diff --git a/tests/systemtests/upgrade_test.go b/tests/systemtests/upgrade_test.go
index 76b0b5fa5759..c54220271941 100644
--- a/tests/systemtests/upgrade_test.go
+++ b/tests/systemtests/upgrade_test.go
@@ -42,7 +42,12 @@ func TestChainUpgrade(t *testing.T) {
 		upgradeName         = "v050-to-v052" // must match UpgradeName in simapp/upgrades.go
 	)
 
-	systest.Sut.StartChain(t, fmt.Sprintf("--halt-height=%d", upgradeHeight+1))
+	// if v2 is enabled, we need to start the chain with a different flag
+	if systest.IsV2() {
+		systest.Sut.StartChain(t, fmt.Sprintf("--comet.halt-height=%d", upgradeHeight+1))
+	} else {
+		systest.Sut.StartChain(t, fmt.Sprintf("--halt-height=%d", upgradeHeight+1))
+	}
 
 	cli := systest.NewCLIWrapper(t, systest.Sut, systest.Verbose)
 	govAddr := sdk.AccAddress(address.Module("gov")).String()