given filePaths
+// or else generates a new one and saves it to the filePaths.
+func loadOrGenFilePV(privKey cmtcrypto.PrivKey, keyFilePath, stateFilePath string) *privval.FilePV {
+	_, err := os.Stat(keyFilePath)
+	exists := !os.IsNotExist(err)
+
+	var pv *privval.FilePV
+	if exists {
+		pv = privval.LoadFilePV(keyFilePath, stateFilePath)
+	} else {
+		pv = privval.NewFilePV(privKey, keyFilePath, stateFilePath)
+		pv.Save()
+	}
+	return pv
+}