diff --git a/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/config_get_test.go b/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/config_get_test.go
index 940842516d0..e8c27045205 100644
--- a/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/config_get_test.go
+++ b/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/config_get_test.go
@@ -129,13 +129,6 @@ func TestConfig_Get_Base(t *testing.T) {
 				assert.Equal(t, loadedCfg.DBPath, value)
 			},
 		},
-		{
-			"genesis path fetched",
-			"genesis_file",
-			func(loadedCfg *config.Config, value string) {
-				assert.Equal(t, loadedCfg.Genesis, value)
-			},
-		},
 		{
 			"validator key fetched",
 			"priv_validator_key_file",
diff --git a/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/config_set_test.go b/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/config_set_test.go
index 87cfbfdfc4a..b0898194d64 100644
--- a/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/config_set_test.go
+++ b/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/config_set_test.go
@@ -184,16 +184,6 @@ func TestConfig_Set_Base(t *testing.T) {
 				assert.Equal(t, value, loadedCfg.DBPath)
 			},
 		},
-		{
-			"genesis path updated",
-			[]string{
-				"genesis_file",
-				"example path",
-			},
-			func(loadedCfg *config.Config, value string) {
-				assert.Equal(t, value, loadedCfg.Genesis)
-			},
-		},
 		{
 			"validator key updated",
 			[]string{
diff --git a/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/start.go b/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/start.go
index 41f4e7c2f44..0cbbc6cb36d 100644
--- a/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/start.go
+++ b/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/start.go
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ type startCfg struct {
 	skipStart             bool
 	genesisBalancesFile   string
 	genesisTxsFile        string
+	genesisFile           string
 	chainID               string
 	genesisRemote         string
 	dataDir               string
@@ -106,6 +107,13 @@ func (c *startCfg) RegisterFlags(fs *flag.FlagSet) {
 		"initial txs to replay",
 	)
 
+	fs.StringVar(
+		&c.genesisFile,
+		"genesis",
+		"genesis.json",
+		"the path to the genesis.json",
+	)
+
 	fs.StringVar(
 		&c.chainID,
 		"chainid",
@@ -200,6 +208,12 @@ func execStart(c *startCfg, io commands.IO) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to get absolute path for data directory, %w", err)
 	}
 
+	// Get the absolute path to the node's genesis.json
+	genesisPath, err := filepath.Abs(c.genesisFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to get absolute path for the genesis.json, %w", err)
+	}
+
 	var (
 		cfg        *config.Config
 		loadCfgErr error
@@ -241,11 +255,9 @@ func execStart(c *startCfg, io commands.IO) error {
 	logger := log.ZapLoggerToSlog(zapLogger)
 
 	// Write genesis file if missing.
-	// NOTE: this will be dropped in a PR that resolves issue #1883:
-	// https://github.com/gnolang/gno/issues/1883
-	genesisFilePath := filepath.Join(nodeDir, "../", "genesis.json")
-
-	if !osm.FileExists(genesisFilePath) {
+	// NOTE: this will be dropped in a PR that resolves issue #1886:
+	// https://github.com/gnolang/gno/issues/1886
+	if !osm.FileExists(genesisPath) {
 		// Create priv validator first.
 		// Need it to generate genesis.json
 		newPrivValKey := cfg.PrivValidatorKeyFile()
@@ -254,7 +266,7 @@ func execStart(c *startCfg, io commands.IO) error {
 		pk := priv.GetPubKey()
 
 		// Generate genesis.json file
-		if err := generateGenesisFile(genesisFilePath, pk, c); err != nil {
+		if err := generateGenesisFile(genesisPath, pk, c); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("unable to generate genesis file: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -277,7 +289,7 @@ func execStart(c *startCfg, io commands.IO) error {
 		io.Println(startGraphic)
 	}
 
-	gnoNode, err := node.DefaultNewNode(cfg, genesisFilePath, logger)
+	gnoNode, err := node.DefaultNewNode(cfg, genesisPath, logger)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error in creating node: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/start_test.go b/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/start_test.go
index 2f266d8a879..cdec6de0f99 100644
--- a/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/start_test.go
+++ b/gno.land/cmd/gnoland/start_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -14,15 +15,24 @@ import (
 func TestStartInitialize(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
+	// NOTE: cannot be txtar tests as they use their own parsing for the
+	// "gnoland" command line. See pkg/integration.
+
 	var (
-		nodeDir = t.TempDir()
+		nodeDir     = t.TempDir()
+		genesisFile = filepath.Join(nodeDir, "test_genesis.json")
 
 		args = []string{
 			"start",
 			"--skip-start",
 			"--skip-failing-genesis-txs",
+
+			// These two flags are tested together as they would otherwise
+			// pollute this directory (cmd/gnoland) if not set.
 			"--data-dir",
 			nodeDir,
+			"--genesis",
+			genesisFile,
 		}
 	)
 
@@ -42,4 +52,5 @@ func TestStartInitialize(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Make sure the directory is created
 	assert.DirExists(t, nodeDir)
+	assert.FileExists(t, genesisFile)
 }
diff --git a/tm2/pkg/bft/config/config.go b/tm2/pkg/bft/config/config.go
index 8668dde5003..117ce36e96b 100644
--- a/tm2/pkg/bft/config/config.go
+++ b/tm2/pkg/bft/config/config.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ var (
 	errInvalidMoniker                    = errors.New("moniker not set")
 	errInvalidDBBackend                  = errors.New("invalid DB backend")
 	errInvalidDBPath                     = errors.New("invalid DB path")
-	errInvalidGenesisPath                = errors.New("invalid genesis path")
 	errInvalidPrivValidatorKeyPath       = errors.New("invalid private validator key path")
 	errInvalidPrivValidatorStatePath     = errors.New("invalid private validator state file path")
 	errInvalidABCIMechanism              = errors.New("invalid ABCI mechanism")
@@ -205,7 +204,6 @@ var (
 	defaultSecretsDir = "secrets"
 
 	defaultConfigFileName   = "config.toml"
-	defaultGenesisJSONName  = "genesis.json"
 	defaultNodeKeyName      = "node_key.json"
 	defaultPrivValKeyName   = "priv_validator_key.json"
 	defaultPrivValStateName = "priv_validator_state.json"
@@ -271,9 +269,6 @@ type BaseConfig struct {
 	// Database directory
 	DBPath string `toml:"db_dir" comment:"Database directory"`
 
-	// Path to the JSON file containing the initial validator set and other meta data
-	Genesis string `toml:"genesis_file" comment:"Path to the JSON file containing the initial validator set and other meta data"`
-
 	// Path to the JSON file containing the private key to use as a validator in the consensus protocol
 	PrivValidatorKey string `toml:"priv_validator_key_file" comment:"Path to the JSON file containing the private key to use as a validator in the consensus protocol"`
 
@@ -301,7 +296,6 @@ type BaseConfig struct {
 // DefaultBaseConfig returns a default base configuration for a Tendermint node
 func DefaultBaseConfig() BaseConfig {
 	return BaseConfig{
-		Genesis:            defaultGenesisJSONName,
 		PrivValidatorKey:   defaultPrivValKeyPath,
 		PrivValidatorState: defaultPrivValStatePath,
 		NodeKey:            defaultNodeKeyPath,
@@ -382,11 +376,6 @@ func (cfg BaseConfig) ValidateBasic() error {
 		return errInvalidDBPath
 	}
 
-	// Verify the genesis path is set
-	if cfg.Genesis == "" {
-		return errInvalidGenesisPath
-	}
-
 	// Verify the validator private key path is set
 	if cfg.PrivValidatorKey == "" {
 		return errInvalidPrivValidatorKeyPath
diff --git a/tm2/pkg/bft/config/config_test.go b/tm2/pkg/bft/config/config_test.go
index e1e439ac9c0..541b5591985 100644
--- a/tm2/pkg/bft/config/config_test.go
+++ b/tm2/pkg/bft/config/config_test.go
@@ -128,15 +128,6 @@ func TestConfig_ValidateBaseConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.ErrorIs(t, c.BaseConfig.ValidateBasic(), errInvalidDBPath)
 	})
 
-	t.Run("genesis path not set", func(t *testing.T) {
-		t.Parallel()
-
-		c := DefaultConfig()
-		c.Genesis = ""
-
-		assert.ErrorIs(t, c.BaseConfig.ValidateBasic(), errInvalidGenesisPath)
-	})
-
 	t.Run("priv validator key path not set", func(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Parallel()
 
diff --git a/tm2/pkg/bft/config/toml.go b/tm2/pkg/bft/config/toml.go
index 474fce0e8a3..5d8589394a0 100644
--- a/tm2/pkg/bft/config/toml.go
+++ b/tm2/pkg/bft/config/toml.go
@@ -81,7 +81,11 @@ func ResetTestRoot(testName string) (*Config, string) {
 
 	baseConfig := DefaultBaseConfig()
 	configFilePath := filepath.Join(rootDir, defaultConfigPath)
-	genesisFilePath := filepath.Join(rootDir, defaultGenesisJSONName)
+	// NOTE: this does not match the behaviour of the Gno.land node.
+	// However, many tests rely on the fact that they can cleanup the directory
+	// by doing RemoveAll on the rootDir; so to keep compatibility with that
+	// behaviour, we place genesis.json in the rootDir.
+	genesisFilePath := filepath.Join(rootDir, "genesis.json")
 	privKeyFilePath := filepath.Join(rootDir, baseConfig.PrivValidatorKey)
 	privStateFilePath := filepath.Join(rootDir, baseConfig.PrivValidatorState)
 
diff --git a/tm2/pkg/bft/config/toml_test.go b/tm2/pkg/bft/config/toml_test.go
index 53dea1f2dfe..3520bcebc9f 100644
--- a/tm2/pkg/bft/config/toml_test.go
+++ b/tm2/pkg/bft/config/toml_test.go
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ func TestEnsureTestRoot(t *testing.T) {
 	ensureFiles(
 		t,
 		rootDir,
+		"genesis.json",
 		DefaultDBDir,
-		baseConfig.Genesis,
 		baseConfig.PrivValidatorKey,
 		baseConfig.PrivValidatorState,
 	)
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ func checkConfig(configFile string) bool {
 		"wal",
 		"propose",
 		"max",
-		"genesis",
 	}
 	for _, e := range elems {
 		if !strings.Contains(configFile, e) {
diff --git a/tm2/pkg/bft/consensus/replay_file.go b/tm2/pkg/bft/consensus/replay_file.go
index 03ddb2d2722..701c2893053 100644
--- a/tm2/pkg/bft/consensus/replay_file.go
+++ b/tm2/pkg/bft/consensus/replay_file.go
@@ -249,5 +249,3 @@ func (pb *playback) replayConsoleLoop() int {
 		}
 	}
 }
-
-// --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/tm2/pkg/bft/rpc/test/helpers.go b/tm2/pkg/bft/rpc/test/helpers.go
index 39078eaaf7f..d934cf27a64 100644
--- a/tm2/pkg/bft/rpc/test/helpers.go
+++ b/tm2/pkg/bft/rpc/test/helpers.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func StartTendermint(app abci.Application, opts ...func(*Options)) *nm.Node {
 	for _, opt := range opts {
 		opt(&nodeOpts)
 	}
-	node := NewTendermint(app, &nodeOpts)
+	node := newTendermint(app, &nodeOpts)
 	err := node.Start()
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ func StopTendermint(node *nm.Node) {
 	os.RemoveAll(node.Config().RootDir)
 }
 
-// NewTendermint creates a new tendermint server and sleeps forever
-func NewTendermint(app abci.Application, opts *Options) *nm.Node {
+// newTendermint creates a new tendermint server and sleeps forever
+func newTendermint(app abci.Application, opts *Options) *nm.Node {
 	// Create & start node
 	config, genesisFile := GetConfig(opts.recreateConfig)
 
diff --git a/tm2/pkg/bft/store/store_test.go b/tm2/pkg/bft/store/store_test.go
index 6ea85592ac9..2e634681ecc 100644
--- a/tm2/pkg/bft/store/store_test.go
+++ b/tm2/pkg/bft/store/store_test.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func makeBlock(height int64, state sm.State, lastCommit *types.Commit) *types.Bl
 	return block
 }
 
-func makeStateAndBlockStore(logger *slog.Logger) (sm.State, *BlockStore, cleanupFunc) {
+func makeStateAndBlockStore(_ *slog.Logger) (sm.State, *BlockStore, cleanupFunc) {
 	config, genesisFile := cfg.ResetTestRoot("blockchain_reactor_test")
 	// blockDB := dbm.NewDebugDB("blockDB", memdb.NewMemDB())
 	// stateDB := dbm.NewDebugDB("stateDB", memdb.NewMemDB())