diff --git a/boa/contracts/vyper/vyper_contract.py b/boa/contracts/vyper/vyper_contract.py
index 24ed9bd9..b0c39301 100644
--- a/boa/contracts/vyper/vyper_contract.py
+++ b/boa/contracts/vyper/vyper_contract.py
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ def __init__(
         override_address=None,
         blueprint_preamble=b"\xFE\x71\x00",
         filename=None,
+        gas=None,
     ):
         # note slight code duplication with VyperContract ctor,
         # maybe use common base class?
@@ -186,7 +187,7 @@ def __init__(
         deploy_bytecode += blueprint_bytecode
 
         addr, computation = self.env.deploy(
-            bytecode=deploy_bytecode, override_address=override_address
+            bytecode=deploy_bytecode, override_address=override_address, gas=gas
         )
         if computation.is_error:
             raise computation.error
@@ -494,6 +495,7 @@ def __init__(
         skip_initcode=False,
         created_from: Address = None,
         filename: str = None,
+        gas=None,
     ):
         super().__init__(compiler_data, env, filename)
 
@@ -518,7 +520,9 @@ def __init__(
                 raise Exception("nonzero value but initcode is being skipped")
             addr = Address(override_address)
         else:
-            addr = self._run_init(*args, value=value, override_address=override_address)
+            addr = self._run_init(
+                *args, value=value, override_address=override_address, gas=gas
+            )
         self._address = addr
 
         for fn_name, fn in external_fns.items():
@@ -537,14 +541,14 @@ def __init__(
 
         self.env.register_contract(self._address, self)
 
-    def _run_init(self, *args, value=0, override_address=None):
+    def _run_init(self, *args, value=0, override_address=None, gas=None):
         encoded_args = b""
         if self._ctor:
             encoded_args = self._ctor.prepare_calldata(*args)
 
         initcode = self.compiler_data.bytecode + encoded_args
         address, computation = self.env.deploy(
-            bytecode=initcode, value=value, override_address=override_address
+            bytecode=initcode, value=value, override_address=override_address, gas=gas
         )
         self._computation = computation
         self.bytecode = computation.output
diff --git a/boa/network.py b/boa/network.py
index 5e347e1d..2e252178 100644
--- a/boa/network.py
+++ b/boa/network.py
@@ -512,6 +512,8 @@ def _send_txn(self, from_, to=None, gas=None, value=None, data=None):
         print(f"tx broadcasted: {tx_hash}")
 
         receipt = self._rpc.wait_for_tx_receipt(tx_hash, self.tx_settings.poll_timeout)
+        if receipt.get("status") != "0x1":
+            raise Exception(f"txn failed: {receipt}")
 
         trace = self._debug_tt(tx_hash)
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/network/anvil/test_network_env.py b/tests/integration/network/anvil/test_network_env.py
index 13ad59d5..c544ed13 100644
--- a/tests/integration/network/anvil/test_network_env.py
+++ b/tests/integration/network/anvil/test_network_env.py
@@ -56,4 +56,11 @@ def test_raise_exception(simple_contract, t):
         simple_contract.raise_exception(t)
 
 
+def test_failed_transaction():
+    with pytest.raises(Exception) as ctx:
+        boa.loads(code, STARTING_SUPPLY, gas=149377)
+    error = str(ctx.value)
+    assert error.startswith("txn failed:")
+
+
 # XXX: probably want to test deployment revert behavior
diff --git a/tests/unitary/jupyter/test_browser.py b/tests/unitary/jupyter/test_browser.py
index a76090ec..1ec2d821 100644
--- a/tests/unitary/jupyter/test_browser.py
+++ b/tests/unitary/jupyter/test_browser.py
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ def dummy() -> bool:
             "blockHash": "0x123",
             "blockNumber": "0x123",
             "contractAddress": "0x520c4BbBb1153fBB42742fEf935283e19Bb2a2e0",
+            "status": "0x1",
         },
     )
     mock_callback("debug_traceTransaction", error={"message": "error"})