diff --git a/packages/isc/sandbox_interface.go b/packages/isc/sandbox_interface.go
index 89ccc6dff2..7ff95ec95c 100644
--- a/packages/isc/sandbox_interface.go
+++ b/packages/isc/sandbox_interface.go
@@ -133,8 +133,6 @@ type Privileged interface {
 	SubscribeBlockContext(openFunc Hname, closeFunc Hname)
 	SetBlockContext(bctx interface{})
 	BlockContext() interface{}
-	// the amount of tokens available to pay for the gas of the current request
-	TotalGasTokens() *Assets
 }
 
 // RequestParameters represents parameters of the on-ledger request. The output is build from these parameters
diff --git a/packages/vm/core/evm/evmimpl/internal.go b/packages/vm/core/evm/evmimpl/internal.go
index 1e8029fb59..177abd72ad 100644
--- a/packages/vm/core/evm/evmimpl/internal.go
+++ b/packages/vm/core/evm/evmimpl/internal.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/iotaledger/wasp/packages/kv/dict"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/wasp/packages/parameters"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/wasp/packages/util"
-	"github.com/iotaledger/wasp/packages/vm"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/wasp/packages/vm/core/accounts"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/wasp/packages/vm/core/evm"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/wasp/packages/vm/core/evm/emulator"
@@ -324,12 +323,4 @@ func (b *l2Balance) Sub(addr common.Address, amount *big.Int) {
 	feePolicy := b.getFeePolicy()
 	tokens := assetsForFeeFromEthereumDecimals(feePolicy, amount)
 	b.ctx.Privileged().DebitFromAccount(isc.NewEthereumAddressAgentID(addr), tokens)
-
-	// assert that remaining tokens in the sender's account are enough to pay for the gas budget
-	if !b.ctx.HasInAccount(
-		b.ctx.Request().SenderAccount(),
-		b.ctx.Privileged().TotalGasTokens(),
-	) {
-		panic(vm.ErrNotEnoughTokensLeftForGas)
-	}
 }
diff --git a/packages/vm/core/evm/evmimpl/iscmagic_sandbox.go b/packages/vm/core/evm/evmimpl/iscmagic_sandbox.go
index 2b8f4dfa6b..c0f084bf54 100644
--- a/packages/vm/core/evm/evmimpl/iscmagic_sandbox.go
+++ b/packages/vm/core/evm/evmimpl/iscmagic_sandbox.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/iotaledger/wasp/packages/hashing"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/wasp/packages/isc"
-	iscvm "github.com/iotaledger/wasp/packages/vm"
 	"github.com/iotaledger/wasp/packages/vm/core/evm/iscmagic"
 )
 
@@ -76,13 +75,6 @@ func (h *magicContractHandler) Send(
 
 	h.moveAssetsToCommonAccount(req.Assets)
 
-	// assert that remaining tokens in the sender's account are enough to pay for the gas budget
-	if !h.ctx.HasInAccount(
-		h.ctx.Request().SenderAccount(),
-		h.ctx.Privileged().TotalGasTokens(),
-	) {
-		panic(iscvm.ErrNotEnoughTokensLeftForGas)
-	}
 	h.ctx.Send(req)
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/vm/core/evm/evmtest/evm_test.go b/packages/vm/core/evm/evmtest/evm_test.go
index 8d11ee25e0..928c3a2d65 100644
--- a/packages/vm/core/evm/evmtest/evm_test.go
+++ b/packages/vm/core/evm/evmtest/evm_test.go
@@ -519,6 +519,45 @@ func TestSendBaseTokens(t *testing.T) {
 	require.True(t, getAllowanceTo(iscTest.address).IsEmpty())
 }
 
+func TestCannotDepleteAccount(t *testing.T) {
+	env := initEVM(t)
+
+	ethKey, ethAddress := env.soloChain.NewEthereumAccountWithL2Funds()
+	_, receiver := env.solo.NewKeyPair()
+
+	iscTest := env.deployISCTestContract(ethKey)
+
+	require.Zero(t, env.solo.L1BaseTokens(receiver))
+	senderInitialBalance := env.soloChain.L2BaseTokens(isc.NewEthereumAddressAgentID(ethAddress))
+
+	// we eill attempt to transfer so much that we are left with no funds for gas
+	transfer := senderInitialBalance - 300
+
+	// allow ISCTest to take the tokens
+	_, err := env.ISCMagicSandbox(ethKey).callFn(
+		[]ethCallOptions{{sender: ethKey}},
+		"allow",
+		iscTest.address,
+		iscmagic.WrapISCAssets(isc.NewAssetsBaseTokens(transfer)),
+	)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	getAllowanceTo := func(target common.Address) *isc.Assets {
+		var ret struct{ Allowance iscmagic.ISCAssets }
+		env.ISCMagicSandbox(ethKey).callView("getAllowanceTo", []interface{}{target}, &ret)
+		return ret.Allowance.Unwrap()
+	}
+
+	// stored allowance should be == transfer
+	require.Equal(t, transfer, getAllowanceTo(iscTest.address).BaseTokens)
+
+	const allAllowed = uint64(0)
+	_, err = iscTest.callFn([]ethCallOptions{{
+		gasLimit: 100_000, // skip estimate gas (which will fail)
+	}}, "sendBaseTokens", iscmagic.WrapL1Address(receiver), allAllowed)
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, vm.ErrNotEnoughTokensLeftForGas.Error())
+}
+
 func TestSendNFT(t *testing.T) {
 	env := initEVM(t)
 	ethKey, ethAddr := env.soloChain.NewEthereumAccountWithL2Funds()
diff --git a/packages/vm/vmcontext/sandbox.go b/packages/vm/vmcontext/sandbox.go
index 43e8534977..282b259441 100644
--- a/packages/vm/vmcontext/sandbox.go
+++ b/packages/vm/vmcontext/sandbox.go
@@ -157,17 +157,29 @@ func (s *contractSandbox) GasBurnEnable(enable bool) {
 
 func (s *contractSandbox) MustMoveBetweenAccounts(fromAgentID, toAgentID isc.AgentID, assets *isc.Assets) {
 	s.Ctx.(*VMContext).mustMoveBetweenAccounts(fromAgentID, toAgentID, assets)
+	s.checkRemainingTokens(fromAgentID)
 }
 
 func (s *contractSandbox) DebitFromAccount(agentID isc.AgentID, tokens *isc.Assets) {
 	s.Ctx.(*VMContext).debitFromAccount(agentID, tokens)
+	s.checkRemainingTokens(agentID)
+}
+
+func (s *contractSandbox) checkRemainingTokens(debitedAccount isc.AgentID) {
+	// assert that remaining tokens in the sender's account are enough to pay for the gas budget
+	if debitedAccount.Equals(s.Request().SenderAccount()) && !s.HasInAccount(
+		debitedAccount,
+		s.totalGasTokens(),
+	) {
+		panic(vm.ErrNotEnoughTokensLeftForGas)
+	}
 }
 
 func (s *contractSandbox) CreditToAccount(agentID isc.AgentID, tokens *isc.Assets) {
 	s.Ctx.(*VMContext).creditToAccount(agentID, tokens)
 }
 
-func (s *contractSandbox) TotalGasTokens() *isc.Assets {
+func (s *contractSandbox) totalGasTokens() *isc.Assets {
 	if s.Ctx.(*VMContext).task.EstimateGasMode {
 		return isc.NewEmptyAssets()
 	}