diff --git a/chain/cosmos/chain_node.go b/chain/cosmos/chain_node.go
index 47e6fb3f9..a289dd8f7 100644
--- a/chain/cosmos/chain_node.go
+++ b/chain/cosmos/chain_node.go
@@ -854,7 +854,7 @@ func (tn *ChainNode) StoreContract(ctx context.Context, keyName string, fileName
 	return res.CodeInfos[0].CodeID, nil
 }
 
-func (tn *ChainNode) getTransaction(clientCtx client.Context, txHash string) (*types.TxResponse, error) {
+func (tn *ChainNode) GetTransaction(clientCtx client.Context, txHash string) (*types.TxResponse, error) {
 	// Retry because sometimes the tx is not committed to state yet.
 	var txResp *types.TxResponse
 	err := retry.Do(func() error {
@@ -978,7 +978,7 @@ func (tn *ChainNode) InstantiateContract(ctx context.Context, keyName string, co
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	txResp, err := tn.getTransaction(tn.CliContext(), txHash)
+	txResp, err := tn.GetTransaction(tn.CliContext(), txHash)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get transaction %s: %w", txHash, err)
 	}
@@ -1001,11 +1001,25 @@ func (tn *ChainNode) InstantiateContract(ctx context.Context, keyName string, co
 }
 
 // ExecuteContract executes a contract transaction with a message using it's address.
-func (tn *ChainNode) ExecuteContract(ctx context.Context, keyName string, contractAddress string, message string, extraExecTxArgs ...string) (txHash string, err error) {
+func (tn *ChainNode) ExecuteContract(ctx context.Context, keyName string, contractAddress string, message string, extraExecTxArgs ...string) (res *types.TxResponse, err error) {
 	cmd := []string{"wasm", "execute", contractAddress, message}
 	cmd = append(cmd, extraExecTxArgs...)
 
-	return tn.ExecTx(ctx, keyName, cmd...)
+	txHash, err := tn.ExecTx(ctx, keyName, cmd...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return &types.TxResponse{}, err
+	}
+
+	txResp, err := tn.GetTransaction(tn.CliContext(), txHash)
+	if err != nil {
+		return &types.TxResponse{}, fmt.Errorf("failed to get transaction %s: %w", txHash, err)
+	}
+
+	if txResp.Code != 0 {
+		return txResp, fmt.Errorf("error in transaction (code: %d): %s", txResp.Code, txResp.RawLog)
+	}
+
+	return txResp, nil
 }
 
 // QueryContract performs a smart query, taking in a query struct and returning a error with the response struct populated.
diff --git a/chain/cosmos/cosmos_chain.go b/chain/cosmos/cosmos_chain.go
index 5b161a730..22e76c8dc 100644
--- a/chain/cosmos/cosmos_chain.go
+++ b/chain/cosmos/cosmos_chain.go
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ func (c *CosmosChain) SendIBCTransfer(
 	if err != nil {
 		return tx, fmt.Errorf("send ibc transfer: %w", err)
 	}
-	txResp, err := c.getTransaction(txHash)
+	txResp, err := c.GetTransaction(txHash)
 	if err != nil {
 		return tx, fmt.Errorf("failed to get transaction %s: %w", txHash, err)
 	}
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ func (c *CosmosChain) ConsumerAdditionProposal(ctx context.Context, keyName stri
 }
 
 func (c *CosmosChain) txProposal(txHash string) (tx TxProposal, _ error) {
-	txResp, err := c.getTransaction(txHash)
+	txResp, err := c.GetTransaction(txHash)
 	if err != nil {
 		return tx, fmt.Errorf("failed to get transaction %s: %w", txHash, err)
 	}
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ func (c *CosmosChain) InstantiateContract(ctx context.Context, keyName string, c
 }
 
 // ExecuteContract executes a contract transaction with a message using it's address.
-func (c *CosmosChain) ExecuteContract(ctx context.Context, keyName string, contractAddress string, message string, extraExecTxArgs ...string) (txHash string, err error) {
+func (c *CosmosChain) ExecuteContract(ctx context.Context, keyName string, contractAddress string, message string, extraExecTxArgs ...string) (res *types.TxResponse, err error) {
 	return c.getFullNode().ExecuteContract(ctx, keyName, contractAddress, message, extraExecTxArgs...)
 }
 
@@ -618,9 +618,9 @@ func (c *CosmosChain) AllBalances(ctx context.Context, address string) (types.Co
 	return res.GetBalances(), nil
 }
 
-func (c *CosmosChain) getTransaction(txhash string) (*types.TxResponse, error) {
+func (c *CosmosChain) GetTransaction(txhash string) (*types.TxResponse, error) {
 	fn := c.getFullNode()
-	return fn.getTransaction(fn.CliContext(), txhash)
+	return fn.GetTransaction(fn.CliContext(), txhash)
 }
 
 func (c *CosmosChain) GetGasFeesInNativeDenom(gasPaid int64) int64 {
diff --git a/examples/cosmos/chain_miscellaneous_test.go b/examples/cosmos/chain_miscellaneous_test.go
index d2433e678..d74056c83 100644
--- a/examples/cosmos/chain_miscellaneous_test.go
+++ b/examples/cosmos/chain_miscellaneous_test.go
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@ import (
 
 	"cosmossdk.io/math"
 
+	wasmtypes "github.com/CosmWasm/wasmd/x/wasm/types"
 	banktypes "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/x/bank/types"
 
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
+	testutil "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types/module/testutil"
 	"github.com/strangelove-ventures/interchaintest/v7"
 	"github.com/strangelove-ventures/interchaintest/v7/chain/cosmos"
 	"github.com/strangelove-ventures/interchaintest/v7/ibc"
@@ -44,10 +46,11 @@ func CosmosChainTestMiscellaneous(t *testing.T, name, version string) {
 			ChainName: name,
 			Version:   version,
 			ChainConfig: ibc.ChainConfig{
-				Denom:         "ujuno",
-				Bech32Prefix:  "juno",
-				CoinType:      "118",
-				ModifyGenesis: cosmos.ModifyGenesis(sdk47Genesis),
+				Denom:          "ujuno",
+				Bech32Prefix:   "juno",
+				CoinType:       "118",
+				ModifyGenesis:  cosmos.ModifyGenesis(sdk47Genesis),
+				EncodingConfig: wasmEncoding(),
 			},
 			NumValidators: &numVals,
 			NumFullNodes:  &numFullNodes,
@@ -87,10 +90,17 @@ func CosmosChainTestMiscellaneous(t *testing.T, name, version string) {
 	testQueryCmd(ctx, t, chain)
 	testHasCommand(ctx, t, chain)
 	testTokenFactory(ctx, t, chain, users)
+	testFailedCWExecute(ctx, t, chain, users)
 	testAddingNode(ctx, t, chain)
 	testGetGovernanceAddress(ctx, t, chain)
 }
 
+func wasmEncoding() *testutil.TestEncodingConfig {
+	cfg := cosmos.DefaultEncoding()
+	wasmtypes.RegisterInterfaces(cfg.InterfaceRegistry)
+	return &cfg
+}
+
 func testBuildDependencies(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, chain *cosmos.CosmosChain) {
 	deps := chain.Validators[0].GetBuildInformation(ctx)
 
@@ -129,6 +139,28 @@ func testBuildDependencies(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, chain *cosmos.Cosm
 	}
 }
 
+func testFailedCWExecute(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, chain *cosmos.CosmosChain, users []ibc.Wallet) {
+	user := users[0]
+	keyName := user.KeyName()
+
+	codeId, err := chain.StoreContract(ctx, keyName, "sample_contracts/cw_template.wasm")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	contractAddr, err := chain.InstantiateContract(ctx, keyName, codeId, `{"count":0}`, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// execute on the contract with the wrong message (err)
+	txResp, err := chain.ExecuteContract(ctx, keyName, contractAddr, `{"not_a_func":{}}`)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	fmt.Printf("txResp.RawLog: %+v\n", txResp.RawLog)
+	fmt.Printf("err: %+v\n", err)
+	require.Contains(t, err.Error(), "failed to execute message")
+}
+
 func testWalletKeys(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, chain *cosmos.CosmosChain) {
 	// create a general key
 	randKey := "randkey123"
diff --git a/examples/cosmos/sample_contracts/cw_template.wasm b/examples/cosmos/sample_contracts/cw_template.wasm
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..909cbdd19
Binary files /dev/null and b/examples/cosmos/sample_contracts/cw_template.wasm differ
diff --git a/examples/ibc/wasm/wasm_icq_test.go b/examples/ibc/wasm/wasm_icq_test.go
index 907a37051..546464a6b 100644
--- a/examples/ibc/wasm/wasm_icq_test.go
+++ b/examples/ibc/wasm/wasm_icq_test.go
@@ -278,19 +278,9 @@ func TestInterchainQueriesWASM(t *testing.T) {
 	logger.Info("Executing msg ->", zap.String("msg", msg))
 
 	//Query the contract on chain 1. The contract makes an interchain query to chain 2 to get the chain 2 user's balance.
-	hash, err := chain1CChain.ExecuteContract(ctx, chain1User.KeyName(), contractAddr, msg)
-
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	// Check the results from the interchain query above.
-	cmd = []string{chain1.Config().Bin, "query", "tx", hash,
-		"--node", chain1.GetRPCAddress(),
-		"--home", chain1.HomeDir(),
-		"--chain-id", chain1.Config().ChainID,
-		"--output", "json",
-	}
-	_, _, err = chain1.Exec(ctx, cmd, nil)
+	resp, err := chain1CChain.ExecuteContract(ctx, chain1User.KeyName(), contractAddr, msg)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, resp)
 
 	// Wait a few blocks for query to be sent to counterparty.
 	err = testutil.WaitForBlocks(ctx, 5, chain1, chain2)
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 7b0a702d7..ac89a5ea1 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/cosmos/interchain-security/v3 v3.1.1-0.20231102122221-81650a84f989
 	github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1
 	github.com/decred/dcrd/dcrec/secp256k1/v2 v2.0.1
-	github.com/docker/docker v24.0.5+incompatible
+	github.com/docker/docker v24.0.7+incompatible
 	github.com/docker/go-connections v0.4.0
 	github.com/gdamore/tcell/v2 v2.6.0
 	github.com/google/go-cmp v0.6.0
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 4b620e9c5..69cea6740 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -411,8 +411,8 @@ github.com/dgryski/go-farm v0.0.0-20200201041132-a6ae2369ad13 h1:fAjc9m62+UWV/WA
 github.com/dgryski/go-farm v0.0.0-20200201041132-a6ae2369ad13/go.mod h1:SqUrOPUnsFjfmXRMNPybcSiG0BgUW2AuFH8PAnS2iTw=
 github.com/docker/distribution v2.8.2+incompatible h1:T3de5rq0dB1j30rp0sA2rER+m322EBzniBPB6ZIzuh8=
 github.com/docker/distribution v2.8.2+incompatible/go.mod h1:J2gT2udsDAN96Uj4KfcMRqY0/ypR+oyYUYmja8H+y+w=
-github.com/docker/docker v24.0.5+incompatible h1:WmgcE4fxyI6EEXxBRxsHnZXrO1pQ3smi0k/jho4HLeY=
-github.com/docker/docker v24.0.5+incompatible/go.mod h1:eEKB0N0r5NX/I1kEveEz05bcu8tLC/8azJZsviup8Sk=
+github.com/docker/docker v24.0.7+incompatible h1:Wo6l37AuwP3JaMnZa226lzVXGA3F9Ig1seQen0cKYlM=
+github.com/docker/docker v24.0.7+incompatible/go.mod h1:eEKB0N0r5NX/I1kEveEz05bcu8tLC/8azJZsviup8Sk=
 github.com/docker/go-connections v0.4.0 h1:El9xVISelRB7BuFusrZozjnkIM5YnzCViNKohAFqRJQ=
 github.com/docker/go-connections v0.4.0/go.mod h1:Gbd7IOopHjR8Iph03tsViu4nIes5XhDvyHbTtUxmeec=
 github.com/docker/go-units v0.5.0 h1:69rxXcBk27SvSaaxTtLh/8llcHD8vYHT7WSdRZ/jvr4=
diff --git a/go.work b/go.work
index e9fd768c7..f67055aaa 100644
--- a/go.work
+++ b/go.work
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-go 1.20
+go 1.19
 
 use (
 	.
diff --git a/local-interchain/go.mod b/local-interchain/go.mod
index 6326373ca..9f3c13d07 100644
--- a/local-interchain/go.mod
+++ b/local-interchain/go.mod
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/dgraph-io/ristretto v0.1.1 // indirect
 	github.com/dgryski/go-farm v0.0.0-20200201041132-a6ae2369ad13 // indirect
 	github.com/docker/distribution v2.8.2+incompatible // indirect
-	github.com/docker/docker v24.0.5+incompatible // indirect
+	github.com/docker/docker v24.0.7+incompatible // indirect
 	github.com/docker/go-connections v0.4.0 // indirect
 	github.com/docker/go-units v0.5.0 // indirect
 	github.com/dustin/go-humanize v1.0.1 // indirect
diff --git a/local-interchain/go.sum b/local-interchain/go.sum
index 35bb4b197..ca325cde3 100644
--- a/local-interchain/go.sum
+++ b/local-interchain/go.sum
@@ -405,8 +405,8 @@ github.com/dgryski/go-farm v0.0.0-20200201041132-a6ae2369ad13 h1:fAjc9m62+UWV/WA
 github.com/dgryski/go-farm v0.0.0-20200201041132-a6ae2369ad13/go.mod h1:SqUrOPUnsFjfmXRMNPybcSiG0BgUW2AuFH8PAnS2iTw=
 github.com/docker/distribution v2.8.2+incompatible h1:T3de5rq0dB1j30rp0sA2rER+m322EBzniBPB6ZIzuh8=
 github.com/docker/distribution v2.8.2+incompatible/go.mod h1:J2gT2udsDAN96Uj4KfcMRqY0/ypR+oyYUYmja8H+y+w=
-github.com/docker/docker v24.0.5+incompatible h1:WmgcE4fxyI6EEXxBRxsHnZXrO1pQ3smi0k/jho4HLeY=
-github.com/docker/docker v24.0.5+incompatible/go.mod h1:eEKB0N0r5NX/I1kEveEz05bcu8tLC/8azJZsviup8Sk=
+github.com/docker/docker v24.0.7+incompatible h1:Wo6l37AuwP3JaMnZa226lzVXGA3F9Ig1seQen0cKYlM=
+github.com/docker/docker v24.0.7+incompatible/go.mod h1:eEKB0N0r5NX/I1kEveEz05bcu8tLC/8azJZsviup8Sk=
 github.com/docker/go-connections v0.4.0 h1:El9xVISelRB7BuFusrZozjnkIM5YnzCViNKohAFqRJQ=
 github.com/docker/go-connections v0.4.0/go.mod h1:Gbd7IOopHjR8Iph03tsViu4nIes5XhDvyHbTtUxmeec=
 github.com/docker/go-units v0.5.0 h1:69rxXcBk27SvSaaxTtLh/8llcHD8vYHT7WSdRZ/jvr4=