diff --git a/test/e2e/pkg/testnet.go b/test/e2e/pkg/testnet.go
index 8971ed6d6..65a25c96a 100644
--- a/test/e2e/pkg/testnet.go
+++ b/test/e2e/pkg/testnet.go
@@ -189,13 +189,15 @@ func LoadTestnet(file string) (*Testnet, error) {
 			QueueType:        manifest.QueueType,
 			UseLegacyP2P:     nodeManifest.UseLegacyP2P,
 		}
-
 		if node.StartAt == testnet.InitialHeight {
 			node.StartAt = 0 // normalize to 0 for initial nodes, since code expects this
 		}
 		if nodeManifest.Mode != "" {
 			node.Mode = Mode(nodeManifest.Mode)
 		}
+		if node.Mode == ModeLight {
+			node.ABCIProtocol = ProtocolBuiltin
+		}
 		if nodeManifest.Database != "" {
 			node.Database = nodeManifest.Database
 		}