diff --git a/hardhat.config.ts b/hardhat.config.ts
index 6d469b0..dc51148 100644
--- a/hardhat.config.ts
+++ b/hardhat.config.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ const config: HardhatUserConfig = {
         : [process.env.WALLET_PRIVATE_KEY!].filter(Boolean),
     },
     hardhat: {
-      initialBaseFeePerGas: 0,
+      initialBaseFeePerGas: 500_000_000_000,
     },
   },
   etherscan: {
@@ -50,12 +50,12 @@ const config: HardhatUserConfig = {
   gasReporter: {
     enabled: !process.env.CI,
     currency: 'USD',
-    gasPrice: 50,
+    gasPrice: 500,
     src: 'contracts',
     coinmarketcap: '7643dfc7-a58f-46af-8314-2db32bdd18ba',
   },
   mocha: {
-    timeout: 60_000,
+    timeout: 600_000,
   },
 };
 export default config;
diff --git a/test/governance/NounsDAO/V2/voteRefund.test.ts b/test/governance/NounsDAO/V2/voteRefundPOC.test.ts
index d34ff4b..4c268a3 100644
--- a/test/governance/NounsDAO/V2/voteRefund.test.ts
+++ b/test/governance/NounsDAO/V2/voteRefundPOC.test.ts
@@ -162,6 +162,30 @@ describe('Vote Refund', () => {
   });
 
   describe('castRefundableVoteWithReason', () => {
+    it("accepts excessively long reason strings", async () => {
+      await fundGov();
+      const balanceBefore = await user.getBalance();
+      const govBalanceBefore = await ethers.provider.getBalance(gov.address);
+      const tx = await gov
+        .connect(user)
+        .castRefundableVoteWithReason(1, 1, junkString(50_000), {
+          maxPriorityFeePerGas: MAX_PRIORITY_FEE_CAP,
+          gasLimit: 24000000,
+        });
+      const r = await tx.wait();
+      const balanceDiff = balanceBefore.sub(await user.getBalance());
+      const govBalanceDiff = govBalanceBefore.sub(
+        await ethers.provider.getBalance(gov.address)
+      );
+      const govBalanceAfter = await ethers.provider.getBalance(gov.address);
+      console.log("USER BALANCE DIFF:", ethers.utils.formatEther(balanceDiff));
+      console.log(
+        "GOV BALANCE DIFF:",
+        ethers.utils.formatEther(govBalanceDiff)
+      );
+      console.log("TX COST:", ethers.utils.formatEther(await txCostInEth(r)));
+
+    });
     it('refunds users with votes', async () => {
       await fundGov();
       const balanceBefore = await user.getBalance();
@@ -284,6 +308,15 @@ describe('Vote Refund', () => {
     expect(refundEvent!.args!.refundAmount).to.be.closeTo(expectedCost, REFUND_ERROR_MARGIN);
   }
 
+  function junkString(iterations: number = 100) {
+    var x = "Ab Cd Ef Gh Ij ";
+    const y = "Ab Cd Ef Gh Ij";
+    for (var i = 0; i < iterations; i++) {
+      x += y;
+    }
+    return x;
+  }
+
   async function submitProposal(u: SignerWithAddress) {
     await gov
       .connect(u)
