diff --git a/testground/benchmark/benchmark/peer.py b/testground/benchmark/benchmark/peer.py
index b9d8ce6f7e..8b480408ef 100644
--- a/testground/benchmark/benchmark/peer.py
+++ b/testground/benchmark/benchmark/peer.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def bootstrap(ctx: Context, cli) -> PeerPacket:
         cli("genesis", "validate", home=home)
 
     p2p_peers = connect_all(peer, peers)
-    patch_configs(home, ctx.params.test_group_id, p2p_peers, "block-stm")
+    patch_configs(home, p2p_peers, {}, {})
     return peer
 
 
@@ -116,30 +116,32 @@ def gen_genesis(cli: ChainCommand, leader_home: Path, peers: List[PeerPacket]):
     )
 
 
-def patch_configs(home: Path, group: str, peers: str, block_executor: str):
-    # update persistent_peers and other configs in config.toml
-    config_patch = {
+def patch_configs(home: Path, peers: str, config_patch: dict, app_patch: dict):
+    default_config_patch = {
         "db_backend": "rocksdb",
-        "p2p.persistent_peers": peers,
         "p2p.addr_book_strict": False,
-        "mempool.recheck": "false",
+        "mempool.recheck": False,
         "mempool.size": MEMPOOL_SIZE,
         "consensus.timeout_commit": "1s",
         "tx_index.indexer": "null",
     }
-
-    app_patch = {
+    default_app_patch = {
         "minimum-gas-prices": "0basecro",
         "index-events": ["ethereum_tx.ethereumTxHash"],
         "memiavl.enable": True,
         "mempool.max-txs": MEMPOOL_SIZE,
-        "evm.block-executor": block_executor,
+        "evm.block-executor": "block-stm",  # or "sequential"
+        "evm.block-stm-workers": 0,
         "evm.block-stm-pre-estimate": True,
         "json-rpc.enable-indexer": True,
     }
-    if block_executor == "block-stm":
-        app_patch["memiavl.cache-size"] = 0
-
+    # update persistent_peers and other configs in config.toml
+    config_patch = {
+        **default_config_patch,
+        **config_patch,
+        "p2p.persistent_peers": peers,
+    }
+    app_patch = {**default_app_patch, **app_patch}
     patch_toml(home / "config" / "config.toml", config_patch)
     patch_toml(home / "config" / "app.toml", app_patch)
 
diff --git a/testground/benchmark/benchmark/stateless.py b/testground/benchmark/benchmark/stateless.py
index 498d5e5309..5885c14a50 100644
--- a/testground/benchmark/benchmark/stateless.py
+++ b/testground/benchmark/benchmark/stateless.py
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ def gen(
         hostname_template=HOSTNAME_TEMPLATE,
         num_accounts=10,
         num_txs=1000,
-        block_executor="block-stm",  # or "sequential"
+        config_patch={},
+        app_patch={},
     ):
         outdir = Path(outdir)
         cli = ChainCommand(LOCAL_CRONOSD_PATH)
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ def gen(
         # write genesis file and patch config files
         for i in range(validators):
             patch_configs_local(
-                peers, genesis, outdir, VALIDATOR_GROUP, i, i, block_executor
+                peers, genesis, outdir, VALIDATOR_GROUP, i, config_patch, app_patch
             )
         for i in range(fullnodes):
             patch_configs_local(
@@ -81,8 +82,8 @@ def gen(
                 outdir,
                 FULLNODE_GROUP,
                 i,
-                i + validators,
-                block_executor,
+                config_patch,
+                app_patch,
             )
 
         print("write config")
@@ -272,13 +273,13 @@ def patch_configs_local(
     outdir: Path,
     group: str,
     i: int,
-    group_seq: int,
-    block_executor: str,
+    config_patch,
+    app_patch,
 ):
     home = outdir / group / str(i)
     (home / "config" / "genesis.json").write_text(json.dumps(genesis))
     p2p_peers = connect_all(peers[i], peers)
-    patch_configs(home, group, p2p_peers, block_executor)
+    patch_configs(home, p2p_peers, config_patch, app_patch)
 
 
 def node_index() -> int: