diff --git a/arbnode/node.go b/arbnode/node.go
index 5892247f8cc..d1d6d80815d 100644
--- a/arbnode/node.go
+++ b/arbnode/node.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/offchainlabs/nitro/daprovider/daclient"
 	"github.com/offchainlabs/nitro/daprovider/das"
 	"github.com/offchainlabs/nitro/daprovider/data_streaming"
-	dapserver "github.com/offchainlabs/nitro/daprovider/server"
+	"github.com/offchainlabs/nitro/daprovider/server"
 	"github.com/offchainlabs/nitro/execution"
 	"github.com/offchainlabs/nitro/execution/gethexec"
 	"github.com/offchainlabs/nitro/solgen/go/bridgegen"
@@ -817,7 +817,12 @@ func getStaker(
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, nil, common.Address{}, err
 		}
-		if err := wallet.Initialize(ctx); err != nil {
+		if config.Staker.UseSmartContractWallet {
+			err = wallet.InitializeAndCreateSCW(ctx)
+		} else {
+			err = wallet.Initialize(ctx)
+		}
+		if err != nil {
 			return nil, nil, common.Address{}, err
 		}
 		if dp != nil {
diff --git a/staker/legacy/staker.go b/staker/legacy/staker.go
index 44c7f5e7efe..77453682f60 100644
--- a/staker/legacy/staker.go
+++ b/staker/legacy/staker.go
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@ type Staker struct {
 
 type ValidatorWalletInterface interface {
 	Initialize(context.Context) error
+	InitializeAndCreateSCW(context.Context) error
 	// Address must be able to be called concurrently with other functions
 	Address() *common.Address
 	// Address must be able to be called concurrently with other functions
diff --git a/staker/validatorwallet/contract.go b/staker/validatorwallet/contract.go
index fed87caca28..74e01096d97 100644
--- a/staker/validatorwallet/contract.go
+++ b/staker/validatorwallet/contract.go
@@ -106,7 +106,15 @@ func (v *Contract) validateWallet(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 func (v *Contract) Initialize(ctx context.Context) error {
-	err := v.populateWallet(ctx, false)
+	return v.initialize(ctx, false)
+}
+
+func (v *Contract) InitializeAndCreateSCW(ctx context.Context) error {
+	return v.initialize(ctx, true)
+}
+
+func (v *Contract) initialize(ctx context.Context, createIfMissing bool) error {
+	err := v.populateWallet(ctx, createIfMissing)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/staker/validatorwallet/eoa.go b/staker/validatorwallet/eoa.go
index 695299279a9..7adaa3bde63 100644
--- a/staker/validatorwallet/eoa.go
+++ b/staker/validatorwallet/eoa.go
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ func (w *EOA) Initialize(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (w *EOA) InitializeAndCreateSCW(ctx context.Context) error {
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (w *EOA) Address() *common.Address {
 	return &w.auth.From
 }
diff --git a/staker/validatorwallet/noop.go b/staker/validatorwallet/noop.go
index 8e0b0cd9115..37c48d8afce 100644
--- a/staker/validatorwallet/noop.go
+++ b/staker/validatorwallet/noop.go
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ func NewNoOp(l1Client *ethclient.Client) *NoOp {
 
 func (*NoOp) Initialize(context.Context) error { return nil }
 
+func (*NoOp) InitializeAndCreateSCW(context.Context) error { return nil }
+
 func (*NoOp) Address() *common.Address { return nil }
 
 func (*NoOp) AddressOrZero() common.Address { return common.Address{} }