diff --git a/app/app.go b/app/app.go
index 1e6d312d2a..25341a17d3 100644
--- a/app/app.go
+++ b/app/app.go
@@ -108,6 +108,9 @@ const (
 	BondDenomAlias = "microtia"
 	// DisplayDenom defines the name, symbol, and display value of the Celestia token.
 	DisplayDenom = "TIA"
+	// SetProtocolVersionOptionKey is the key used to set the protocol version
+	// to a specific value during tests.
+	SetProtocolVersionOptionKey = "set-protocol-version"
 )
 
 // These constants are derived from the above variables.
@@ -259,6 +262,15 @@ func New(
 	cdc := encodingConfig.Amino
 	interfaceRegistry := encodingConfig.InterfaceRegistry
 
+	// set the protocol version to a specific value if specified. This is used
+	// for testing purposes.
+	if pvo := appOpts.Get(SetProtocolVersionOptionKey); pvo != nil {
+		baseAppOptions = append(baseAppOptions, func(ba *baseapp.BaseApp) {
+			appVersion := pvo.(uint64)
+			ba.SetProtocolVersion(appVersion)
+		})
+	}
+
 	bApp := baseapp.NewBaseApp(Name, logger, db, encodingConfig.TxConfig.TxDecoder(), baseAppOptions...)
 	bApp.SetCommitMultiStoreTracer(traceStore)
 	bApp.SetVersion(version.Version)
diff --git a/test/util/testnode/config.go b/test/util/testnode/config.go
index bb04f44ee4..f6242f5684 100644
--- a/test/util/testnode/config.go
+++ b/test/util/testnode/config.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package testnode
 import (
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/celestiaorg/celestia-app/app"
 	"github.com/celestiaorg/celestia-app/cmd/celestia-appd/cmd"
 	"github.com/celestiaorg/celestia-app/pkg/appconsts"
 	"github.com/celestiaorg/celestia-app/test/util/genesis"
@@ -146,6 +147,7 @@ func (ao *KVAppOptions) Set(o string, v interface{}) {
 func DefaultAppOptions() *KVAppOptions {
 	opts := &KVAppOptions{options: make(map[string]interface{})}
 	opts.Set(server.FlagPruning, pruningtypes.PruningOptionNothing)
+	opts.Set(app.SetProtocolVersionOptionKey, appconsts.LatestVersion)
 	return opts
 }
 
diff --git a/test/util/testnode/full_node_test.go b/test/util/testnode/full_node_test.go
index a2e9dca5d8..fd52f95cf9 100644
--- a/test/util/testnode/full_node_test.go
+++ b/test/util/testnode/full_node_test.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/celestiaorg/celestia-app/test/util/genesis"
 	blobtypes "github.com/celestiaorg/celestia-app/x/blob/types"
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/client/flags"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/suite"
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/abci/types"
 	tmrand "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/rand"
@@ -132,3 +133,12 @@ func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) Test_FillBlock_InvalidSquareSizeError() {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// Test_defaultAppVersion tests that the default app version is set correctly in
+// testnode.
+func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) Test_defaultAppVersion() {
+	t := s.T()
+	blockRes, err := s.cctx.Client.Block(s.cctx.GoContext(), nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, appconsts.LatestVersion, blockRes.Block.Version.App)
+}