diff --git a/tests/simulation/run_node.sh b/tests/simulation/run_node.sh
index 8de368289..3260447b6 100755
--- a/tests/simulation/run_node.sh
+++ b/tests/simulation/run_node.sh
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ if [ "${NAT:-}" == "1" ]; then
   NAT_FLAG="--nat:extip:$(curl -s ifconfig.me)"
 fi
 
-FIRST_VALIDATOR_IDX=$(printf '%07d' $(( (NUM_VALIDATORS / ($NUM_NODES + 1)) * $1 )))
-LAST_VALIDATOR_IDX=$(printf '%07d' $(( (NUM_VALIDATORS / ($NUM_NODES + 1)) * ($1 + 1) - 1 )))
+FIRST_VALIDATOR_IDX=$(printf '%07d' $(( (NUM_VALIDATORS / ($NUM_NODES + $NUM_MISSING_NODES)) * $1 )))
+LAST_VALIDATOR_IDX=$(printf '%07d' $(( (NUM_VALIDATORS / ($NUM_NODES + $NUM_MISSING_NODES)) * ($1 + 1) - 1 )))
 
 mkdir -p $DATA_DIR/validators
 rm -f $DATA_DIR/validators/*
diff --git a/tests/simulation/start.sh b/tests/simulation/start.sh
index 9795bd089..a64ba0168 100755
--- a/tests/simulation/start.sh
+++ b/tests/simulation/start.sh
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ set -eu
 
 export NUM_VALIDATORS=${VALIDATORS:-100}
 export NUM_NODES=${NODES:-9}
+export NUM_MISSING_NODES=${MISSING_NODES:-1}
 
 cd "$SIM_ROOT"
 mkdir -p "$SIMULATION_DIR"