diff --git a/PENDING.md b/PENDING.md
index 6d17729da11b..715fd4a57c1a 100644
--- a/PENDING.md
+++ b/PENDING.md
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ BREAKING CHANGES
     * [x/stake] \#1673 Validators are no longer deleted until they can no longer possibly be slashed
     * [\#1890](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/issues/1890) Start chain with initial state + sequence of transactions
       * [cli] Rename `gaiad init gentx` to `gaiad gentx`.
+      * [cli] Add `--skip-genesis` flag to `gaiad init` to prevent `genesis.json` generation.
       * Drop `GenesisTx` in favor of a signed `StdTx` with only one `MsgCreateValidator` message.
       * [cli] Port `gaiad init` and `gaiad testnet` to work with `StdTx` genesis transactions.
       * [cli] Add `--moniker` flag to `gaiad init` to override moniker when generating `genesis.json` - i.e. it takes effect when running with the `--with-txs` flag, it is ignored otherwise.
diff --git a/docs/getting-started/join-testnet.md b/docs/getting-started/join-testnet.md
index 66ec97cad5f1..ce070c4fe967 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started/join-testnet.md
+++ b/docs/getting-started/join-testnet.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ These instructions are for setting up a brand new full node from scratch.
 First, initialize the node and create the necessary config files:
 
 ```bash
-gaiad init --name <your_custom_name>
+gaiad init --skip-genesis --name <your_custom_name>
 ```
 
 ::: warning Note