diff --git a/tests/e2e/steps.go b/tests/e2e/steps.go
index 6c85d925c9..b6463aae15 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/steps.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/steps.go
@@ -73,20 +73,24 @@ var slashThrottleSteps = concatSteps(
 	stepsStopChain("consu", 2),
 )
 
+// these tests start with transfer SendEnabled set to false
+// one of the steps will set SendEnabled to true
 var democracyRewardsSteps = concatSteps(
 	// democracySteps requires a transfer channel
 	stepsStartChains([]string{"democ"}, true),
 	// delegation needs to happen so the first VSC packet can be delivered
 	stepsDelegate("democ"),
-	stepsDemocracy("democ"),
+	stepsRewardDenomConsumer("democ"),
 )
 
+// these tests start with transfer SendEnabled set to false
+// these tests start with transfer SendEnabled set to true
 var democracySteps = concatSteps(
 	// democracySteps requires a transfer channel
 	stepsStartChains([]string{"democ"}, true),
 	// delegation needs to happen so the first VSC packet can be delivered
 	stepsDelegate("democ"),
-	stepsRewardDenomConsumer("democ"),
+	stepsDemocracy("democ"),
 )
 
 var multipleConsumers = concatSteps(
diff --git a/tests/e2e/steps_democracy.go b/tests/e2e/steps_democracy.go
index 506b33453c..385124cf65 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/steps_democracy.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/steps_democracy.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func stepsDemocracy(consumerName string) []Step {
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			// whitelisted legacy proposal can only handle ibctransfer.SendEnabled/ReceiveEnabled
+			// this proposal will allow ibc transfer by setting SendEnabled to true
 			Action: SubmitParamChangeLegacyProposalAction{
 				Chain:    ChainID(consumerName),
 				From:     ValidatorID("alice"),
@@ -181,12 +181,13 @@ func stepsDemocracy(consumerName string) []Step {
 			},
 			State: State{
 				ChainID("provi"): ChainState{
-					// Check that tokens are minted and sent to provider chain and distributed to validators and their delegators on provider chain
+					// Check that ARE NOT minted and sent to provider chain and distributed to validators and their delegators on provider chain
+					// the tokens are not sent because the test configuration does not allow sending tokens
 					Rewards: &Rewards{
 						IsRewarded: map[ValidatorID]bool{
-							ValidatorID("alice"): true,
-							ValidatorID("bob"):   true,
-							ValidatorID("carol"): true,
+							ValidatorID("alice"): false,
+							ValidatorID("bob"):   false,
+							ValidatorID("carol"): false,
 						},
 						IsIncrementalReward: false,
 						IsNativeDenom:       false,
diff --git a/tests/e2e/steps_reward_denom.go b/tests/e2e/steps_reward_denom.go
index 657508cd1b..0407599c92 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/steps_reward_denom.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/steps_reward_denom.go
@@ -179,12 +179,13 @@ func stepsRewardDenomConsumer(consumerName string) []Step {
 			},
 			State: State{
 				ChainID("provi"): ChainState{
-					// Check that tokens are not minted and sent to provider chain and distributed to validators and their delegators on provider chain
+					// Check that ARE minted and sent to provider chain and distributed to validators and their delegators on provider chain
+					// the tokens are sent because the test configuration does allows sending tokens
 					Rewards: &Rewards{
 						IsRewarded: map[ValidatorID]bool{
-							ValidatorID("alice"): false,
-							ValidatorID("bob"):   false,
-							ValidatorID("carol"): false,
+							ValidatorID("alice"): true,
+							ValidatorID("bob"):   true,
+							ValidatorID("carol"): true,
 						},
 						IsIncrementalReward: false,
 						IsNativeDenom:       false,