diff --git a/rusk/src/lib/chain/rusk.rs b/rusk/src/lib/chain/rusk.rs
index fbb797e809..dd4f801057 100644
--- a/rusk/src/lib/chain/rusk.rs
+++ b/rusk/src/lib/chain/rusk.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ use dusk_bytes::{DeserializableSlice, Serializable};
 use dusk_consensus::operations::{
     CallParams, VerificationOutput, VoterWithCredits,
 };
+use execution_core::transfer::CallOrDeploy;
 use execution_core::{
     stake::StakeData, transfer::Transaction as PhoenixTransaction, BlsScalar,
     StakePublicKey,
@@ -480,6 +481,17 @@ fn accept(
     ))
 }
 
+fn strip_off_bytecode(tx: &PhoenixTransaction) -> Option<PhoenixTransaction> {
+    let _ = tx.payload().contract_deploy()?;
+    let mut tx_clone = tx.clone();
+    if let Some(CallOrDeploy::Deploy(deploy)) =
+        &mut tx_clone.payload.call_or_deploy
+    {
+        deploy.bytecode.bytes.clear();
+    }
+    Some(tx_clone)
+}
+
 /// Executes a transaction, returning the receipt of the call and the gas spent.
 /// The following steps are performed:
 ///
@@ -495,12 +507,13 @@ fn execute(
     session: &mut Session,
     tx: &PhoenixTransaction,
 ) -> Result<CallReceipt<Result<Vec<u8>, ContractError>>, PiecrustError> {
+    let tx_stripped = strip_off_bytecode(tx);
     // Spend the inputs and execute the call. If this errors the transaction is
     // unspendable.
     let mut receipt = session.call::<_, Result<Vec<u8>, ContractError>>(
         TRANSFER_CONTRACT,
         "spend_and_execute",
-        tx,
+        tx_stripped.as_ref().unwrap_or(tx),
         tx.payload().fee.gas_limit,
     )?;
 
@@ -512,7 +525,7 @@ fn execute(
     if let Some(deploy) = tx.payload().contract_deploy() {
         session.deploy_raw(
             deploy.contract_id.map(|id| id.into()),
-            deploy.bytecode.as_slice(),
+            deploy.bytecode.bytes.as_slice(),
             deploy.constructor_args.clone(),
             deploy.owner.clone(),
             tx.payload().fee.gas_limit,
diff --git a/rusk/tests/services/contract_deployment.rs b/rusk/tests/services/contract_deployment.rs
index 01e1ed9f74..bc1dae9a54 100644
--- a/rusk/tests/services/contract_deployment.rs
+++ b/rusk/tests/services/contract_deployment.rs
@@ -8,10 +8,12 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::sync::{Arc, RwLock};
 
+use execution_core::bytecode::Bytecode;
 use execution_core::transfer::{CallOrDeploy, ContractDeploy};
 use rand::prelude::*;
 use rand::rngs::StdRng;
 use rusk::{Result, Rusk};
+use rusk_abi::hash::Hasher;
 use rusk_abi::Error::ContractDoesNotExist;
 use rusk_abi::{ContractData, ContractId};
 use rusk_recovery_tools::state;
@@ -97,6 +99,12 @@ fn initial_state<P: AsRef<Path>>(dir: P, deploy_bob: bool) -> Result<Rusk> {
     Ok(rusk)
 }
 
+fn bytecode_hash(bytes: impl AsRef<[u8]>) -> [u8; 32] {
+    let mut hasher = Hasher::new();
+    hasher.update(bytes.as_ref());
+    hasher.finalize().to_bytes()
+}
+
 fn make_and_execute_transaction_deploy(
     rusk: &Rusk,
     wallet: &wallet::Wallet<TestStore, TestStateClient, TestProverClient>,
@@ -125,7 +133,10 @@ fn make_and_execute_transaction_deploy(
             &mut rng,
             CallOrDeploy::Deploy(ContractDeploy {
                 contract_id: Some(contract_id.to_bytes()),
-                bytecode: bytecode.as_ref().to_vec(),
+                bytecode: Bytecode {
+                    hash: bytecode_hash(bytecode.as_ref()),
+                    bytes: bytecode.as_ref().to_vec(),
+                },
                 owner: BOB_OWNER.to_vec(),
                 constructor_args,
             }),