diff --git a/.github/workflows/merge.yml b/.github/workflows/merge.yml
index 4b47b067dc..bf641a2d36 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/merge.yml
@@ -118,6 +118,10 @@ jobs:
           cargo test --release --package sn_client --lib
           cargo test --release --package sn_client --doc
 
+      - name: Run node tests
+        timeout-minutes: 25
+        run: cargo test --release --package sn_node --lib
+
       - name: Run network tests
         timeout-minutes: 25
         run: cargo test --release --package sn_networking
diff --git a/.github/workflows/nightly.yml b/.github/workflows/nightly.yml
index 2e6a4976c6..05e50d768d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/nightly.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/nightly.yml
@@ -148,6 +148,10 @@ jobs:
           cargo test --release --package sn_client --bins
           cargo test --release --package sn_client --examples
 
+      - name: Run node tests
+        timeout-minutes: 25
+        run: cargo test --release --package sn_node --lib
+
       - name: Run network tests
         timeout-minutes: 25
         run: cargo test --release -p sn_networking
diff --git a/sn_node/src/node.rs b/sn_node/src/node.rs
index ddfeb72b44..2f91875b1a 100644
--- a/sn_node/src/node.rs
+++ b/sn_node/src/node.rs
@@ -902,23 +902,36 @@ impl Node {
         let balance_file_path = network.root_dir_path.join(FORWARDED_BALANCE_FILE_NAME);
         let old_balance = read_forwarded_balance_value(&balance_file_path);
         let updated_balance = old_balance + total_forwarded_amount;
-        if let Err(err) = std::fs::write(&balance_file_path, updated_balance.to_string()) {
-            error!(
-                "Failed to write the updated balance to the file {balance_file_path:?} with {err:?}"
-            );
-        }
+        trace!("Updating forwarded balance to {updated_balance}");
+        write_forwarded_balance_value(&balance_file_path, updated_balance)?;
 
         Ok(updated_balance)
     }
 }
 
 fn read_forwarded_balance_value(balance_file_path: &PathBuf) -> u64 {
+    trace!("Reading forwarded balance from file {balance_file_path:?}");
     match std::fs::read_to_string(balance_file_path) {
-        Ok(balance) => balance.parse::<u64>().unwrap_or(0),
-        Err(_) => 0,
+        Ok(balance) => balance.parse::<u64>().unwrap_or_else(|_| {
+            trace!("The balance from file is not a valid number");
+            0
+        }),
+        Err(_) => {
+            trace!("Error while reading to string, setting the balance to 0. This can happen at node init.");
+            0
+        }
     }
 }
 
+fn write_forwarded_balance_value(balance_file_path: &PathBuf, balance: u64) -> Result<()> {
+    if let Err(err) = std::fs::write(balance_file_path, balance.to_string()) {
+        error!(
+            "Failed to write the updated balance to the file {balance_file_path:?} with {err:?}"
+        );
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 async fn chunk_proof_verify_peer(
     network: &Network,
     peer_id: PeerId,
@@ -983,3 +996,29 @@ fn received_valid_chunk_proof(
         None
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+
+    use crate::node::{read_forwarded_balance_value, write_forwarded_balance_value};
+    use color_eyre::Result;
+    use tempfile::tempdir;
+    #[test]
+    fn read_and_write_reward_to_file() -> Result<()> {
+        let dir = tempdir()?;
+        let balance_file_path = dir.path().join("forwarded_balance");
+
+        let balance = read_forwarded_balance_value(&balance_file_path);
+        assert_eq!(balance, 0);
+
+        write_forwarded_balance_value(&balance_file_path, balance + 10)?;
+        let balance = read_forwarded_balance_value(&balance_file_path);
+        assert_eq!(balance, 10);
+
+        write_forwarded_balance_value(&balance_file_path, balance + 100)?;
+        let balance = read_forwarded_balance_value(&balance_file_path);
+        assert_eq!(balance, 110);
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}