diff --git a/client/testnet.go b/client/testnet.go
index 9bf42baea6..bc75c37cf0 100644
--- a/client/testnet.go
+++ b/client/testnet.go
@@ -272,7 +272,8 @@ func initTestnetFiles(
 			return err
 		}
 
-		addr, secret, err := sdkserver.GenerateSaveCoinKey(kb, nodeDirName, true, algo)
+		// TODO: remove when using Cosmos SDK v0.45
+		addr, secret, err := GenerateSaveCoinKey(kb, nodeDirName, true, algo)
 		if err != nil {
 			_ = os.RemoveAll(args.outputDir)
 			return err
@@ -560,3 +561,37 @@ func startTestnet(cmd *cobra.Command, args startArgs) error {
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+// TODO: remove
+
+// GenerateSaveCoinKey returns the address of a public key, along with the secret
+// phrase to recover the private key.
+func GenerateSaveCoinKey(keybase keyring.Keyring, keyName string, overwrite bool, algo keyring.SignatureAlgo) (sdk.AccAddress, string, error) {
+	exists := false
+	_, err := keybase.Key(keyName)
+	if err == nil {
+		exists = true
+	}
+
+	// ensure no overwrite
+	if !overwrite && exists {
+		return sdk.AccAddress([]byte{}), "", fmt.Errorf(
+			"key already exists, overwrite is disabled")
+	}
+
+	// generate a private key, with recovery phrase
+	if exists {
+		err = keybase.Delete(keyName)
+		if err != nil {
+			return sdk.AccAddress([]byte{}), "", fmt.Errorf(
+				"failed to overwrite key")
+		}
+	}
+
+	info, secret, err := keybase.NewMnemonic(keyName, keyring.English, sdk.GetConfig().GetFullBIP44Path(), keyring.DefaultBIP39Passphrase, algo)
+	if err != nil {
+		return sdk.AccAddress([]byte{}), "", err
+	}
+
+	return sdk.AccAddress(info.GetPubKey().Address()), secret, nil
+}