diff --git a/lib/tests/run_tests.js b/lib/tests/run_tests.js
index 0c119e23..c3027baf 100644
--- a/lib/tests/run_tests.js
+++ b/lib/tests/run_tests.js
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ function runJSTests(files, options, cb) {
   async.waterfall([
     function setupGlobalNamespace(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);
diff --git a/lib/tests/test.js b/lib/tests/test.js
index 434a0112..d62aa0e8 100644
--- a/lib/tests/test.js
+++ b/lib/tests/test.js
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ class Test {
     this.engine.startService("deployment", {
       trackContracts: false,
       compileOnceOnly: true,
-      disableOptimizations: true
+      disableOptimizations: this.options.coverage
     });
     this.gasLimit = 6000000;
     this.engine.events.request('deploy:setGasLimit', this.gasLimit);