diff --git a/scripts/testing/setup_localnet_nodes.sh b/scripts/testing/setup_localnet_nodes.sh
index c000e1cd2..6e72605d2 100755
--- a/scripts/testing/setup_localnet_nodes.sh
+++ b/scripts/testing/setup_localnet_nodes.sh
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ prompt_to_stop_screens() {
         case $choice in
             [Yy]*)
                 for screen_name in "${existing_screens[@]}"; do
-                    screen -S "$screen_name" -X quit
+                    screen -S "${screen_name}" -X stuff "^C"
                 done
                 ;;
             [Nn]*)
@@ -266,6 +266,27 @@ start_nodes_in_screens() {
     done
 }
 
+# Function to start nodes in separate screen sessions with new binary version
+prompt_start_nodes_in_screens_with_new_binary_version() {
+  read -p "Do you want to start the nodes with the new binary version? (y/n): " choice
+  case $choice in
+    [Yy]*)
+      for folder in "${NODE_FOLDERS[@]}"; do
+        echo "Starting $folder node in a screen session..."
+
+        screen -dmS "$folder" "${NEW_BINARY}" start --home "/tmp/$folder"
+        sleep 1
+      done
+      ;;
+    [Nn]*)
+      echo "Skipping node startup with new binary version."
+      ;;
+    *)
+      echo "Invalid choice. Skipping node startup with new binary version."
+      ;;
+  esac
+}
+
 # Function to display all screen sessions
 display_screen_sessions() {
     screen -ls
@@ -279,10 +300,11 @@ display_screen_sessions() {
 submit_upgrade_proposal() {
     local first_folder="${NODE_FOLDERS[0]}"
 
+    echo "Submitting software upgrade proposal..."
     ${BINARY} tx gov submit-legacy-proposal software-upgrade \
         ${NEW_VERSION} \
         --deposit=10000000uelys \
-        --upgrade-height=770750 \
+        --upgrade-height=${UPGRADE_HEIGHT} \
         --title="${NEW_VERSION}" \
         --description="${NEW_VERSION}" \
         --no-validate \
@@ -290,16 +312,17 @@ submit_upgrade_proposal() {
         --fees=100000uelys \
         --gas=auto \
         --home="/tmp/${first_folder}" \
-        -y
+        -y >/dev/null 2>&1
 
     for folder in "${NODE_FOLDERS[@]}"; do
+        echo "Voting on software upgrade proposal for $folder node..."
         ${BINARY} tx gov vote \
             ${PROPOSAL_ID} \
             yes \
             --from=validator \
             --fees=100000uelys \
             --home="/tmp/${folder}" \
-            -y
+            -y >/dev/null 2>&1
     done
 }
 
@@ -319,6 +342,37 @@ prompt_to_submit_software_upgrade() {
     esac
 }
 
+# Function to check if port is open
+check_port_open() {
+  local port=$1
+  nc -z localhost "$port" >/dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+# Wait for all RPC ports to become available
+wait_for_rpc_ports() {
+  local timeout=60
+  local interval=5
+  local counter=0
+
+  echo "Waiting for RPC ports to become available..."
+
+  for port in "${NODE_RPC_PORTS[@]}"; do
+    until check_port_open "$port" || [ "$counter" -eq "$timeout" ]; do
+      counter=$((counter + interval))
+      sleep "$interval"
+    done
+
+    if [ "$counter" -eq "$timeout" ]; then
+      echo "Timeout: Failed to connect to RPC port $port."
+      exit 1
+    fi
+
+    echo "RPC port $port is now open."
+  done
+
+  echo "All RPC ports are open."
+}
+
 # Main script execution
 
 # Load environment variables
@@ -346,6 +400,10 @@ required_variables=(
     "CHAIN_ID"
     "SNAPSHOT_URL"
     "SNAPSHOT_PATH"
+    "NEW_VERSION"
+    "NEW_BINARY"
+    "PROPOSAL_ID"
+    "UPGRADE_HEIGHT"
 )
 
 # Check if screen is installed
@@ -387,8 +445,20 @@ start_nodes_in_screens
 # Display all screen sessions
 display_screen_sessions
 
+# Wait for RPC ports
+wait_for_rpc_ports
+
+# Continue with the next steps of your script
+echo "Proceeding with the next steps..."
+
 # Prompt user to submit a software upgrade proposal
 prompt_to_submit_software_upgrade
 
+# Check if any of the named screens exist and prompt to stop them
+prompt_to_stop_screens
+
+# Prompt to start nodes with new binary version
+prompt_start_nodes_in_screens_with_new_binary_version
+
 # Check if any of the named screens exist and prompt to stop them
 prompt_to_stop_screens
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/testing/variables.sh.example b/scripts/testing/variables.sh.example
index 26aa0cfc8..a7e1abbf0 100644
--- a/scripts/testing/variables.sh.example
+++ b/scripts/testing/variables.sh.example
@@ -73,9 +73,11 @@ VALIDATOR_ACCOUNT_PASSPHRASES=(
     ""
 )
 
-BINARY="/tmp/elysd"
+BINARY="/tmp/elysd-053"
 CHAIN_ID="elystestnet-1"
 SNAPSHOT_URL="https://snapshots.polkachu.com/testnet-snapshots/elys/elys_770630.tar.lz4"
 SNAPSHOT_PATH="/tmp/elys_testnet_snapshot.tar.lz4"
 NEW_VERSION="v0.6.1"
-PROPOSAL_ID="11"
\ No newline at end of file
+NEW_BINARY="/tmp/elysd-061"
+PROPOSAL_ID="11"
+UPGRADE_HEIGHT="770650"
\ No newline at end of file