diff --git a/x/manifest/keeper/msg_server.go b/x/manifest/keeper/msg_server.go
index bcdb31a..2f459c0 100644
--- a/x/manifest/keeper/msg_server.go
+++ b/x/manifest/keeper/msg_server.go
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ func (ms msgServer) UpdateParams(ctx context.Context, req *types.MsgUpdateParams
 	return nil, ms.k.Params.Set(ctx, req.Params)
 }
 
-// PayoutStakeholders implements types.MsgServer.
 func (ms msgServer) Payout(ctx context.Context, req *types.MsgPayout) (*types.MsgPayoutResponse, error) {
 	if ms.k.authority != req.Authority {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid authority; expected %s, got %s", ms.k.authority, req.Authority)
@@ -45,7 +44,6 @@ func (ms msgServer) Payout(ctx context.Context, req *types.MsgPayout) (*types.Ms
 	return nil, ms.k.PayoutStakeholders(ctx, req.PayoutPairs)
 }
 
-// BurnHeldBalance implements types.MsgServer.
 func (ms msgServer) BurnHeldBalance(ctx context.Context, msg *types.MsgBurnHeldBalance) (*types.MsgBurnHeldBalanceResponse, error) {
 	addr, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(msg.Sender)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/x/manifest/types/msgs.go b/x/manifest/types/msgs.go
index dc2a828..427440d 100644
--- a/x/manifest/types/msgs.go
+++ b/x/manifest/types/msgs.go
@@ -107,10 +107,6 @@ func (msg *MsgPayout) Validate() error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("coin cannot be zero for address: %s", addr)
 		}
 
-		if coin.IsNegative() {
-			return fmt.Errorf("coin cannot be negative for address: %s", addr)
-		}
-
 		if err := coin.Validate(); err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrapf(err, "invalid coin: %v for address: %s", coin, addr)
 		}
diff --git a/x/manifest/types/msgs_test.go b/x/manifest/types/msgs_test.go
index 540e84d..ff13307 100644
--- a/x/manifest/types/msgs_test.go
+++ b/x/manifest/types/msgs_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,40 @@ import (
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
 )
 
+func TestMsgUpdateParams(t *testing.T) {
+	_, _, acc := testdata.KeyTestPubAddr()
+
+	type tc struct {
+		name    string
+		msg     *MsgUpdateParams
+		success bool
+	}
+
+	for _, c := range []tc{
+		{
+			name:    "success; valid update params",
+			msg:     NewMsgUpdateParams(acc),
+			success: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "fail; bad address",
+			msg: &MsgUpdateParams{
+				Authority: "bad",
+				Params:    NewParams(),
+			},
+		},
+	} {
+		c := c
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if c.success {
+				require.NoError(t, c.msg.Validate())
+			} else {
+				require.Error(t, c.msg.Validate())
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestMsgBurn(t *testing.T) {
 	_, _, acc := testdata.KeyTestPubAddr()
 
@@ -49,3 +83,52 @@ func TestMsgBurn(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestMsgPayout(t *testing.T) {
+	_, _, authority := testdata.KeyTestPubAddr()
+	_, _, acc := testdata.KeyTestPubAddr()
+
+	type tc struct {
+		name    string
+		msg     *MsgPayout
+		success bool
+	}
+
+	for _, c := range []tc{
+		{
+			name: "fail; no payouts",
+			msg:  NewMsgPayout(authority, []PayoutPair{}),
+		},
+		{
+			name: "fail; bad payout address",
+			msg: NewMsgPayout(authority, []PayoutPair{
+				{
+					Address: "bad",
+					Coin:    sdk.NewCoin("stake", sdkmath.NewInt(5)),
+				},
+			}),
+		},
+		{
+			name: "fail; 0 payout coins",
+			msg: NewMsgPayout(authority, []PayoutPair{
+				NewPayoutPair(acc, "stake", 0),
+			}),
+		},
+		{
+			name: "success; payout",
+			msg: NewMsgPayout(authority, []PayoutPair{
+				NewPayoutPair(acc, "stake", 5),
+			}),
+			success: true,
+		},
+	} {
+		c := c
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if c.success {
+				require.NoError(t, c.msg.Validate())
+			} else {
+				require.Error(t, c.msg.Validate())
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}