diff --git a/multinode-demo/validator.sh b/multinode-demo/validator.sh
index 5f5f63493e..567e5def0d 100755
--- a/multinode-demo/validator.sh
+++ b/multinode-demo/validator.sh
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ EOF
 
 args=()
 airdrops_enabled=1
-node_lamports=500000000000 # 500 SOL: number of lamports to airdrop the node for transaction fees (ignored if airdrops_enabled=0)
+node_lamports=500000000000 # 500 SOL: number of lamports to airdrop the node for transaction fees and vote account rent exemption (ignored if airdrops_enabled=0)
 label=
 identity_keypair_path=
 voting_keypair_path=
diff --git a/net/remote/remote-node.sh b/net/remote/remote-node.sh
index 78aaa35d5f..1b3f747343 100755
--- a/net/remote/remote-node.sh
+++ b/net/remote/remote-node.sh
@@ -28,13 +28,6 @@ gpuMode="${19:-auto}"
 GEOLOCATION_API_KEY="${20}"
 set +x
 
-# Use a very large stake (relative to the default multinode-demo/ stake of 42)
-# for the testnet validators setup by net/.  This make it less likely that
-# low-staked ephemeral validator a random user may attach to testnet will cause
-# trouble
-#
-# Ref: https://github.com/solana-labs/solana/issues/3798
-stake=${internalNodesStakeLamports:=424243}
 
 missing() {
   echo "Error: $1 not specified"
@@ -220,9 +213,9 @@ EOF
         genesisOptions+=" --primordial-accounts-file config/client-accounts.yml"
       fi
 
-      args=(
-        --bootstrap-leader-stake-lamports "$stake"
-      )
+      if [[ -n $internalNodesStakeLamports ]]; then
+          args+=(--bootstrap-leader-stake-lamports "$internalNodesStakesLamports")
+      fi
       if [[ -n $internalNodesLamports ]]; then
         args+=(--bootstrap-leader-lamports "$internalNodesLamports")
       fi
@@ -387,7 +380,6 @@ EOF
 
       args=(
         --url http://"$entrypointIp":8899
-        "$stake"
       )
       if [[ $airdropsEnabled != true ]]; then
         args+=(--no-airdrop)