diff --git a/testing/coordinator.go b/testing/coordinator.go
index 5a7a91650fc..65bf5a4f1f3 100644
--- a/testing/coordinator.go
+++ b/testing/coordinator.go
@@ -117,7 +117,8 @@ func (coord *Coordinator) CreateConnections(path *Path) {
 	require.NoError(coord.T, err)
 
 	// ensure counterparty is up to date
-	path.EndpointA.UpdateClient()
+	err = path.EndpointA.UpdateClient()
+	require.NoError(coord.T, err)
 }
 
 // CreateMockChannels constructs and executes channel handshake messages to create OPEN
@@ -158,7 +159,8 @@ func (coord *Coordinator) CreateChannels(path *Path) {
 	require.NoError(coord.T, err)
 
 	// ensure counterparty is up to date
-	path.EndpointA.UpdateClient()
+	err = path.EndpointA.UpdateClient()
+	require.NoError(coord.T, err)
 }
 
 // GetChain returns the TestChain using the given chainID and returns an error if it does
diff --git a/testing/endpoint.go b/testing/endpoint.go
index 5d496494afc..5c2e2e33f4f 100644
--- a/testing/endpoint.go
+++ b/testing/endpoint.go
@@ -175,7 +175,8 @@ func (endpoint *Endpoint) ConnOpenInit() error {
 
 // ConnOpenTry will construct and execute a MsgConnectionOpenTry on the associated endpoint.
 func (endpoint *Endpoint) ConnOpenTry() error {
-	endpoint.UpdateClient()
+	err := endpoint.UpdateClient()
+	require.NoError(endpoint.Chain.T, err)
 
 	counterpartyClient, proofClient, proofConsensus, consensusHeight, proofInit, proofHeight := endpoint.QueryConnectionHandshakeProof()
 
@@ -202,7 +203,8 @@ func (endpoint *Endpoint) ConnOpenTry() error {
 
 // ConnOpenAck will construct and execute a MsgConnectionOpenAck on the associated endpoint.
 func (endpoint *Endpoint) ConnOpenAck() error {
-	endpoint.UpdateClient()
+	err := endpoint.UpdateClient()
+	require.NoError(endpoint.Chain.T, err)
 
 	counterpartyClient, proofClient, proofConsensus, consensusHeight, proofTry, proofHeight := endpoint.QueryConnectionHandshakeProof()
 
@@ -218,7 +220,8 @@ func (endpoint *Endpoint) ConnOpenAck() error {
 
 // ConnOpenConfirm will construct and execute a MsgConnectionOpenConfirm on the associated endpoint.
 func (endpoint *Endpoint) ConnOpenConfirm() error {
-	endpoint.UpdateClient()
+	err := endpoint.UpdateClient()
+	require.NoError(endpoint.Chain.T, err)
 
 	connectionKey := host.ConnectionKey(endpoint.Counterparty.ConnectionID)
 	proof, height := endpoint.Counterparty.Chain.QueryProof(connectionKey)
@@ -281,7 +284,8 @@ func (endpoint *Endpoint) ChanOpenInit() error {
 
 // ChanOpenTry will construct and execute a MsgChannelOpenTry on the associated endpoint.
 func (endpoint *Endpoint) ChanOpenTry() error {
-	endpoint.UpdateClient()
+	err := endpoint.UpdateClient()
+	require.NoError(endpoint.Chain.T, err)
 
 	channelKey := host.ChannelKey(endpoint.Counterparty.ChannelConfig.PortID, endpoint.Counterparty.ChannelID)
 	proof, height := endpoint.Counterparty.Chain.QueryProof(channelKey)
@@ -312,7 +316,8 @@ func (endpoint *Endpoint) ChanOpenTry() error {
 
 // ChanOpenAck will construct and execute a MsgChannelOpenAck on the associated endpoint.
 func (endpoint *Endpoint) ChanOpenAck() error {
-	endpoint.UpdateClient()
+	err := endpoint.UpdateClient()
+	require.NoError(endpoint.Chain.T, err)
 
 	channelKey := host.ChannelKey(endpoint.Counterparty.ChannelConfig.PortID, endpoint.Counterparty.ChannelID)
 	proof, height := endpoint.Counterparty.Chain.QueryProof(channelKey)
@@ -328,7 +333,8 @@ func (endpoint *Endpoint) ChanOpenAck() error {
 
 // ChanOpenConfirm will construct and execute a MsgChannelOpenConfirm on the associated endpoint.
 func (endpoint *Endpoint) ChanOpenConfirm() error {
-	endpoint.UpdateClient()
+	err := endpoint.UpdateClient()
+	require.NoError(endpoint.Chain.T, err)
 
 	channelKey := host.ChannelKey(endpoint.Counterparty.ChannelConfig.PortID, endpoint.Counterparty.ChannelID)
 	proof, height := endpoint.Counterparty.Chain.QueryProof(channelKey)
diff --git a/testing/path.go b/testing/path.go
index d447102c7b9..731d3cd5e1b 100644
--- a/testing/path.go
+++ b/testing/path.go
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ func (path *Path) RelayPacket(packet channeltypes.Packet) error {
 	if bytes.Equal(pc, channeltypes.CommitPacket(path.EndpointA.Chain.App.AppCodec(), packet)) {
 
 		// packet found, relay from A to B
-		path.EndpointB.UpdateClient()
+		if err := path.EndpointB.UpdateClient(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 
 		res, err := path.EndpointB.RecvPacketWithResult(packet)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -58,15 +60,17 @@ func (path *Path) RelayPacket(packet channeltypes.Packet) error {
 		if err := path.EndpointA.AcknowledgePacket(packet, ack); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		return nil
 
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	pc = path.EndpointB.Chain.App.GetIBCKeeper().ChannelKeeper.GetPacketCommitment(path.EndpointB.Chain.GetContext(), packet.GetSourcePort(), packet.GetSourceChannel(), packet.GetSequence())
 	if bytes.Equal(pc, channeltypes.CommitPacket(path.EndpointB.Chain.App.AppCodec(), packet)) {
 
 		// packet found, relay B to A
-		path.EndpointA.UpdateClient()
+		if err := path.EndpointA.UpdateClient(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 
 		res, err := path.EndpointA.RecvPacketWithResult(packet)
 		if err != nil {