diff --git a/lib/tests/reporter.js b/lib/tests/reporter.js
index 75d8ff01c..de20b4695 100644
--- a/lib/tests/reporter.js
+++ b/lib/tests/reporter.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ class EmbarkSpec extends Base {
     super(runner, options);
 
     const self = this;
+    self.listenForGas = true;
     self.embarkEvents = options.reporterOptions.events;
     self.gasDetails = options.reporterOptions.gasDetails;
     self.gasLimit = options.reporterOptions.gasLimit;
@@ -27,6 +28,9 @@ class EmbarkSpec extends Base {
     }
 
     function onBlockHeader(blockHeader) {
+      if(!self.listenForGas) {
+        return;
+      }
       self.stats.totalGasCost += blockHeader.gasUsed;
       self.stats.test.gasUsed += blockHeader.gasUsed;
     }
@@ -35,6 +39,9 @@ class EmbarkSpec extends Base {
       self.embarkEvents.on("deploy:contract:receipt", onContractReceipt);
     }
     self.embarkEvents.on("block:header", onBlockHeader);
+    self.embarkEvents.setCommandHandler("reporter:toggleGasListener", () => {
+      self.listenForGas = !self.listenForGas;
+    });
 
     function indent() {
       return Array(indents).join('  ');
diff --git a/lib/tests/run_tests.js b/lib/tests/run_tests.js
index 87451ee71..f0dc65010 100644
--- a/lib/tests/run_tests.js
+++ b/lib/tests/run_tests.js
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ module.exports = {
       },
       function setupGlobalNamespace(files, next) {
         // TODO put default config
-        const test = new Test({loglevel, node: options.node});
+        const test = new Test({loglevel, node: options.node, coverage: options.coverage});
         global.embark = test;
         global.assert = assert;
         global.config = test.config.bind(test);
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ module.exports = {
             gasDetails: options.gasDetails,
             gasLimit: 6000000
           });
+
           mocha.addFile(file);
 
           mocha.suite.timeout(0);
diff --git a/lib/tests/test.js b/lib/tests/test.js
index 0c7c636d1..4a280af6d 100644
--- a/lib/tests/test.js
+++ b/lib/tests/test.js
@@ -102,37 +102,40 @@ class Test {
 
     let simProvider = this.sim.provider(this.simOptions);
 
-    // Here we patch the sendAsync method on the provider. The goal behind this is to force pure/constant/view calls to become
-    // transactions, so that we can pull in execution traces and account for those executions in code coverage.
-    //
-    // Instead of a simple call, here's what happens:
-    //
-    // 1) A transaction is sent with the same payload, and a pre-defined gas price;
-    // 2) We wait for the transaction to be mined by asking for the receipt;
-    // 3) Once we get the receipt back, we dispatch the real call and pass the original callback;
-    //
-    // This will still allow tests to get the return value from the call and run contracts unmodified.
-    simProvider.realSendAsync = simProvider.sendAsync.bind(simProvider);
-    simProvider.sendAsync = function(payload, cb) {
-      if(payload.method !== 'eth_call') {
-        return simProvider.realSendAsync(payload, cb);
-      }
+    if (this.options.coverage) {
+      // Here we patch the sendAsync method on the provider. The goal behind this is to force pure/constant/view calls to become
+      // transactions, so that we can pull in execution traces and account for those executions in code coverage.
+      //
+      // Instead of a simple call, here's what happens:
+      //
+      // 1) A transaction is sent with the same payload, and a pre-defined gas price;
+      // 2) We wait for the transaction to be mined by asking for the receipt;
+      // 3) Once we get the receipt back, we dispatch the real call and pass the original callback;
+      //
+      // This will still allow tests to get the return value from the call and run contracts unmodified.
+      simProvider.realSendAsync = simProvider.sendAsync.bind(simProvider);
+      simProvider.sendAsync = function(payload, cb) {
+        if(payload.method !== 'eth_call') {
+          return simProvider.realSendAsync(payload, cb);
+        }
+        self.engine.events.request('reporter:toggleGasListener');
+        let newParams = Object.assign({}, payload.params[0], {gasPrice: '0x77359400'});
+        let newPayload = {
+            id: payload.id + 1,
+            method: 'eth_sendTransaction',
+            params: [newParams],
+            jsonrpc: payload.jsonrpc
+        };
 
-      let newParams = Object.assign({}, payload.params[0], {gasPrice: '0x77359400'});
-      let newPayload = {
-          id: payload.id + 1,
-          method: 'eth_sendTransaction',
-          params: [newParams],
-          jsonrpc: payload.jsonrpc
-      };
-
-      simProvider.realSendAsync(newPayload, (_err, response) => {
-        let txHash = response.result;
-        self.web3.eth.getTransactionReceipt(txHash, (_err, _res) => {
-          simProvider.realSendAsync(payload, cb);
+        simProvider.realSendAsync(newPayload, (_err, response) => {
+          let txHash = response.result;
+          self.web3.eth.getTransactionReceipt(txHash, (_err, _res) => {
+            self.engine.events.request('reporter:toggleGasListener');
+            simProvider.realSendAsync(payload, cb);
+          });
         });
-      });
-    };
+      };
+    }
 
     this.web3.setProvider(simProvider);
     callback();