diff --git a/tests/e2e/e2e_ibc_memo_test.go b/tests/e2e/e2e_ibc_memo_test.go
index 32a09c3751..8cdb115537 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/e2e_ibc_memo_test.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/e2e_ibc_memo_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package e2e
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
+
 	"cosmossdk.io/math"
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types/tx"
@@ -89,7 +91,9 @@ func (s *E2ETest) testIBCTokenTransferWithMemo(umeeAPIEndpoint string, atomQuota
 
 	// ignore ibc forward memo msgs
 	invalidM := "{\"forward\":{\"channel\":\"channel-123\",\"port\":\"transfer\",\"receiver\":\"secret1xs0xv4h9d2y2fpagyt99vpm3d3f8jxh9kywh6x\",\"retries\":2,\"timeout\":1733978966221063114}}"
-	s.SendIBC(setup.GaiaChainID, s.Chain.ID, accs.Alice.String(), atomFromGaia, "", invalidM, "")
+	bz, err = json.Marshal(invalidM)
+	assert.Nil(err)
+	s.SendIBC(setup.GaiaChainID, s.Chain.ID, accs.Alice.String(), atomFromGaia, "", string(bz), "")
 	updatedIBCAtomBalance = updatedIBCAtomBalance.Add(atomFromGaia.Amount)
 	s.checkSupply(umeeAPIEndpoint, uatomIBCHash, updatedIBCAtomBalance)
 	s.checkLeverageAccountBalance(umeeAPIEndpoint, accs.Alice.String(), uatomIBCHash, atomFromGaia.Amount)