diff --git a/scripts/fixtures/sysvar-fees.json b/scripts/fixtures/sysvar-fees.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..60f2c7241c22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/fixtures/sysvar-fees.json
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  "pubkey": "SysvarFees111111111111111111111111111111111",
+  "account": {
+    "lamports": 10000000000,
+    "data": ["ECcAAAAAAAA=", "base64"],
+    "owner": "Sysvar1111111111111111111111111111111111111",
+    "executable": false,
+    "rentEpoch": 0,
+    "space": 8
+  }
+}
diff --git a/scripts/start-shared-test-validator.sh b/scripts/start-shared-test-validator.sh
index 2e29930b499e..3c6ba4ffbe09 100755
--- a/scripts/start-shared-test-validator.sh
+++ b/scripts/start-shared-test-validator.sh
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ TEST_VALIDATOR=$( cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." ; pwd -P )/.agave/activ
 TEST_VALIDATOR_LEDGER="$( cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." ; pwd -P )/test-ledger"
 FIXTURE_ACCOUNTS_DIR="$( cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/fixtures" ; pwd -P)"
 
+DEACTIVATE_FEES_SYSVAR_FEATURE_ID="JAN1trEUEtZjgXYzNBYHU9DYd7GnThhXfFP7SzPXkPsG"
+
 if [ ! -x "$TEST_VALIDATOR" ]; then
     echo "ERROR: No test validator is installed. Install one using the following command: pnpm test:live-with-test-validator:setup" >&2
     exit 1
@@ -24,7 +26,7 @@ mkdir -p $LOCK_DIR
   flock -s 200 || exit 1
   (
     if flock -nx 200; then
-      $TEST_VALIDATOR --ledger $TEST_VALIDATOR_LEDGER --reset --quiet --account-dir $FIXTURE_ACCOUNTS_DIR --rpc-pubsub-enable-vote-subscription --rpc-pubsub-enable-block-subscription >/dev/null &
+      $TEST_VALIDATOR --ledger $TEST_VALIDATOR_LEDGER --reset --quiet --account-dir $FIXTURE_ACCOUNTS_DIR --deactivate-feature $DEACTIVATE_FEES_SYSVAR_FEATURE_ID --rpc-pubsub-enable-vote-subscription --rpc-pubsub-enable-block-subscription >/dev/null &
       validator_pid=$!
       echo "Started test validator (PID $validator_pid)"
       wait