diff --git a/core/meterer/meterer_test.go b/core/meterer/meterer_test.go
index dfe56b536..32229da6b 100644
--- a/core/meterer/meterer_test.go
+++ b/core/meterer/meterer_test.go
@@ -157,6 +157,11 @@ func setup(_ *testing.M) {
 		// metrics.NewNoopMetrics(),
 	)
 
+	// initialize the on-chain state
+	if err := mt.ChainPaymentState.RefreshOnchainPaymentState(context.Background(), nil); err != nil {
+		panic("failed to make initial query to the on-chain state")
+	}
+
 	mt.Start(context.Background())
 }
 
diff --git a/disperser/cmd/apiserver/main.go b/disperser/cmd/apiserver/main.go
index 797cf24c3..1a6f5f456 100644
--- a/disperser/cmd/apiserver/main.go
+++ b/disperser/cmd/apiserver/main.go
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ func RunDisperserServer(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to create onchain payment state: %w", err)
 		}
+		// fresh payment state
 		if err := paymentChainState.RefreshOnchainPaymentState(context.Background(), nil); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to make initial query to the on-chain state: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -134,6 +135,7 @@ func RunDisperserServer(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 			logger,
 			// metrics.NewNoopMetrics(),
 		)
+
 	}
 
 	var ratelimiter common.RateLimiter