diff --git a/l1-contracts/src/mock/TestERC20.sol b/l1-contracts/src/mock/TestERC20.sol
index 9c827a8c59d6..3883b407347d 100644
--- a/l1-contracts/src/mock/TestERC20.sol
+++ b/l1-contracts/src/mock/TestERC20.sol
@@ -7,12 +7,26 @@ import {ERC20} from "@oz/token/ERC20/ERC20.sol";
 import {IMintableERC20} from "./../governance/interfaces/IMintableERC20.sol";
 
 contract TestERC20 is ERC20, IMintableERC20, Ownable {
+  bool public freeForAll = false;
+
+  modifier ownerOrFreeForAll() {
+    if (msg.sender != owner() && !freeForAll) {
+      revert("Not owner or free for all");
+    }
+    _;
+  }
+
   constructor(string memory _name, string memory _symbol, address _owner)
     ERC20(_name, _symbol)
     Ownable(_owner)
   {}
 
-  function mint(address _to, uint256 _amount) external override(IMintableERC20) onlyOwner {
+  // solhint-disable-next-line comprehensive-interface
+  function setFreeForAll(bool _freeForAll) external onlyOwner {
+    freeForAll = _freeForAll;
+  }
+
+  function mint(address _to, uint256 _amount) external override(IMintableERC20) ownerOrFreeForAll {
     _mint(_to, _amount);
   }
 }
diff --git a/yarn-project/ethereum/src/deploy_l1_contracts.ts b/yarn-project/ethereum/src/deploy_l1_contracts.ts
index ca1519003412..52a7aed1907b 100644
--- a/yarn-project/ethereum/src/deploy_l1_contracts.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/ethereum/src/deploy_l1_contracts.ts
@@ -424,6 +424,12 @@ export const deployL1Contracts = async (
   // Transaction hashes to await
   const txHashes: Hex[] = [];
 
+  {
+    const txHash = await feeAsset.write.setFreeForAll([true], {} as any);
+    logger.info(`Fee asset set to free for all in ${txHash}`);
+    txHashes.push(txHash);
+  }
+
   if (args.initialValidators && args.initialValidators.length > 0) {
     // Mint tokens, approve them, use cheat code to initialise validator set without setting up the epoch.
     const stakeNeeded = MINIMUM_STAKE * BigInt(args.initialValidators.length);