diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index ef25b19..9502913 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       - SNAPSHOT_FILE=babylon.tar.gz
       - RPC_URL=https://rpc.devnet.babylonlabs.io
+      - GENESIS_PATH=""
     volumes:
       - ./scripts/init_master.sh:/scripts/init_master.sh
       - ./snapshots:/snapshots
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ services:
       "
     environment:
       - RPC_URL=https://rpc.devnet.babylonlabs.io
+      - GENESIS_PATH=""
     volumes:
       - ./scripts/init_follower.sh:/scripts/init_follower.sh
       - ./babylond_data_follower:/root/.babylond
diff --git a/scripts/init_follower.sh b/scripts/init_follower.sh
index 92e3eb7..c19f90e 100755
--- a/scripts/init_follower.sh
+++ b/scripts/init_follower.sh
@@ -30,11 +30,22 @@ apt-get install -y \
     lsof \
     jq
 
-# Fetch the genesis file from remote RPC and store it temporarily
-echo "Fetching genesis file from $RPC_URL"
-GENESIS_TEMP=$(curl -s "$RPC_URL/genesis" | jq '.result.genesis')
+# Load genesis from a local file or fetch from RPC as before
+if [ -n "$GENESIS_PATH" ]; then
+    echo "Loading genesis file from $GENESIS_PATH"
+    if [ -f "$GENESIS_PATH" ]; then
+        GENESIS_TEMP=$(jq '.' "$GENESIS_PATH")
+    else
+        echo "Error: File not found at $GENESIS_PATH"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+else
+    echo "Fetching genesis file from $RPC_URL"
+    GENESIS_TEMP=$(curl -s "$RPC_URL/genesis" | jq '.result.genesis')
+fi
+
 if [ -z "$GENESIS_TEMP" ]; then
-    echo "Error: Failed to fetch genesis file"
+    echo "Error: Failed to load genesis"
     exit 1
 fi
 
diff --git a/scripts/init_master.sh b/scripts/init_master.sh
index bec4b2d..ecdd3cb 100755
--- a/scripts/init_master.sh
+++ b/scripts/init_master.sh
@@ -45,11 +45,22 @@ apt-get install -y \
     jq
 
 
-# Fetch the genesis file from remote RPC and store it temporarily
-echo "Fetching genesis file from $RPC_URL"
-GENESIS_TEMP=$(curl -s "$RPC_URL/genesis" | jq '.result.genesis')
+# Load genesis from a local file or fetch from RPC as before
+if [ -n "$GENESIS_PATH" ]; then
+    echo "Loading genesis file from $GENESIS_PATH"
+    if [ -f "$GENESIS_PATH" ]; then
+        GENESIS_TEMP=$(jq '.' "$GENESIS_PATH")
+    else
+        echo "Error: File not found at $GENESIS_PATH"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+else
+    echo "Fetching genesis file from $RPC_URL"
+    GENESIS_TEMP=$(curl -s "$RPC_URL/genesis" | jq '.result.genesis')
+fi
+
 if [ -z "$GENESIS_TEMP" ]; then
-    echo "Error: Failed to fetch genesis file"
+    echo "Error: Failed to load genesis"
     exit 1
 fi