diff --git a/test/e2e/tests/app_test.go b/test/e2e/tests/app_test.go
index 91f3cd2a5..010614ab7 100644
--- a/test/e2e/tests/app_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/tests/app_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import (
 
 // Tests that any initial state given in genesis has made it into the app.
 func TestApp_InitialState(t *testing.T) {
-	testNode(t, func(t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
+	testNode(t, func(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
 		if len(node.Testnet.InitialState) == 0 {
 			return
 		}
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func TestApp_InitialState(t *testing.T) {
 // Tests that the app hash (as reported by the app) matches the last
 // block and the node sync status.
 func TestApp_Hash(t *testing.T) {
-	testNode(t, func(t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
+	testNode(t, func(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
 		client, err := node.Client()
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		info, err := client.ABCIInfo(ctx)
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func TestApp_Hash(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Tests that the app and blockstore have and report the same height.
 func TestApp_Height(t *testing.T) {
-	testNode(t, func(t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
+	testNode(t, func(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
 		client, err := node.Client()
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		info, err := client.ABCIInfo(ctx)
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ func TestApp_Tx(t *testing.T) {
 			// testNode calls t.Parallel as well, so we should
 			// have a copy of the
 			test := testCases[idx]
-			testNode(t, func(t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
+			testNode(t, func(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
 				client, err := node.Client()
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 
diff --git a/test/e2e/tests/block_test.go b/test/e2e/tests/block_test.go
index f83cf3757..509605cde 100644
--- a/test/e2e/tests/block_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/tests/block_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package e2e_test
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -11,8 +12,11 @@ import (
 
 // Tests that block headers are identical across nodes where present.
 func TestBlock_Header(t *testing.T) {
-	blocks := fetchBlockChain(t)
-	testNode(t, func(t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	blocks := fetchBlockChain(ctx, t)
+	testNode(t, func(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
 		client, err := node.Client()
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		status, err := client.Status(ctx)
@@ -50,7 +54,7 @@ func TestBlock_Header(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Tests that the node contains the expected block range.
 func TestBlock_Range(t *testing.T) {
-	testNode(t, func(t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
+	testNode(t, func(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
 		client, err := node.Client()
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		status, err := client.Status(ctx)
diff --git a/test/e2e/tests/e2e_test.go b/test/e2e/tests/e2e_test.go
index a645fd7c1..359c73e78 100644
--- a/test/e2e/tests/e2e_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/tests/e2e_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ func init() {
 }
 
 var (
-	ctx             = context.Background()
 	testnetCache    = map[string]e2e.Testnet{}
 	testnetCacheMtx = sync.Mutex{}
 	blocksCache     = map[string][]*types.Block{}
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ var (
 // these tests are skipped so that they're not picked up during normal unit
 // test runs. If E2E_NODE is also set, only the specified node is tested,
 // otherwise all nodes are tested.
-func testNode(t *testing.T, testFunc func(*testing.T, e2e.Node)) {
+func testNode(t *testing.T, testFunc func(context.Context, *testing.T, e2e.Node)) {
 	t.Helper()
 
 	testnet := loadTestnet(t)
@@ -58,7 +57,11 @@ func testNode(t *testing.T, testFunc func(*testing.T, e2e.Node)) {
 
 		t.Run(node.Name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Parallel()
-			testFunc(t, node)
+
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+			defer cancel()
+
+			testFunc(ctx, t, node)
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -86,7 +89,7 @@ func loadTestnet(t *testing.T) e2e.Testnet {
 
 // fetchBlockChain fetches a complete, up-to-date block history from
 // the freshest testnet archive node.
-func fetchBlockChain(t *testing.T) []*types.Block {
+func fetchBlockChain(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T) []*types.Block {
 	t.Helper()
 
 	testnet := loadTestnet(t)
diff --git a/test/e2e/tests/evidence_test.go b/test/e2e/tests/evidence_test.go
index f7f2ede79..9d0a1d255 100644
--- a/test/e2e/tests/evidence_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/tests/evidence_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package e2e_test
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -9,7 +10,10 @@ import (
 // assert that all nodes that have blocks at the height of a misbehavior has evidence
 // for that misbehavior
 func TestEvidence_Misbehavior(t *testing.T) {
-	blocks := fetchBlockChain(t)
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	blocks := fetchBlockChain(ctx, t)
 	testnet := loadTestnet(t)
 	seenEvidence := 0
 	for _, block := range blocks {
diff --git a/test/e2e/tests/net_test.go b/test/e2e/tests/net_test.go
index e6ff27a0e..71a958412 100644
--- a/test/e2e/tests/net_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/tests/net_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package e2e_test
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ func TestNet_Peers(t *testing.T) {
 	// FIXME Skip test since nodes aren't always able to fully mesh
 	t.SkipNow()
 
-	testNode(t, func(t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
+	testNode(t, func(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
 		client, err := node.Client()
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		netInfo, err := client.NetInfo(ctx)
diff --git a/test/e2e/tests/validator_test.go b/test/e2e/tests/validator_test.go
index 8292e86ee..cf0b5eadf 100644
--- a/test/e2e/tests/validator_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/tests/validator_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package e2e_test
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"context"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ import (
 // Tests that validator sets are available and correct according to
 // scheduled validator updates.
 func TestValidator_Sets(t *testing.T) {
-	testNode(t, func(t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
+	testNode(t, func(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
 		client, err := node.Client()
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		status, err := client.Status(ctx)
@@ -59,8 +60,11 @@ func TestValidator_Sets(t *testing.T) {
 // Tests that a validator proposes blocks when it's supposed to. It tolerates some
 // missed blocks, e.g. due to testnet perturbations.
 func TestValidator_Propose(t *testing.T) {
-	blocks := fetchBlockChain(t)
-	testNode(t, func(t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	blocks := fetchBlockChain(ctx, t)
+	testNode(t, func(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
 		if node.Mode != e2e.ModeValidator {
 			return
 		}
@@ -90,8 +94,11 @@ func TestValidator_Propose(t *testing.T) {
 // Tests that a validator signs blocks when it's supposed to. It tolerates some
 // missed blocks, e.g. due to testnet perturbations.
 func TestValidator_Sign(t *testing.T) {
-	blocks := fetchBlockChain(t)
-	testNode(t, func(t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	blocks := fetchBlockChain(ctx, t)
+	testNode(t, func(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, node e2e.Node) {
 		if node.Mode != e2e.ModeValidator {
 			return
 		}