diff --git a/internal/consensus/invalid_test.go b/internal/consensus/invalid_test.go
index 033b096ba..f38598af9 100644
--- a/internal/consensus/invalid_test.go
+++ b/internal/consensus/invalid_test.go
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ func TestReactorInvalidPrecommit(t *testing.T) {
 
 	config := configSetup(t)
 
-	n := 4
+	const n = 2
 	states, cleanup := makeConsensusState(ctx, t,
 		config, n, "consensus_reactor_test",
 		newMockTickerFunc(true))
 	t.Cleanup(cleanup)
 
-	for i := 0; i < 4; i++ {
+	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
 		ticker := NewTimeoutTicker(states[i].logger)
 		states[i].SetTimeoutTicker(ticker)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/consensus/reactor_test.go b/internal/consensus/reactor_test.go
index b8d638976..c284b4345 100644
--- a/internal/consensus/reactor_test.go
+++ b/internal/consensus/reactor_test.go
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ func TestReactorBasic(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cfg := configSetup(t)
 
-	n := 4
+	n := 2
 	states, cleanup := makeConsensusState(ctx, t,
 		cfg, n, "consensus_reactor_test",
 		newMockTickerFunc(true))
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ func TestReactorWithEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cfg := configSetup(t)
 
-	n := 4
+	n := 2
 	testName := "consensus_reactor_test"
 	tickerFunc := newMockTickerFunc(true)
 
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ func TestReactorCreatesBlockWhenEmptyBlocksFalse(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cfg := configSetup(t)
 
-	n := 4
+	n := 2
 	states, cleanup := makeConsensusState(ctx,
 		t,
 		cfg,
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ func TestReactorCreatesBlockWhenEmptyBlocksFalse(t *testing.T) {
 	// send a tx
 	require.NoError(
 		t,
-		assertMempool(t, states[3].txNotifier).CheckTx(
+		assertMempool(t, states[1].txNotifier).CheckTx(
 			ctx,
 			[]byte{1, 2, 3},
 			nil,
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ func TestReactorRecordsVotesAndBlockParts(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cfg := configSetup(t)
 
-	n := 4
+	n := 2
 	states, cleanup := makeConsensusState(ctx, t,
 		cfg, n, "consensus_reactor_test",
 		newMockTickerFunc(true))
@@ -670,7 +670,7 @@ func TestReactorVotingPowerChange(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cfg := configSetup(t)
 
-	n := 4
+	n := 2
 	states, cleanup := makeConsensusState(ctx,
 		t,
 		cfg,
diff --git a/internal/consensus/state_test.go b/internal/consensus/state_test.go
index 474d5afc6..f03889c9e 100644
--- a/internal/consensus/state_test.go
+++ b/internal/consensus/state_test.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package consensus
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -312,8 +311,6 @@ func TestStateOversizedBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	// start the machine
 	startTestRound(ctx, cs1, height, round)
 
-	t.Log("Block Sizes", "Limit", cs1.state.ConsensusParams.Block.MaxBytes, "Current", totalBytes)
-
 	// c1 should log an error with the block part message as it exceeds the consensus params. The
 	// block is not added to cs.ProposalBlock so the node timeouts.
 	ensureNewTimeout(t, timeoutProposeCh, height, round, cs1.config.Propose(round).Nanoseconds())
@@ -490,7 +487,6 @@ func TestStateLock_NoPOL(t *testing.T) {
 
 	round++ // moving to the next round
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
-	t.Log("#### ONTO ROUND 1")
 	/*
 		Round2 (cs1, B) // B B2
 	*/
@@ -533,7 +529,6 @@ func TestStateLock_NoPOL(t *testing.T) {
 
 	round++ // entering new round
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
-	t.Log("#### ONTO ROUND 2")
 	/*
 		Round3 (vs2, _) // B, B2
 	*/
@@ -590,7 +585,6 @@ func TestStateLock_NoPOL(t *testing.T) {
 
 	round++ // entering new round
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
-	t.Log("#### ONTO ROUND 3")
 	/*
 		Round4 (vs2, C) // B C // B C
 	*/
@@ -662,7 +656,6 @@ func TestStateLock_POLUpdateLock(t *testing.T) {
 
 		This ensures that cs1 will lock on B in this round but not precommit it.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 0")
 
 	// start round and wait for propose and prevote
 	startTestRound(ctx, cs1, height, round)
@@ -700,7 +693,6 @@ func TestStateLock_POLUpdateLock(t *testing.T) {
 
 		Check that cs1 is now locked on the new block, D and no longer on the old block.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 1")
 	incrementRound(vs2, vs3, vs4)
 	round++
 
@@ -769,7 +761,6 @@ func TestStateLock_POLRelock(t *testing.T) {
 		Send a precommit for nil from all of the validators to cs1.
 		This ensures that cs1 will lock on B in this round but not precommit it.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 0")
 
 	startTestRound(ctx, cs1, height, round)
 
@@ -808,7 +799,6 @@ func TestStateLock_POLRelock(t *testing.T) {
 
 		Check that cs1 updates its 'locked round' value to the current round.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 1")
 	incrementRound(vs2, vs3, vs4)
 	round++
 	propR1 := types.NewProposal(height, round, cs1.ValidRound, blockID, theBlock.Header.Time)
@@ -868,7 +858,6 @@ func TestStateLock_PrevoteNilWhenLockedAndMissProposal(t *testing.T) {
 
 		This ensures that cs1 will lock on B in this round but not precommit it.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 0")
 
 	startTestRound(ctx, cs1, height, round)
 
@@ -905,7 +894,6 @@ func TestStateLock_PrevoteNilWhenLockedAndMissProposal(t *testing.T) {
 		Check that cs1 prevotes nil instead of its locked block, but ensure
 		that it maintains its locked block.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 1")
 	incrementRound(vs2, vs3, vs4)
 	round++
 
@@ -957,7 +945,6 @@ func TestStateLock_PrevoteNilWhenLockedAndDifferentProposal(t *testing.T) {
 
 		This ensures that cs1 will lock on B in this round but not precommit it.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 0")
 	startTestRound(ctx, cs1, height, round)
 
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
@@ -994,7 +981,6 @@ func TestStateLock_PrevoteNilWhenLockedAndDifferentProposal(t *testing.T) {
 		Check that cs1 prevotes nil instead of its locked block, but ensure
 		that it maintains its locked block.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 1")
 	incrementRound(vs2, vs3, vs4)
 	round++
 	cs2 := newState(ctx, t, logger, cs1.state, vs2, kvstore.NewApplication())
@@ -1059,7 +1045,6 @@ func TestStateLock_POLDoesNotUnlock(t *testing.T) {
 
 		This ensures that cs1 will lock on B in this round.
 	*/
-	t.Log("#### ONTO ROUND 0")
 
 	// start round and wait for propose and prevote
 	startTestRound(ctx, cs1, height, round)
@@ -1101,7 +1086,6 @@ func TestStateLock_POLDoesNotUnlock(t *testing.T) {
 		Check that cs1 maintains its lock on B but precommits nil.
 		Send a precommit for nil from >2/3 of the validators to `cs1`.
 	*/
-	t.Log("#### ONTO ROUND 1")
 	round++
 	incrementRound(vs2, vs3, vs4)
 	cs2 := newState(ctx, t, logger, cs1.state, vs2, kvstore.NewApplication())
@@ -1136,7 +1120,6 @@ func TestStateLock_POLDoesNotUnlock(t *testing.T) {
 		Send the validator >2/3 prevotes for nil and ensure that it did not
 		unlock its block at the end of the previous round.
 	*/
-	t.Log("#### ONTO ROUND 2")
 	round++
 	incrementRound(vs2, vs3, vs4)
 	cs3 := newState(ctx, t, logger, cs1.state, vs2, kvstore.NewApplication())
@@ -1193,7 +1176,6 @@ func TestStateLock_MissingProposalWhenPOLSeenDoesNotUpdateLock(t *testing.T) {
 
 		This ensures that cs1 will lock on B in this round but not precommit it.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 0")
 	startTestRound(ctx, cs1, height, round)
 
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
@@ -1225,7 +1207,6 @@ func TestStateLock_MissingProposalWhenPOLSeenDoesNotUpdateLock(t *testing.T) {
 
 		Check that cs1 does not update its locked block to this missed block D.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 1")
 	incrementRound(vs2, vs3, vs4)
 	round++
 	cs2 := newState(ctx, t, logger, cs1.state, vs2, kvstore.NewApplication())
@@ -1281,7 +1262,6 @@ func TestStateLock_DoesNotLockOnOldProposal(t *testing.T) {
 
 		This ensures that cs1 will not lock on B.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 0")
 	startTestRound(ctx, cs1, height, round)
 
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
@@ -1315,7 +1295,6 @@ func TestStateLock_DoesNotLockOnOldProposal(t *testing.T) {
 		cs1 saw a POL for the block it saw in round 0. We ensure that it does not
 		lock on this block, since it did not see a proposal for it in this round.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 1")
 	round++
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
 
@@ -1379,7 +1358,6 @@ func TestStateLock_POLSafety1(t *testing.T) {
 	ensurePrecommit(t, voteCh, height, round)
 	ensureNewTimeout(t, timeoutWaitCh, height, round, cs1.config.Precommit(round).Nanoseconds())
 
-	t.Log("### ONTO ROUND 1")
 	incrementRound(vs2, vs3, vs4)
 	round++ // moving to the next round
 	cs2 := newState(ctx, t, logger, cs1.state, vs2, kvstore.NewApplication())
@@ -1407,8 +1385,6 @@ func TestStateLock_POLSafety1(t *testing.T) {
 
 	require.Nil(t, rs.LockedBlock, "we should not be locked!")
 
-	t.Logf("new prop hash %v", fmt.Sprintf("%X", propBlock.Hash()))
-
 	// go to prevote, prevote for proposal block
 	ensurePrevoteMatch(t, voteCh, height, round, r2BlockID.Hash)
 
@@ -1428,7 +1404,6 @@ func TestStateLock_POLSafety1(t *testing.T) {
 
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
 
-	t.Log("### ONTO ROUND 2")
 	/*Round3
 	we see the polka from round 1 but we shouldn't unlock!
 	*/
@@ -1494,7 +1469,7 @@ func TestStateLock_POLSafety2(t *testing.T) {
 	incrementRound(vs2, vs3, vs4)
 
 	round++ // moving to the next round
-	t.Log("### ONTO Round 1")
+
 	// jump in at round 1
 	startTestRound(ctx, cs1, height, round)
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
@@ -1536,7 +1511,7 @@ func TestStateLock_POLSafety2(t *testing.T) {
 	addVotes(cs1, prevotes...)
 
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
-	t.Log("### ONTO Round 2")
+
 	/*Round2
 	// now we see the polka from round 1, but we shouldnt unlock
 	*/
@@ -1579,7 +1554,6 @@ func TestState_PrevotePOLFromPreviousRound(t *testing.T) {
 
 		This ensures that cs1 will lock on B in this round but not precommit it.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 0")
 
 	startTestRound(ctx, cs1, height, round)
 
@@ -1617,14 +1591,16 @@ func TestState_PrevotePOLFromPreviousRound(t *testing.T) {
 		cs1 has now seen greater than 2/3 of the voting power prevote D in this round
 		but cs1 did not see the proposal for D in this round so it will not prevote or precommit it.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 1")
+
 	incrementRound(vs2, vs3, vs4)
 	round++
 	// Generate a new proposal block.
 	cs2 := newState(ctx, t, logger, cs1.state, vs2, kvstore.NewApplication())
 	cs2.ValidRound = 1
 	propR1, propBlockR1 := decideProposal(ctx, t, cs2, vs2, vs2.Height, round)
-	t.Log(propR1.POLRound)
+
+	assert.EqualValues(t, 1, propR1.POLRound)
+
 	propBlockR1Parts, err := propBlockR1.MakePartSet(partSize)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	r1BlockID := types.BlockID{
@@ -1658,7 +1634,6 @@ func TestState_PrevotePOLFromPreviousRound(t *testing.T) {
 		Send cs1 prevotes for nil and check that it still prevotes its locked block
 		and not the block that it prevoted.
 	*/
-	t.Log("### Starting Round 2")
 	incrementRound(vs2, vs3, vs4)
 	round++
 	propR2 := types.NewProposal(height, round, 1, r1BlockID, propBlockR1.Header.Time)
@@ -1745,7 +1720,6 @@ func TestProposeValidBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	round++ // moving to the next round
 
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
-	t.Log("### ONTO ROUND 1")
 
 	// timeout of propose
 	ensureNewTimeout(t, timeoutProposeCh, height, round, cs1.config.Propose(round).Nanoseconds())
@@ -1768,7 +1742,6 @@ func TestProposeValidBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	round += 2 // increment by multiple rounds
 
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
-	t.Log("### ONTO ROUND 3")
 
 	ensureNewTimeout(t, timeoutWaitCh, height, round, cs1.config.Precommit(round).Nanoseconds())
 
@@ -2474,7 +2447,6 @@ func TestStateHalt1(t *testing.T) {
 
 	ensureNewRound(t, newRoundCh, height, round)
 
-	t.Log("### ONTO ROUND 1")
 	/*Round2
 	// we timeout and prevote
 	// a polka happened but we didn't see it!
diff --git a/internal/state/errors.go b/internal/state/errors.go
index 6e0cdfa47..e8ad776f4 100644
--- a/internal/state/errors.go
+++ b/internal/state/errors.go
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ type (
 
 	ErrNoValSetForHeight struct {
 		Height int64
+		Err    error
 	}
 
 	ErrNoConsensusParamsForHeight struct {
@@ -89,9 +90,14 @@ func (e ErrStateMismatch) Error() string {
 }
 
 func (e ErrNoValSetForHeight) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("could not find validator set for height #%d", e.Height)
+	if e.Err == nil {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("could not find validator set for height #%d", e.Height)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("could not find validator set for height #%d: %s", e.Height, e.Err.Error())
 }
 
+func (e ErrNoValSetForHeight) Unwrap() error { return e.Err }
+
 func (e ErrNoConsensusParamsForHeight) Error() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("could not find consensus params for height #%d", e.Height)
 }
diff --git a/internal/state/store.go b/internal/state/store.go
index 93bd3eb2b..87f5e0c4f 100644
--- a/internal/state/store.go
+++ b/internal/state/store.go
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ func (store dbStore) LoadValidators(height int64) (*types.ValidatorSet, error) {
 
 	valInfo, err := loadValidatorsInfo(store.db, height)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, ErrNoValSetForHeight{height}
+		return nil, ErrNoValSetForHeight{Height: height, Err: err}
 	}
 	if valInfo.ValidatorSet == nil {
 		lastStoredHeight := lastStoredHeightFor(height, valInfo.LastHeightChanged)