diff --git a/cmd/gaia/cmd/gaiad/main.go b/cmd/gaia/cmd/gaiad/main.go
index 6d597eed7..6cb2d4eeb 100644
--- a/cmd/gaia/cmd/gaiad/main.go
+++ b/cmd/gaia/cmd/gaiad/main.go
@@ -65,12 +65,14 @@ func newApp(logger log.Logger, db dbm.DB, traceStore io.Writer) abci.Application
 func exportAppStateAndTMValidators(
 	logger log.Logger, db dbm.DB, traceStore io.Writer, height int64, forZeroHeight bool,
 ) (json.RawMessage, []tmtypes.GenesisValidator, error) {
-	gApp := app.NewGaiaApp(logger, db, traceStore, false)
 	if height != -1 {
+		gApp := app.NewGaiaApp(logger, db, traceStore, false)
 		err := gApp.LoadHeight(height)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, nil, err
 		}
+		return gApp.ExportAppStateAndValidators(forZeroHeight)
 	}
+	gApp := app.NewGaiaApp(logger, db, traceStore, true)
 	return gApp.ExportAppStateAndValidators(forZeroHeight)
 }